The International Conference of
Bonus Project: Free Software-based
Free software, localization and
Free Software
telemedicine
translation
Anita G贸mez p. 8
Lauretta Chupeta p. 34
Ricardo Hern谩ndez p. 30
VOL II N1
ENGLISH VERSION
Page www.latinuxmagazine.com
Page www.latinuxmagazine.com
editorial
When we fall, we get up, learn and continue forward Cold early August morning
be present at the Third International
in Lima. Perhaps the least appropriate
Congress of Free Software and Elec-
been pleased and proud because these
Everybody
present,
have
time to write the editorial this month,
tronic Government (CONSEGI) in
young people, who are going to take
because the activities associated with
Brasilia. Similarly, in the incoming
over the current generation, confront
Latinux Magazine anniversary, the
months we will be attending other
setbacks facing them. In the end, the
CONEISC 2010 and LatinuxORG ha-
events in Argentina, Brazil, Colom-
authorities have "accepted" to cover
ven't left me a lot of free time. Now,
bia, Peru, the Dominican Republic
the costs of lodging and transporta-
in the hotel room with the sound of te-
and Mexico. A lot of information will
tion (responsibility they had already
levision as background audio, I write
be available for our readers.
taken a long time before the begin-
the editorial which corresponds to the
We started to transit a new
ning of this activity). These 'bitter'
first issue of the second year of the el-
year of Latinux Magazine, with some
events, were immediately overcome
dest Latinux Press magazine.
obstacles. This last week we experien-
by the excellent work of the students
As I mentioned in last issue's
ced a series of events under the Natio-
who organized the CONEISC. A
editorial , all Cluster's organizations
nal Congress of Students of Computer
work full of passion, warmth on the
(LatinuxORG, Latinux Press,
Lati-
and Systems Engineering (CONEISC)
cold days and nights in Lima, energy,
nux Inc. and Latinux Magazine) are
in Lima, Peru. Some sweet, some bit-
joy and enthusiasm, with eager-
renewing their technological platform
ter, but all rich in learning.
ness to learn. Good lectures,
with own developments, generating
We have been surprised as
new products and expanding its area
how the UNAC (University of El Ca-
who are very interested in
of influence. This month, both Latinu-
llao) authorities have left the students
free technologies.
xORG (www.latinux.org) and Lati-
who organized he event, alone, ma-
nux Magazine, launch new portals,
king them responsible for payments
minded me that when
fully developed by our R & D unit
associated
we fall, we get up,
with Python, Django and web2py.
guests logistics. We have also seen
see why we fell,
And in the coming weeks, Latinux
how these students faced the music,
learn from it and
Inc. and Latinux Press platforms will
showing courage and responsibility.
continue.
be renewed.
with
the
international
We have been competent wit-
motivated audience, people
These days re-
And
that's what the CO-
One of the changes we are
ness beside Manuel Bermudez, a Pro-
NEISC
implementing is the magazine publi-
fessor from the University of Florida,
did.
cation date. The first twelve issues
Google Switzerland's Fernanda Wei-
to the teams of the Na-
were published on time the first of
den and Latinux Press' Gustavo Mag-
tional Congress of Stu-
each month. Now, new editions
gi; of how these students with tears
dents of Computer and
of Latinux Magazine will be
running down their cheeks, faced the
Systems
published promptly on the
fact that the UNAC, despite having ta-
2010, Latinux and inter-
ken responsibility, in writing, of the
national guests!
first
Friday
of
each
month.
participants
Congratulations
Engineering
costs associated with the event, turned Our
Public
a deaf hear about this commitment.
Inter-
What a demonstration of responsibi-
unit
lity have given these students to their
Software national
(SPI) will
authorities!
