I am a big defender of copyright. This does not make me anti open-source. As a content creator, I should have the right to offer content in any way I want as long as it is content I created.
Those who support open source content are concerned that SOPA will make it difficult for those who create and offer open source materials and hence are against this legislation. I agree.
I decided to try CourseKit to supplement my grad course this semester. Looks like it offers some interesting tools and offers a reasonable way to separate the content you would like to be public and the content you would like to be student specific.
Some years ago we participated in the get one / give one OLPC project. This was the Negroponte project to develop provide very inexpensive computers to children in poor countries. Just saw today that he is at it again and is now developing a $100 tablet.
I discovered something today others may find useful. A downside of upgrading to Lion (mac OS) has been that some of the tools I had relied on will no longer work. Today, I needed a simple tool for modifying a web page (HTML editor). I create interactive syllabi as web pages so students can link directly to things I want them to examine. I use Dreamweaver for more complicated projects, but I don’t have a copy on my office machine. I tend to use a simple editor for simple jobs.
What I discovered is that Sea Monkey (a Mozilla open source project) contains an editor for HTML. Who knew? I even use Sea Monkey. I have this strange aversion to multiple tabs on browsers and prefer multiple browsers when I want something to just be open in the background – Sea Monkey was that browser used just for music. I guess I owe it a little more respect. Check the menubar drop downs – Edit page is under the file.
The Internet used to offer a way for the rest of us to have a voice. This opportunity seems to be slipping away more as a function of neglect than lack of opportunity. We have fallen victim to the ease of use of Facebook and the iPad app. Those willing to learn took advantage of the power of the open web and simple authoring opportunities to create content. Now, it seems, we have fallen back into another bout of passivity – few bloggers and more posts to Twitter or Facebook. 140 characters cannot be the max of peoples’ perspectives.
How about this as a new year’s commitment – active or reactivate a blog. Voice your opinion – have an opinion.
see also – Un-internet
This is the time of the year many bloggers offer a grand view of some time – what just happened or what is to come. I don’t feel I have anything of great merit to contribute, but I did read one of these end of year posts that I found thoughtful and said some things people need to hear. Here is a ReadWriteWeb post explaining that 2011 was the year the “free ride ended.” The post argues that it is time people realize they cannot expect tech for free – the companies and individuals that provide the services and content need to make a reasonable income. I agree.
I tend to think of the tech world as a hierarchy of services. All of the levels of this hierarchy can cost. What seems strange to me are the “open content” advocates – especially those who argue against copyright. I think it is great when someone offers open source content or software. However, no one should feel this is an obligation (provider) or right (consumer). What I think should be the focus of greater concern are those who provide access – the phone and cable companies. Why so many focus on copyright and so few focus on cost effective access options is beyond my understanding. I believe in competition as a control mechanism. Content costs should be controlled through competition, not by attempting to justify theft. We need some competition when it comes to access.
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