Below is the promised content from Jean-Francois' messages. CCing Dave again as many of these topics will no doubt be of interest to C4C and its members, and there is opportunity for co-sponsored events. Speaking of which, J-F floated the idea that one type of OCLUG-C4C event could be a workshop teaching folks how to do computer refurbishing/repairs and GNU/Linux installations. C4C has an excellent beginner-friendly process for this, which is being used to fix up used computers and install Ubuntu on them so they can be donated to people who can't afford a computer. The valuable skills gained at such a workshop would include hardware basics, troubleshooting techniques, GNU/Linux installation and configuration, and a process for switching from Windows. Participants could bring their own computers to work on if they like, or refurbish a C4C computer and start accruing volunteer hours for a free computer. Workshops like these could be done several times a year... attracting new people to both of our groups, helping Ottawans switch to free/open software, and benefitting the community. No doubt many OCLUGers have a wealth of knowledge to share or would like to build upon their skill sets. Here's J-F with more: ************************************ I think we need to cover subjects that REALpeople are interested in. Many subjects are "elitist" subjects for those with very specific needs, and very advanced knowledge of it. There are many subjects that can be covered for beginners or starting users, without touching command line, or touching technical topics such as networking. What about: - Comparing office suites - Comparing different graphic solutions - Solving wireless issues ? - configuring your hardware for your requirements (touchpad, keyboard, etc.) - resetting a user configuration - understanding the file structure of Linux system - understanding the different file systems, and their use - whats the difference between gnome and kde ? - Which browsers are available under Linux ? - etc................. When I was talking about subjects for future meetings, my main point was to have ground-up subjects, those that are actually affecting a majority of users. Those can also be titled as questions such as: - How to get Linux and Windows to co-exist ? - How to get my peripherals working under Linux ? (This one could take a full two hours, if we want) - What happens to my email and my documents under Linux ? - Running Windows software under Linux. This is something that stops many users from going to Linux. They are stuck with Windows-Only applications. - Internet Security under Linux. How, What, When, Why ? Why is Linux safer, or why not ? - What is a distro ? Why so much choice, and to pick the right one for me ? - What's the difference between Gnome, KDE, xfce ? - What are the available applications under Linux for: = email (Thunderbird, Evolution, etc.) = browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Flock, etc.) = office suites (OpenOffice, LibreOffice, kOffice, etc.) = media players / recorders / cd burners / ??? = editing and managing pictures = games = education software (Someone mentionned it last night) The point is to have topics that will reach a mass of users, whether those are regular USERS, students, kids (weekends), or older people.I know that many will say that those topics are for "dummies" and most of the users from last night would say that they are already above such levels. But the majority of the public out there, who go to Future Shop/Best Buy and have no idea how to build a computer from parts, will say otherwise. Topics such as clustering of PS3 is a great application of Linux on cheap hardware, but this is not something that reaches home users, whose priority is surfing the web, listening to Youtube and music, shopping, reading email, doing Facebook. If the goal of OCLUG is to have very specific subjects that could reach 1% of the population, fine. But if you want to increase thenumber of attendants, you need to reach the masses. About the mailing list, which is almost dead, the point yesterday night was that email is no more the way to reach end-users for discussions and threads. Such emails are lost in the middle of so many more emails of all subjects, including fighting with SPAM. There are web-based applications that could run under LAMP for web-based forums, where users, with a single URL can get to the forums of their interest, find the latest entries, and add their own replies and questions. I will try to find where such engines can be found. That's it for now. I have to get back to work. ************************************ On 10 January 2011 14:06, Lisa L <exexpat2 [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com> wrote: > Yes, definitely great stuff Richard. The Mini-Maker Faire was an > awesome thing. Doing something along the lines you suggest would be a > fun way of introducing free/open software to the next generation and > getting them excited about what it can do. CCing Dave Sampson, as > Computers for Communities is also trying out educational software