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1
content
editorial
p. 1
When we fall, we get up, learn and continue forward
calendar
p. 23
In touch
Ricardo Strusberg
p. 24 Richard Stallman María Inmaculada Sanseverino
events p. 8 International Free Software Conference in
Efrain Valles
Argentina
María Inmaculada Sanseverino
p. 26
Anita Gómez latinux Inside Brazil Latinux
directory
p. 29
p. 10
Latinux Magazine ideas bazaar diffusion zone Latinux certifies to the massive
Free Software localization and translation p. 11
Ricardo Hernández
event GPL Latinux Magazine
Page PAGE Page Página Página
2 66 www.latinuxmagazine.com
p. 10
p. 30
content content
post
p. 32
technology kiosk
p. 35
Bonus
Project:
telemedicine p. 32 Lauretta Chupeta
Free
Software-based
Editor en Jefe Ricardo Strusberg Editor Asociado Gustavo Maggi Editora María Inmaculada Sanseverino Ilustradora y Diseñadora Gráfica Marina Bello Asistente Administrativo Yeliana Villalobos Traducción Martha Romero Administración Jacqueline Pérez de Strusberg Para contactos locales: brasil@latinuxmagazine.com chile@latinuxmagazine.com colombia@latinuxmagazine.com puertorico@latinuxmagazine.com republicadominicana@latinuxmagazine.com mexico@latinuxmagazine.com peru@latinuxmagazine.com uruguay@latinuxmagazine.com usa@latinuxmagazine.com venezuela@latinuxmagazine.com
LATINUX CLUSTER Patrocinado por: Latinux Cluster El Cluster Latinux es una red de empresas, instituciones educativas y consultores especializados en soluciones basadas en tecnologías libres, así como la consultoría y capacitación asociadas a este tipo de soluciones. A su vez, se concentra en la oferta de servicios de consultoría, soporte, mantenimiento, desarrollo e instalación de soluciones empresariales con base en tecnología libre, a nivel global. Entre las posibilidades de trabajo que se abren a partir de Latinux, está el cubrir la demanda no satisfecha de organizaciones, empresas y gobiernos en relación al desarrollo de Software Libre y aprovechamiento de productos y servicios que han tenido un determinado éxito local o en toda un área de actuación del consorcio. Todas las empresas participantes en Latinux son reconocidas en sectores en los que actúan y tienen gran experiencia en el área de soluciones de tecnología Libre.
LATINUX PRESS Publicado por: Latinux Press, una divisón de Latinux Inc. Dirección: Av. Samuel Lewis, Edificio Central, PH. Panamá, República de Panamá.. Teléfono: + 1 305 517-1853 E-mail: info@latinuxpress.com Latinux Magazine no se hace responsable por el contenido publicado. La información referida es responsabilidad de los autores y/o colaboradores aquí mencionados.
Page Page www.latinuxmagazine.com
7 33
Nociones Básica
CISL2010 Buenos Aires will have a party in September Next Tuesday, September, 7th at 9:30 am will begin one of the most important technology conferences in Argentina: The International Conference of Free Software (CISL), which will serve to reflect the civil society and public and private sectors reality. Bernardo González, president of the Argentina Free Software Enterprises Chamber will be responsible for the opening presentation. Throughout the activity, there will be participating international guests from Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Paraguay and Spain, to dictate their lectures in the Jorge Luis Borges Hall inside the facilities of the National Library, Agüero 2502, Buenos Aires.
cal talks, clinics and workshops by specialists who
The experts, entrepreneurs, technicians and staff may discuss proposals, approaches and development models based on free and open technologies. Simultaneously, techni-
are chambers of commerce and academics representatives will be conducted, into the Librarians School classrooms, to address specific topics that contribute to the Free Software daily work . This day,
John "Maddog" Hall, president
and CEO of Linux International will be also attending, as a special guest who will deliver the central conference after the coffee break at 3:30 pm. Jorge Cabezas, CISL Argentina organizer states that in the event there will also be a stands section, where companies, institutions and NGOs may join the activity, with an exhibition of products and services, completing a comprehensive picture of the actors involved in the SL development , deployment and penetration in the region. This active and rewarding day will end at 6:00 pm after receiving a large influx of visitors.
