----- Forwarded message from Ken Kitson ----- Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 19:31:53 +0100 From: Ken Kitson Subject: [GKD] Open Knowledge Network - A Request for Technical Advice To: gkd@phoenix.edc.org Dear GKD Members, My name is Dr. Ken Kitson, and I am working as the software designer for the Open Knowledge Network which is being co-ordinated by One World with partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The primary goal of OKN is to use information technology to stimulate the generation and exchange of local content between disadvantaged communities in the South. As such, key aspects of the software are that: it supports local languages; is easy to install, use and fix; is capable of working offline most of the time; works with relevant communication methods (poor dial-up lines, compact discs, wireless, satellite); runs on both Linux and Windows; uses open-source software and will become an open-source project. We have some pilot software (written in Java and PHP) running in around 30 community computing centres in India and four African countries, working in seven languages. A demonstration site showing the live local content from our network can be seen on the Internet at: http://london.openknowledge.net:8080/okn/newsheet_eng.html We are now designing the next release of the software, and would be particularly interested to know if members of the GKD list: - know of any similar projects we might collaborate with, or technology we should investigate - could advise which technology would be best for building up an active open source community in the South (for example, is Java the most popular language) - would be interested in getting involved in contributing technical advice to the OKN programme by joining our discussion group at: http://www.dgroups.org/groups/okntechnology Many thanks for your time. Best wishes, Ken Kitson Fwd: Open Knowledge Network - A Request for Technical Advice ----- Forwarded message from Ken Kitson -----     Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 19:31:53 +0100     From: Ken Kitson  Subject: [GKD] Open Knowledge Network - A Request for Technical Advice       To: gkd@phoenix.edc.org Dear GKD Members, My name is Dr. Ken Kitson, and I am working as the software designer for the Open Knowledge Network which is being co-ordinated by One World with partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The primary goal of OKN is to use information technology to stimulate the generation and exchange of local content between disadvantaged communities in the South. As such, key aspects of the software are that: it supports local languages; is easy to install, use and fix; is capable of working offline most of the time; works with relevant communication methods (poor dial-up lines, compact discs, wireless, satellite); runs on both Linux and Windows; uses open-source software and will become an open-source project. We have some pilot software (written in Java and PHP) running in around 30 community computing centres in India and four African countries, working in seven languages. A demonstration site showing the live local content from our network can be seen on the Internet at: < http://london.openknowledge.net:8080/okn/newsheet_eng.html http://london.openknowledge.net:8080/okn/newsheet_eng.html

We are now designing the next release of the software, and would be particularly interested to know if members of the GKD list: - know of any similar projects we might collaborate with, or technology we should investigate - could advise which technology would be best for building up an active open source community in the South (for example, is Java the most popular language) - would be interested in getting involved in contributing technical advice to the OKN programme by joining our discussion group at: < http://www.dgroups.org/groups/okntechnology http://www.dgroups.org/groups/okntechnology

Many thanks for your time. Best wishes, Ken Kitson