and > may well be interested in a joint project. Likewise CCing Emily from > Mod Lab, which is the group that put together the Faire, as there is a > lot of crossover here. > > Thanks Eric, for checking that out. It could be that your research > will benefit all our groups with a variety of projects. > > Cheers, > Lisa > > > On 10 January 2011 13:44, Eric Brackenbury <eric [ dot ] brackenbury [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com> wrote: >> Great comments Richard >> I now have Sugar running in a VM so will explore that as it is almost >> totally children related but newb's and seniors could benefit too I >> think. >> I will stay in touch with Rob Echlin on this part. >> >> Eric B >> >> On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 2:39 PM, Richard Guy Briggs <rgb [ at ] tricolour [ dot ] net> wrote: >>> On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 01:23:07PM -0600, Lisa L wrote: >>>> Kind thanks to you Rob, and Jean-François Messier as well, for sending >>>> your helpful notes and great ideas from our discussion last meeting. >>>> For those not present, discussion revolved around how to attract and >>>> keep new members. Many valuable insights were shared, by newcomers >>>> and folks who have been with us since our humble beginnings, about >>>> stepping up our outreach to users of other operating systems, >>>> increasing our coverage of beginner-friendly topics, and providing >>>> opportunities for them to consult us with problems in person. Thank >>>> you all for your constructive input. >>>> >>>> Does anyone else have notes/ideas they would like to contribute? >>>> Please share. These will be a topic of discussion at the next board >>>> meeting (Jan 17). >>> >>> A quick chat outside the the beer sig last week and we talked about the >>> possibility of running a Linux for kids event or workshop at a time when >>> kids could actually participate. I'd like to see something like the >>> recent Maker Faire, with a fun variety of open-source related displays >>> for kids. This could be games, beginner programming languages, >>> robotics, drawing/arts, music, web site devel., photography, etc... >>> >>>> I'll be forwarding Jean-François' message shortly. I wrote some long >>>> and messy notes, which I will clean up and send along as well. >>>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> Lisa >>>> >>>> >>>> On 9 January 2011 07:57, Rob Echlin <rob [ at ] echlin [ dot ] ca> wrote: >>>> > Hi >>>> > I have the following notes from the meeting and beer sig. Lisa and others may >>>> > have more. >>>> > >>>> > 1) >>>> > Proposed that OCLUG create a Linux install Cd for use at the Ottawa Public >>>> > Libraries, to be distributed by C4C. >>>> > - Suggested that Mint Linux might be better because it is a small install >>>> > - Suggested that it be one that provides easy Dialup internet access >>>> > - Eric had a bad experience with this recently - was that Ubuntu? >>>> > - The firefox install on the CD should be modified to provide links to: >>>> > - Public Library >>>> > - City of Ottawa >>>> > - C4C >>>> > - OCLUG? >>>> > - Background of the installer should be changed to promote Ottawa, possibly C4C >>>> > and library again >>>> > >>>> > Interested people: >>>> > - Rob Echlin >>>> > - Jean-Francois Messier >>>> > - Lisa >>>> > - Eric >>>> > - Dave Sampson >>>> > >>>> > 2) >>>> > Topics for meetings - I think Lisa has these >>>> > - basically, intro level topics in a number of areas >>>> > - Kids computing presentation >>>> > - Possibly split our space and have a second room for the last half of the >>>> > evening >>>> > - hands-on workshops as part of our session >>>> > >>>> > 3) >>>> > C4C is looking for hardware modems - "in quantity" to serve the thousands of >>>> > people who can't afford hi-speed >>>> > >>>> > 4) >>>> > I think there was another topic... >>>> > >>>> > Rob >>> >>> slainte mhath, RGB >>> >>> -- >>> Richard Guy Briggs -- ~\ -- ~\ <hpv.tricolour.net> >>> <www.TriColour.net> -- \___ o \@ @ Ride yer bike! >>> Ottawa, ON, CANADA -- Lo_>__M__\\/\%__\\/\% >>> Vote! -- <greenparty.ca>_____GTVS6#790__(*)__(*)________(*)(*)_________________ >>> _______________________________________________ >>> oclug-board mailing list >>> oclug-board [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca >>> http://oclug.on.ca/mailman/listinfo/oclug-board >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> http://www.therecycledteenager.blogspot.com/ >> >> Leave the Windoze closed :-)) >> Microsoft has a majority market share in the new desktop PC >> marketplace. This is a bug, which Ubuntu (humanity to others)is designed to fix. >> >> But >> K-eep L-ocktite R-eady in the D-irt R-iding Z-one >> _______________________________________________ >> oclug-board mailing list >> oclug-board [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca >> http://oclug.on.ca/mailman/listinfo/oclug-board > -- One only needs two tools in life: WD-40 to make things go, and duct tape to make them stop. ~ G. Weilacher Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. ~ Carl Zwanzig