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9 5 11
LATINUX INSIDE
LATINUX ANNOUNCES ITS OPENING IN BRAZIL
The LATINUX cluster, a pio-
zed in credibility that the Latinux work has and the team that makes it possible.
neer in open technology and leader in La-
"We are confident that this event will be good for everyone, because not only we
tin American corporate and personal
do have an international certification, it comes also with services and products,
market, because of its solutions and servi-
with an ecosystem around free software which is very important to us."
ces in the areas of education, certifica-
The agreement took place at Propus' offices, it allows Latinux to extend
tion, research and development, signed
its offer to other countries, bringing their certifications in Spanish, English and
on July the 2nd in Porto Alegre the crea-
now, in Portuguese, inside the entire American continent.
tion of Latinux Brazil, responsible for the
Dutra said that his expectation is to accredit increasingly, a greater num-
certificates in the Portuguese language th-
ber of people through the Latinux certifications. For its part, Ricardo Strusberg,
rough Propus, a company representing
CEO of Latinux Inc, says that he is satisfied with the signing of this agreement
the Cluster in this country.
which represents the consolidation of the most credible and widespread interna-
Marlon Dutra, Latinux Brazil di-
tional certification in Brazil in the short term.
rector, says that the reasons which led him to sign the agreement are summari-
Left to right: Carlos Canto Eurico Pittas, LatinuxORG coordinator for Brazil, Ricardo Strusberg, CEO of Latinux Inc; Marlon Feij贸 Dutra, director of Brazil Latinux and Pablo Longhi Lorenzzoni, technical director of Brazil Latinux
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10 6 6 www.latinuxmagazine.com
Zona de diffusion difusi贸n zone
LATINUX CERTIFIES GPL IN MASSIVE EVENT After nine issues, ends the first edition of Freedom Guardian Bearer Concludes the first comic edition by the Latinux cluster, in an act of international importance in which Ricar-
Liberty Guardian Bearer as a novel idea that shares the values of Free Software and spreads it to others.
do Strusberg, CEO of the enterprises' conglomerate, honors
Behind this project has worked a team comprised of
the story hero for freeing hundreds of people infected with a
an illustrator, communicators, engineers and technicians, to
terrible virus: the Hexa.
perform a flawless process from the development of the
The intrigue generated over five weeks, every Tuesday and Friday, came to an end after Richard Su, the protago-
script, with its elements and details designed for students and professionals in technology, to the colorization of the strips. Some of the messages that have been brought to this
nist, discovered the plan for world domination that was behind a respected company in which the inhabitants of Xuni-
comic fans are:
tal trusted.
Free Software is available to all and lets people to know the
The idea came about when Latinux decided to parti-
truth through open source code
cipate in the National Congress of Students of Computer and
Free software leaders want to make the world a better place
Systems Engineering, held every year in Peru. This is the
To be certified adds credibility and serves as an endorsement
most important technology event in this country. In 2010 is
to participate in the construction of an open ecosystem.
it conducted its eighteenth edition and Latinux serves as one
The results have been satisfactory; in just five
of the major players, offering all attendees the opportunity to
weeks the www.elgpl.org portal received over 3,000 visits
take an examination to become a certified Junior Linux Ope-
and received over 13,000 page views and 75,000 applica-
rator (JLO) at no additional cost from registration. It is the
tions.
first time that this occurs in a massive event.
The plan, for now, is to get this comic in other lan-
The company committed to Free Software then tur-
guages as a way to have more and more people enjoying this
ned to the creation of a tool to spread the philosophy of the
story. In the medium term, the intention is to continue to ge-
community, to publicize their certification, and, above all, to
nerate issues but first the messages must be defined again be-
express why it is important to get certified. Thus arises the
side the script.
PAGE
12 www.latinuxmagazine.com
The plot takes place in Xunital, the city where Richard Su lives, he is a systems engineer who has an electrical shock in the server room of the company where he works, Chromi Corp, as a result of lightning strikes to the corporation building. From that moment he discovers a number of powers that generate him intrigue and confusion, and begins an investigation that leads him to a certain truth.
XUNITAL This is the city where Richard lives and is where the headquarters of Macro Corp are. Here breaks out a story full of oppression and freedom, the struggle between good and evil.
Richard Su He is a HEXA virus victim, then he manages to free himself of it in an enterprise accident in which he uncovers a number of known powers. He is a systems engineer working in Macro Corp since he was infected. Now , he tries to understand what happens, at the end of this process he will reorder his priorities and objectives. His new challenge will be to free others, so Richard is appointed the Freedom Bearer Guardian.
Cristian Vil Wealthy man, powerful, unhappy, ambitious and malicious. His mission is to conquer the world, to destroy planet Earth and raise his own empire. To do so, he develops advanced technology hidden from state and global authorities.
