Manchester Free Software

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 17th June, 2008. John McKerrell gives an introduction to the collaborative mapping phenomenon that is Open Street Map, the project that aims to generate a streetmap of the entire world. John will also explain the workings of the Open Street Map editors and show how to map your own area.

Submissions for lightning talks are welcome. If you have something to talk about, maybe something you’ve done for free software, or events that may interest us, please add yourself to the wiki page or contact us.

The meeting will be held in the Manchester Digital Development Agency from 19:00. General information about the meetings and the venue can be found on the meetings page.

If you’re coming, feel free to add yourself to the FSF Groups wiki page, or let us know on the Upcoming event page.

See you there!

Richard Rothwell from M6-IT Community Interest Company will be talking about about sustainable education solutions.

Schools and students have been caught up in a cycle of computer replacement and upgrade for the past two decades. The development of free software solutions offers a route out of this cycle. The talk will cover potential free software solutions for schools and families to setup sustainable solutions that will enable them to concentrate on their key purpose - that of educating the individual. The applicability of these solutions for community organisations will be discussed.

Two key projects will be covered in detail: the installation of an extensive LTSP system at Handsworth Grammar School and the Families On-Line project in Nottingham, where the regeneration funding is being used to provide computers, with free software, and an Internet connection to socially excluded families. Mention will also be made of the Birmingham Friends of the Earth smaller LTSP network.

We will be meeting on Tuesday 20th May, 19:00 at the Manchester Digital Development Agency on Portland Street (directions).

If you’re coming, feel free to add yourself to the FSF Groups wiki page, or let yourself be known on the Upcoming event page.

As mentioned previously, Richard Stallman was in Manchester last Thursday to give a presentation. Manchester Free Software organised the event in association with the BCS and the IET.

The talk was a resounding success with many “enlightening” points made and insightful questions asked. Over 300 people attended, filling the lecture theatre, causing latecomers to sit in the aisles.

Video

For those who could not attend, or wish to watch the presentation again, Andrew John Hughes videoed the event.

Each movie is provided as a Theora video stream together with a Vorbis audio stream using the Ogg container format. Three versions are provided, suitable for different downloading capabilities: Full size (704×576), half size (352×288), and quarter size (176×144). The audio stream is also provided as a separate download using Speex, which may be preferable if you are not bothered about seeing the visual content. Further details of these formats are available on the Xiph.org website. A DVD copy is available on request from Andrew John Hughes.

All videos are licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales license.

Torrent:

If possible, please use a .torrent from the Primary Mirror in preference to the HTTP mirrors. The .torrent contains versions in the following formats: Ogg Theora (high, medium, and low quality), and Ogg Speex.

HTTP Mirrors:

Primary Mirror

tdobson.net

High Quality :: Medium Quality :: Low Quality :: Audio Version :: Info & Licence

Tertiary Mirrors

Fuseyism

High Quality :: Medium Quality :: Low Quality :: Audio Version :: Licence