LiveContent
The idea of LiveContent is based upon LiveDistro, a live instance of an operating system that can be booted from a CD or other type of media without needing to install the actual software on a machine.
LiveContent is an umbrella idea which aims to provide added features in addition to a CD-bootable operating system. With LiveContent, other applications and content can be coupled with the OS and delivered through various methods.
Contents
LiveUSB
LiveDVD
LiveCD
Gnome has one. So does Mono. Why not Creative Commons? A successful completion of this challenge would produce an ISO image for a bootable system that would be filled with CC-licensed content and whatever the state-of-the-art in CC-enabled content and open source applications are at that time. Creative Commons will team with Red Hat, Worldlabel.com and OpenOffice in order to produce a LiveCD that can be presented to libraries throughout the US as an example of open source, open document formats and Creative Commons-licensed content. Worldlabel is supporting the development of the LiveCD.
Target
CD will be for public terminals at libraries. The object is to get as many libraries to install Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) on their current systems. We will be aiming the implementation at librarians and library administrators.
We strongly believe that libraries are a great way to plant seeds in the community to help Free Software to become popular. This project will bring more awareness to Open Source and help under funded Libraries save money so they can buy more books.
At this time, it seems that CDs provide the best media format that is accessible to most library computer terminals.
Proposed LiveCD Contents
A) Redhat Fedora 7
- appropriate documentation
B) Productivity/entertainment suite with a combination of the following Free Open Source programs:
- Openoffice.org - Complete version (same as from OOo site)
- OOoWikipedia plugin, links on page and CD to: OO, Support page, OOoforums, Documentation Project
- FireFox - web browser
- Gimp - raster graphics editor
- Thunderbird - email client
- Inkscape - vector graphics editor
- VLC - media player
- Collection of clipart from Open Clip Art Library
- Worldlabel.com Blank Opendocument Format Label Templates and collection of Pre-designed label templates: address, shipping, filing, CD
- Information and doccumentation on Opendocument Format from http://opendocumentfellowship.org/ included i
- other appropriate documentation for apps
C) Creative Commons-licensed content
- 10 best examples of CC-licensed content from the following categories: audio, video, text, image
- Possible inclusion of a CC plugin pre-installed in Openoffice.org
- open courseware examples?
- http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Books
- http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Content_Curators
Distribution Options
We will investigate options for getting the CDs into the hands of the libaries we wish to target. While we wish to provide a quality LiveCD to the most libraries we can, we realize that mass mailing may not be the best way to accomplish this distribution goal, especially since this may be considered a type of spamming. Ideas other than mailing include hosting the contents online and doing outreach to libraries and other interested parties through a widespread press release, listservs, hand out at events, or get an in through professional organizations like the American Library Association.
While we are working towards a deliverable LiveCD by August 8, further exploration of a dynamic, automated system should be examined. This type of system could be automated to pull updated content from various sources , current application versions and OS patches and build a CD extremely easily. In this way, users could download the most current build at any time.
Timeline
June 11
June 18
June 25
July 2
July 9
July 16
July 23
July 30
August 6
- LiveCD rollout at Linuxworld - San Francisco
August 8th
- LiveCD rollout CC Salon - San Francisco
Potential Issues
- what kinds of agreements do libraries have with software providers now, if any?
- make the cds very intuitive, well-labeled, good supporting documentation
- how do we distribute without spamming?
- will libraries trust what we send to them?
- will libraries notice it or have time to look at it?
- less to do with the software and more to do with presentation and documentation
- focus on low income areas?
- will CC put on material that covers all the different licenses? or least restrictive? - attribution only
- different libraries have different budgets which allow for a vast range in hardware and training
- The mailing will have a mail back questionaire asking did they install software and other general questions. - rethink this idea due to spamming/response issues?
- what about adding the CDs to library collections? - might be a good way for people to install or use at home, but doesn't align too well with the applications and content becoming obsolete
People to connect with
- The CD will be reviewed by numerous librarians from Open Source division of Lita.org (Library Information Technology Association) http://www.lita.org is a part of The American Library Association http://www.ala.org/. These reviews hopefully will be published in numerous ALA publications. This review will be sent with the CD in the mailing so that there is neutral positive influence behind the CD and is not just coming from a commercial entity. We'll need to be able to provide a demo to send to LITA so that we can get feedback.
- Similar projects exist but are dormant: http://marketing.openoffice.org/ and http://distribution.openoffice.org/It would be great if it can intergrated with this project. Cooperation with OO is necessary to insure OOo is represented according the wishes of their project.
- project managers for oo marketing: john mccressh: mailto:jpmcc@openoffice.org, cristin driga mailto:cdriga@openoffice.org
- Researching 3 libraries in Putnam County, N.Y. in upscale districts, the 3 libraries had Openoffice.org, Firefox and Gimp installed. Further research in under privileged areas will be done. Visited private library which relies on Donations in Cold Springs, NY. Had no FOSS installed and where extremely receptive to the CD idea.
- Spoke to Ms. Carrie Russell - the copyright specialist for the Office for Information Technology Policy of the American Library Association. Recieved positive response. Ms. Carrie Russell advised that she would consider writing information for the LiveCD on CC and use for libraries.
- Mr. Alex Choong of Innotech Resources Pte Ltd (worldlabel.com.sg) will cover the cost of duplication of master Library CD. 8000 to 1000pcs with jewel box or sleve. He wants will also implement a program in Singapore and Malaysia to distribute the CD to libraries. He mentioned wanting reference to this in press releases.
- Jack Aboutboul - Redhat
- simon spero at sun in north carolina
- John Rutherford of Lita/ALA Chairman of Opensource for Lita - IT division of ALA
- http://www.ala.org/ala/lita/litamembership/litacommittees/roster.cfm?committee=lit-igopens
- Email: jrutherford @ wayne.edu
- Phone: (313) 577-0367
- will be at ALA conference in Washington DC end of June
- David Bretthauer
- http://www.lita.org/ala/lita/litapublications/ital/2101bretthauer.cfm, can be a big help, especially giving ideas which libraries to target for mailings and other stuff.
- Dave.Bretthauer@uconn.edu
- Tel: 860-486-6494
LiveCD Examples
- Debian Live - Debian LiveCDs
- KNOPPIX - Well-known LiveCD
- Slax - Slackware-based LiveCD
- Ubuntu - Popular LiveCD
LiveCD Resources
- Debian Live
- Live CD List - Long List of LiveCDs
- LiveDistro - Build Tools, Howtos, Releases
- Reconstructor - Remaster Ubuntu LiveCDs
- Wikipedia Linux LiveDistro Comparison
- Wikipedia LiveCD
- Ubuntu Customization Kit - Make custom Ubuntu LiveCDs
Articles to Read
- http://www.infomotions.com/musings/ossnlibraries-workshop/ossnlibraries-workshop.html
- http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=03/12/14/1545216&mode=thread&tid=132&tid=151&tid=82
- http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=1216
- Article on Open Source in libaries by Gates Foundation: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=734
other resources
- information on licensing issues for libraries: - http://www.librarycopyright.net/