Robert Puertas He is Vil right hand. He sas prestige, credibility and recognition worldwide. He acts as Vil's figurehead, knows all his plans because he is in charge of running them and of managing Macro Corp.
PAGE www.latinuxmagazine.com
13
calendario calendarY calendar
August July mon Mon
2
Tue tue
Wed wed
3
64
Thu thu
Fri fri
Sat
1
2
3
58
6
sun Sun 1
7
8
National Congress of Students of Computer and Systems Engineering (CONEISC). El Callao, Peru DebConf10 (Debian Conference 2010) New York. USA
9
12
11
15
10
13
14
LinuxCon2010. Boston, USA 19th Unisex Security Symposium. Washington. DC, USA
16
17
18
19
Hispanic
2010 South 2nd Conference Universidad Nacional del Sur Bahia Blanca, Argentina
23
30
II Central America
24
31
25
1
26
3
27
2
2010 South 2nd Conference Universidad Nacional del Sur Bahia Blanca, Argentina
21
20
15
22
4th anniversary of and Open Source FrOSCon2010 (Free Software Conference). 53757 Sankt Ubuntu Venezuela Augustin, Germany Maracay, Venezuela
28
29
4
5
Vmworld2010. San Francisco,
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Zona de In touch difusi贸n
RICHARD STALLMAN GNU Project Founder in 1984, president of the nonprofit Free Software Foundation (FSF), editor of the General Public License (GPL) and father of free software and its movement in the world
Mar铆a Inmaculada Sanseverino: What is the status of free software in the world and Latin America? Richard Stallman: My job is to promote SL and above all, to teach people to value their freedom. The work of measuring the use of Free Software would be another job that I don't know how to do and I don't need to do. I do not know if there are statistics but I worry that measure progress in terms of numbers is not as important, it does not change what I need to do and what every user should do, which is to be free, run away from proprietary software. There is no need to count the slaves in the world to understand that we need to be free.
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24
MIS: What do you think is the reason that more and more people are sharing the Free Software philosophy? RS: I think we are gaining followers, because supporting the Free Software movement is not the same thing as using free software. There are many people using Open Source and perhaps developing FS, but they don't support our movement. They are two different things. Many try and convince others to use FS, so I do what they don't. MIS: Not only are more people using and sharing this philosophy but there are governments who agree with Free Software...
RS: There are a few, for example, Venezuela with his decree, Ecuador, Brazil partly because they haven't an explicit policy. There are also several provinces of Argentina that have laws to migrate to FS. MIS: What is the importance of Free Software for the developing of countries? RS: Using a proprietary program is dependence and use a free program is development. So, to achieve development there is only Free Software. If a country wants to develop must avoid falling into more dependence. MIS: What's new about the GNU Project?
www.latinuxmagazine.com
RS: I do not know, every week there are new versions of programs, but very important news I have none. There are other kind of news, for example, we proposed a development of a communication protocol for distributed social networks. Rather than put everything on the server of evil company like facebook - that no one should use because their business model is to misuse personal data -, the idea is to have multiple servers and each could have their server and communicate. In its functionality it would be as the social networks, but each one would control what they put in this network because they could show things in their own personal server.
MIS: Are there plans to make changes to change the GPL license?
MIS: What dreams?
RS: Not right now, I have seen something that would change if I make another version, but it is not important enough to make another version, I am just saving it in case I do another version someday, but right now I do not see a reason to change
RS: I want to establish human rights worldwide, I would eliminate unfair international institutions like the World Trade Organization, but I can not do these things, they are only dreams.
MIS: What is your position related to people who think that if they are free, they want to have the freedom to use Proprietary Software?
are Richard Stallman's
I've accomplished something, I started the Free Software movement and although we have not overcome proprietary software, we have established a freedom, a free community.
RS: That's not freedom, is to lose it. It is a paradox of freedom, as the freedom to sell slaves and this is not freedom, is an excuse to lose it.
