Changes

=== Equitable access to ICTs ===

=== Equitable access to ICTs ===

Technology is a resource of society, hence we create a society where everyone can access it, interact with it, benefit from it and contribute to it. More and more people should be able to use ICT in a manner appropriate for their needs, for this, access to ICT should be treated like a public good, like public education or public health.   

Technology is a resource of society, hence we need to create a society where everyone can access it, interact with it, benefit from it and contribute to it. More and more people should be able to use ICT in a manner appropriate for their needs; for this, access to ICT should be treated like a public good, like public education or public health.   

As you use the computers and Internet, the easy sharing of digital documents will seem quite powerful – instead of physically photo copying documents or re­creating models of a device, making digital copies of the document or photos of the device is simpler and also almost free. Hence it should seem obvious that digital modes of information production and sharing would make resources easy to access, covering all kinds of digital items including content and software. However, there have been very strong forces that have worked against such easy sharing.  

As you use the computers and Internet, the easy sharing of digital documents will seem quite powerful – instead of physically photo copying documents making digital copies of the document or photos of an event or equipment is simpler and also almost free. Hence it would seem obvious that digital modes of information production and sharing would make resources easy to access, covering all kinds of digital items including content and software. However, there have been very strong forces that have worked against such easy sharing.  

Paradoxically such sharing has been made difficult using technological methods as well as legal methods. Legal methods have been through releasing software or content using restrictive licenses, that forbid sharing or modifying (making these 'proprietary' instead of 'open'). Technological methods have been to not release the source code (in case of software), which is required   for   making   modifications and by using techniques that  prevent 'copy paste' processes. 'Proprietary' software which forbids sharing and customising is used by most ICT users.

Paradoxically such sharing has been made difficult using technological methods as well as legal methods. Legal methods have been through releasing software or content using restrictive licenses, that forbid sharing or modifying (making these 'proprietary' instead of 'open'). Technological methods have been to not release the source code (in case of software), which is required for making   modifications and by using techniques that  prevent 'copy paste' processes. 'Proprietary' software which forbids sharing and customising is used by most ICT users.

 

One argument for restricting free sharing is that the creator needs to be compensated for producing the resource and instead of having the first buyer pay the entire amount of creation, seeking license fees from many users can reduce the costs to the first buyer and also increase the profitability for the creator. While this argument can have relevance in commercial transactions, in the case of education, where the free access to and sharing of learning resources is essential, using digital resources that do not have restrictive licensing would be necessary.  

==== FOSS ====

==== FOSS ====