Re: Proposals and information

[johna@babel.apana.org.au (John August)]

terry@albert.aapra.org.au wrote :
> 
> On 28 Nov, Ken Yap wrote:
> 
> > I believe equipment is actually the least of our hurdles. You will not
> > believe some the useful stuff I find in tips. The main hurdles will be
> > enough people to help. Witness TAD with 500 computers and not enough
> > helpers. Which is why reverse computer envisaged assembly line and
> > automated software installation techniques to make effective use of
> > volunteers' time. Another kind of volunteer needed are people to teach
> > users.  That is why computerbank should enlist other organisations and
> > individuals to address the user handholding aspect. We tend to assume, as
> > computer literate people, that computers are easy with one hand holding
> > a guide and another on they keyboard. A teacher friend of mine can tell
> > you different.
> 
> I absolutely agree. I'm quite certain that the biggest constraint in
> this, and similar, projects will be finding enough motivated people to
> volunteer their time and effort.
> 
I'm actually a lot more positive. I've indicated my interest in helping 
however I can to Grahame. I'm sure there will be others, you just have to
develop things. Grahame, what was the response like to your invitation
for help at the slug meeting ?

Within Slug, there has never been a shortage of people to help with install
fests.

While people are getting more busy, we are also looking for outlets to
spend our time. There is "time up the collective community sleeve"; its just
a matter of mobilising it. But its not just a matter of saying people should
do it for alruistic purposes. More that "you'll make a good deal of 
difference for the time you put in". That argument has held well for slug
install fests.

Witness the amount of effort spent in OSS. A great deal of community resource
has been mobilised.

Actually, I can see shifts in several other areas. Over the last (say) 
twenty years, restaurants have changed from something we only went to when
interstate visitors were around to something we visit regularly. There was
"additional spare time and money" which came into existence which we used
on restaurants.

Similarly, spare time has condensed that has been spent on Slug functions,
OSS development and so on.

On a separate note : Hello Kylie, I'm on the list :). I note there are two
other Sydney/NSW people on the list : Graham and Ken. Any others hail from
this part of the world ?

-- 
John August

Mortality is wasted on most humans.
Immortality is wasted on most vampires.