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Ideas Bazar bazaar In touch de Ideas
EFRAÍN VALLES Efrain Valles is a Free Software and Open Source fan in Maracaibo, Venezuela. He dedicates his vocational work to Ubuntu, he says that his training in the computer area is due to the Linux User Group, where he participated in the Maracaibo VELUG, but his collaboration with UBUNTU starts and continues with the local team of this distribution in Venezuela, where he is still active promoting meetings and community events
Sanseverino:
The distribution has accustomed their users to a new GNOME
Ubuntu has just released its latest
version every six months and that gives us a fresh breath every time we
version on April, 29th. What's new
see the desktops, and now that KDE also implements a similar cycle, you
for users?
can say the same for Kubuntu. Many features that were introduced in
María
Inmaculada
version 9.10 of Ubuntu become much more polished, as is the case with the
Ubuntu Software Center, which provides a much friendlier interface to
innovations we have much more
find and install applications on our system. Ubuntu One is service on the
Efraín
Valles:
Among
polished interface, a design effort in
cloud to sync files which now combines contacts between mobile phones
trying
and email clients.
to
iron
experiences aims
to
of make
out
the
usability, everything
rough Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a very exciting distribution to follow for their continued
more
innovation in its use experience in an operating system based on Debian
intuitive. The new "me menu" is an
GNU/Linux.
example of these advances, where the distribution seeks to integrate
MIS: What are the challenges that currently has Ubuntu in terms of
people social identity with common
improvements?
communication activities. Ubuntu is an operating system ready for social
EV: Always stay fresh to its users, be useful and intuitive, bringing the
networking from the moment you
best of free software to users. Ubuntu also has the challenge of
install it. There is a new experience
contributing even more with projects like Debian, GNOME, KDE,
turning on the computer, the speed
OpenOffice, KERNEL, amoung others. The user base is very active in
with which the computer starts is
errors reporting and resolution, the idea is to bring these errors and
almost minimal and this is due to the
possible solutions to the projects "upstream" and thus to benefit all
replacing of some aspects in the boot
product development in Ubuntu.
management. We have a new open source Nvidia driver. As for servers, Ubuntu also offers more tools for
MIS: If you had to take stock of Ubuntu's most important achievements
easy
throughout its history, what would they be and why?
management
developments
to
configurations.
and
new
particular
cloud EV: The formidable distribution agreement with Ubuntu preinstalled computers that took place with companies like DELL and smaller
Página Page 20 16 Page 26
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Definitely, Ubuntu is a platform ready
MIS: Have you been able to quantify the number of people using Ubuntu
for the average user worldwide. There
around the world?
are areas where there is definitely room for improvement, but I think it not only
EV: Honestly, there is no accurate measures of Ubuntu use. There are an
depends on this distribution, I consider
estimated just over 12 million users worldwide as Canonical reported, and
that
interoperability
this is just before the launch of Lucid. The figure represents an increase
between office software is one of them.
of almost 50% of the number of users that had been estimated 18 months
It provides a secure fast and reliable
ago. The data collection method used between the two measures is the
operating system, in many ways and is
same. I think if we believe this growth in the next release will have close
definitely an outstanding option for a
to more than half of what we have now.
the
issues
of
user looking for a change in the way MIS: It is true that the GIMP package won't be included in the
he/she uses his/her computer.
distribution? MIS: Do you think Ubuntu is a key distribution in order to massify free
EV: It is not true, GIMP is one of the outstanding design applications on
software use at end user level?
free software. GIMP has been removed from the applications installed by default in Ubuntu. The idea is that there is a massive application software
EV: Definitely, Ubuntu is a platform
such as OpenOffice.org or Firefox. Consider that the method of
ready
distribution of UBUNTU is a CD and the space occupied by GIMP is
for
the
average
user
worldwide. There are areas where there
is
definitely
room
for
improvement, but I think it not only depends
on
consider
this
that
interoperability
distribution, the
issues
between
considerably large for an application that is not a necessity. MIS: What are the expectations and projections for the end of this year?
I of
office
EV: To continue to bring software freedom to millions of users with a perfect
balance
between
community
and
professionalism
in
the
software is one of them. It provides a
workplace. To continue to grow, innovate and contribute to the free
secure fast and reliable operating
software and open source great community worldwide.
system,
in
many
ways
and
is
definitely an outstanding option for a
MIS: Now, regarding the Open Week, is the first time performing this activity?
user looking for a change in the way he/she uses his/her computer.
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technology In touch Kiosk EV: Ubuntu Open Week is in its eighth year, is
Well, to me Ubuntu Open Week accounted as my chance to participate
an online event where people around the world
in the worldwide Ubuntu community. In the Ubuntu Open
gather in IRC to learn the latest on Ubuntu.
