Difference between revisions of "Advocacy"

Latest revision as of 06:54, 31 July 2010

This page provides an overview of OSGeo Advocacy Activity. You can find more related pages in the Category Advocacy. This comprises explanations and definitions of terms used in conjunction with developing, using, disseminating (spreading) and enhancing Free and Open Source Software. Additionally it should enhance availability and accessibility of information about best practices examples and large scale usage scenarios. Advocacy helps new users and developers find out and learn what is special about this place.

Find all related pages in the Category:Advocacy

Case Studies, Examples, Galleries

We need more Case Studies! Please feel free to add your best example of a successful Open Source based implementation, migtration strategies, Free Software adoption, etc. Most Free Software Projects also operate a web site where you can find examples of all kinds of solutions, again ranging in scale from the personal website mashup up to state- or worldwide infrastructures with millions of users.

How could OSGeo provide more information on specific examples to show the high level of quality and reliance of some packages as well as the ease of use of other pieces of code. Would it make sense to collect links to galleries here?

Definitions

A short introduction to Free Software
A short introduction to Open Source
The difference between Software Projects and Products is sometimes good for confusion.
Free Software can be used commercially in many different Business contexts.
Commercial Services provide for professional support and can help to implement productive environments.
Professional Support is provided by a diverse ecology of professionals.
OSGeo operates a Service Provider Directory that helps to identify the required specialist.

Education and long term Outreach

It is very easy to speak in favor of an "industry leader", which "is used everywhere" and with which "students get marketable skills" (from a mail by Ari Jolma).

There are three messages in this remark that need our attention both from a short and long term perspective.

Industry leadership has to be put into a context. GIS markets have changed dramatically in the past years and the GIS industry is trying to follow. The late industry leaders are now confronted with businesses like Google, Yahoo et al who do "GIS light" as a past time and reach out to billions of users. At the same time organizations like OSGeo form and consolidate a vast pool of resources.
What "is used everywhere" has already changed considerably. There are markets (for example Germany) where the number of UMN MapServer by far outnumbers any single proprietary vendor's number of installations.
How "students get marketable skills" currently depends largely on the available skills of the teachers and quality of material - but not on what the market needs! THe market has a need for high qualified solutions providers who do not depend on using one software that they have learned but who are capable to decide which tool is the best to solve the geospatial issue.

What to do about the Open Source Training Providers page? Keep it there, add a category to the Service Provider Directory, link to a library with tutorials, etc.

OSGeo Site Focus

The page WebCom OSGeo Site Focus collects information on who we expect to show up on http://www.osgeo.org and what we imagine that they would want to get a starting information.

Promotional Resources

OSGeo logos
Visibility documents - brochures for printing, etc.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-''This page coordinates OSGeo Advocacy. This comprises explanations and definitions of terms used in conjunction with developing, using, disseminating (spreading) and enhancing [[Free]] and [[Open Source]] Software. Additionally it should enhance availability and accessibility of information about best practices examples and large scale usage scenarios. Advocacy helps new users and developers find out and learn what is special about this place.''
+''This page provides an overview of OSGeo Advocacy Activity. You can find more related pages in the [[:Category:Advocacy | Category Advocacy]]. This comprises explanations and definitions of terms used in conjunction with developing, using, disseminating (spreading) and enhancing [[Free]] and [[Open Source]] Software. Additionally it should enhance availability and accessibility of information about best practices examples and large scale usage scenarios. Advocacy helps new users and developers find out and learn what is special about this place.''
 '''Find all related pages in the [http://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php/Category:Advocacy Category:Advocacy]'''
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 * [[Commercial Services]] provide for professional support and can help to implement productive environments.
 * [[Professional Support]] is provided by a diverse ecology of professionals.
-* OSGeo operates a [[Service Provider Directory]] that helps to identify the required specialist.
+* OSGeo operates a [http://www.osgeo.org/search_profile Service Provider Directory] that helps to identify the required specialist.
 == Education and long term Outreach ==
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 # How "students get marketable skills" currently depends largely on the available skills of the teachers and quality of material - but not on what the market needs! THe market has a need for high qualified solutions providers who do '''not''' depend on using one software that they have learned but who are capable to decide which tool is the best to solve the geospatial issue.
-What to do about the [[Open Source Training Providers]] page? Keep it there, add a category to the [[Service Provider Directory]], link to a library with tutorials, etc.
+What to do about the [[Open Source Training Providers]] page? Keep it there, add a category to the [http://www.osgeo.org/search_profile Service Provider Directory], link to a library with tutorials, etc.
 == OSGeo Site Focus ==