Week,November 2006, through a lecture with Ubuntu local teams, I
Serves also as a welcome and shows what the
managed to restore the Ubuntu community in Venezuela IRC channel,
community has to offer for new users. The
after a person left and closed the channel. The whole experience was
lectures range from introduction to the new
documented
features in Ubuntu to how to report and repair
http://www.geekosophical.net/?p=71, and from this magazine I send a
errors. One of the most popular talk is "Ask
big hug to Melissa Draper for his boundless energy to achieve greater
Mark", a two-hour session with the founder of
integration into the Ubuntu community worldwide. From there my
the project.
collaboration in Ubuntu has been fully documented in my blog
Ubuntu Open Week in Spanish was
by
the
lecturer
in
his
blog,
http://effiejayx.wordpress.com.
organized by teams of local communities in Central America, including Nicaragua and with
MIS: What interesting anecdote do you have related to an
the support of the Ubuntu Open Week at the
Ubuntu Open Week that you could share with those unable to
international
participate?
level
organizers,
they
have
managed to conduct a week of lectures entirely in Spanish in order to bring more Hispanic
EV: Well, to me Ubuntu Open Week accounted as my chance to
users of the Ubuntu project.
participate in the worldwide Ubuntu community. In the Ubuntu Open Week,November 2006, through a lecture with Ubuntu local
MIS: What was the benefit of this activity?
teams, I managed to restore the Ubuntu community in Venezuela IRC channel, after a person left and closed the channel. The
more
whole experience was documented by the lecturer in his blog,
contribution at every Open Week. Many people
http://www.geekosophical.net/?p=71, and from this magazine I
find how easy is to access the community in
send a big hug to Melissa Draper for his boundless energy to
such events. All persons involved have great
achieve
human
worldwide. From there my collaboration in Ubuntu has been
EV:
Ubuntu
Open
quality
and
Week
is
achieved
definitely
a
good
opportunity to get started in collaboration with
greater
integration
MIS: I know the Ubuntu Open Week was held through an IRC channel, what benefits brought this methodology and how many participated? IRC
is
the
method
of
direct
communication that the project uses, this methodology encourages IRC for contact with the community. Many people who join the talks, have never used IRC and it serves
Pรกgina PAgE 28 18 22 Page Pรกgina 30
the
Ubuntu
community
fully documented in my blog http://effiejayx.wordpress.com.
a project the size of Ubuntu.
EV:
into
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directory
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21 29
Ideas Bazar de bazaar Ideas
Free software, localization and translation Por Ricardo Hernรกndez Improvements should be available to all users, that's is why there are also essential the translations through collaboration
When mentioning the virtues of free software, always take into account the freedoms this offers unlike proprietary software. As is known, it is possible to study the source code, modify it and distribute the improvements to the user community of that free application. However, when it comes to improvements, you must also take into account that they can reach the largest number of users, which is closely related to the location of the software, for example, the software is at least translated into the native languages of the various users that may use it. What was explained above gives way to another very impor-
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30
tant process in Free Software projects such as collaboration, either free or paid. This collaboration is commonly associated with the generation of source code, patches to existing code, new features to software and changes to personal use. All of this is possible thanks to the power that gives us free software, but if the user or groups of users are not programmers, it is sure to ask or even ensure themselves that they can not contribute to free software projects because they can not change the source code, but this is not true at all, a true collaborative effort in conjunction with the generation of source code happens and that is the
process of localization and translation of programs. Now, not all users can contribute in the latter respect, but it is good to know that the software, being already free, also opens the door to more open, accurate and extensive translation processes, than those that occur in other forms of software generation. The process of translating a program and its documentation, is certainly a bit tedious, even complicated, but allows the communities and users, further appropriating the software they use, being able to use it in their native language. An example of this is the project OOoAuthors (http://www.oooaut-
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hors.org), which seeks to create quality documentation for the Openoffice.org office software in several languages. In order to assist in the project, you just have to send an email to the mailing list of translators and indicate which part of the documentation you want to translate because it is separated into modules and usually available first in English and from this base, in other languages. This is an example of a project that does not involve modifying the source code and represents an invaluable help, as office software is one of the most important for any user. Despite the previously stated, very few people involved in these translation processes, which is a shame because by participating in them, you learn a lot about the particular software and even characteristics of the various languages. In OOoAuthors, the Spanish translation community is largely Latin American and its members are very receptive and responsive to suggestions. As for the translation of the software as such, the process involves the use of applications to translate files containing the fields "translatable" into the software. Despite the need of additional tools, this process isn't very complicated because there are applications that can help us to edit these special files, an example of such applications is Lokalize, a fairly comprehensive tool to help the translation of programs, including user pre-set phrases automatic translation, glossary, and dictionary, among others. Lokalize is only going to show the phrases that belong to the files for translation, meaning it doesn't change the source code and therefore can be used for experienced translators or anyone who
wants to collaborate. The projects and applications mentioned in this article are only examples showing that the translation is not a process that is running alone, help is needed in order to achieve build a correctly translated application and adapted even to dialects of one language, but to achieve this, we must work as the program creator did when he or she did it in free software, and expect the collaboration and teamwork it involves. Next time you know and use some free software that is only available in English, French, German, or any other language you know and can translate into your native language, I invite you to do so, get involved and contribute to the
continuity of the software and accessibility of it, with a little of your time spent to translate and detect translation errors in existing software, so in that way improvements can be made or definitions of a new translation localized to one country can be created. This allows them to better understand the software and to encourage the use of that software.
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TECHNOLOGY KIOSK
THE BONIS PROJECT: FREE SOFTWARE BASED TELEMEDICINE In 1997, professors from various universities create
day Bonis telemedicine project, a multimedia system based
the Multimedia-EHU group with the idea of teaching enginee-
on Free Software to conduct epidemiological surveillance in
ring, to study and extend cooperation between various training
isolated areas of Paraguay to avoid plagues of dengue and ot-
and research centers.
her febrile illnesses.
Xabier Basogain Olabe, an engineer, Bilbao School of
Two professors from the School of Marine and Na-
Engineering Professor since 1990 and founder of Media-EHU,
val Engineering at the UPV/ EHU maintained contact with
states that they began with studies of voice and image transmis-
the Institute for Research in Health Sciences of Paraguay.
sion with a simulated telecommunications network, opening a
They wanted to have a system to facilitate telemedicine in the
new line of research: online education using multimedia and
remotest parts of the South American country to treat fevers
they later began working with augmented virtual reality.
and contagious diseases. So this is the reason the first reu-
The experiences and learnings contained in the EHU
nions are held in January 2009, stating the existing problem
Multimedia Group made it possible for Basogain to direct to-
by then. They needed to offer patients the mechanisms to enable them to contact health officials. Currently, the team responsible for carrying out the Bonis project comprises two teachers from the MultimediaEHU Group beside Xabier Basogain, two professors from the
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School of Marine and collaboration of the Institute for Research in Health Sciences of Paraguay. Basogain comments on the multimedia system based on Free Software: "We have had to invent anything, only to identify technologies, develop applications and integrate"
Health Surveillance Directorate General, is stored the multimedia database system based on Free Software. Finally, there is a website that promotes internal communication between doctors and experts "The physician fills the data for the patient who has been for a consultation, describe his/her symptoms, make a diagnosis that will be recorded and available to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare. "
Bonis is underway All begins with a phone call made by the patient to health officials. If the person is already registered in the system, the only requirement asked to enter his/her personal data will be his/her ID number. So, automatically can be obtained the patient record and address. In the event that the person is not registered in the system, he/she can do at that time. In the call, an answering machine asks the patient about current symptoms, and within a minute of conversation they have already been registered. The system knows who is the person and where he/she lives. "Then it is able to
According to Basogain, the system has many advantages, "It would advance the diagnosis of possible febrile cases, and the spread characteristic of these diseases, this is very important both in health and economic terms. It seeks to prioritize and advance the community workers visits to identify as soon as possible fever cases. In addition, the system may be extended to monitor other types of respiratory and diarrheal diseases. "The pilot test was conducted in a secluded neighborhood that has not many economic resources: BaĂąado Sur de Asuncion.
make a list of people who have called that day, each with his/her profile and a supervisor decides whether there is a possible epidemic outbreak," Basogain says. In Asuncion, specifically at the headquarters of the
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