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On 8/5/2011 5:15 PM, Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
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<p>With a very encouraging list of nominees for the open board
positions, it might help (at least me!) if some could share
their thoughts about OSGeo and its future direction.<br>
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Sorry for my delay in responding, Tyler – I was traveling. <br>
<br>
Like others, I should say that I too am honored to be nominated.
The other nominees are quite impressive!<br>
<br>
My response to Tyler’s questions will, naturally, come from my
perspective as a professor in a U.S. higher education institution,
and also from my perspective of researching open source software
projects (I have a book coming out in 2012 to be published by MIT
Press where I studied open source collaboration issues). I teach in
two programs: an environmental conservation program (undergrads and
grad students) and also in a public administration/policy masters
program. I also taught, most recently, high school teachers open
source GIS.<br>
<br>
TYLER’S QUESTION: What challenges do you see for OSGeo in the short
and long terms?<br>
<br>
Challenge 1. Increased awareness and adoption of OSGeo-related
technologies (short and long term)<br>
<br>
My students are constantly asking me “why open source”? Why not
teach us the dominant GIS software used by the organizations they
will be interviewing with? Historically this has to do with dominant
proprietary desktop GIS, but increasingly I am seeing more interest
in Google’s free (as in cost), open standard web-based
technologies. So I think this is a major, long term challenge. How
does OSGeo-related technologies gain market share?<br>
<br>
Challenge 2. Continued improvements in the usability of
OSGeo-technologies. <br>
<br>
Some of the resistance I run into is because of usability or
technical problems students run into with the software we use.
Things have definitely improved over the last 5 years since I
started teaching this, but I still run into periodic problems and
sometimes this is because of inconsistencies between computer
platforms (e.g., Windows or Mac). This is a reflection based on my
focus in particular on one desktop GIS package in particular. These
technical problems result in students having sometimes a negative
view of open source. In last year’s graduation ceremony, some
students gave me an “open source proponent award.” The little trophy
they gave me was in parts and they said I had to put it together
myself. This was in fun and as a joke, but it also makes a statement
about how end-users who are less technical sometimes feel about open
source technologies. This is an issue found in many open source
technologies – and not specifically OSGeo technologies. I'm not sure
what the OSGeo board can do to help with this issue, but I believe
it is an important issue. At the same time, I am extremely grateful
and impressed at the OSGeo-related software groups and hope they
don't see this comment as a negative one. <br>
<br>
Challenge 3. Better integration of OSGeo technologies specifically
in the education sector. Education is a key way to make headway into
open source geospatial technology adoption. But the challenge is how
do we make headway in its use in educational programs at all levels?
<br>
<br>
TYLER’S QUESTION: What kinds of goals do you have for the
organisation? (It's not a presidential race, but curious on what you
see as goals for the org).<br>
<br>
Goal 1: To encourage collaborative activities that helps to increase
the adoption of OSGeo-related technologies. I personally think a
focus on the use of these technologies in local governments might be
an area of potential growth. In the US, proprietary technologies are
embedded in national and state organizations, but there are many
local governments that have little GIS capability. I think a focus
on local governments might be a “growth industry” in developed
countries like the US, and also is absolutely relevant in developing
countries. So it might be a place to focus some serious attention.<br>
<br>
Goal 2: Better and increased communication between software groups
and educators. As the chair of OSGeo's educational group, I don't
really see much direct dialog between the software groups and our
education group. I'd like to see that improved and see where we
might be able to work together better.<br>
<br>
Goal 3: Help raise funding for the development of OSGeo-related
educational and marketing material. <br>
<br>
TYLER’S QUESTION: What is needed for a board to be successful?
...For OSGeo to be a success?<br>
<br>
I think the OSGeo board’s primary role should play a strategic
planning role in supporting OSGeo’s staff and helping them with
OSGeo direction. As I see it, the board should be helping OSGeo
identify cutting edge opportunities. For example, where are the
niches OSGeo technologies can fill? Where might OSGeo’s projects
compete? How do we differentiate OSGeo from proprietary
competitors? How can OSGeo help coordinate activities between
projects or encourage collaborative efforts across OSGeo toward
strategic goals? So as a new board member I’d like to understand the
existing strategic vision of OSGeo and, if needed, encourage new
dialog on where OSGeo is headed and what activities it should
undertake to promote and advance OSGeo-related projects.<br>
<br>
I also think the board should have some people on the board who can
help raise some funding for OSGeo that would help achieve some of
their goals. My area of expertise would be in grant-funding efforts,
and perhaps with a few other board members we could collectively go
after grant funds to help move some of OSGeo forward (for example in
the educational content area). <br>
<br>
Finally, I think the board needs to be made up of people from
different perspectives and skills. I may have missed it, but it
might be useful for people voting to see a list of the current board
make-up (background and summary of what they bring to the table) and
then look at the current nominees to see how they might complement
or add to the current board composition. <br>
<br>
TYLER’S QUESTION: Have you had to deal with similar challenges
before?<br>
<br>
My experience tends to be around the teaching of some of the
OSGeo-related technologies. So I’ve dealt with some of the
challenges of promoting OSGeo-technologies in an academic setting.
I’ve also been involved in trying to encourage collaboration in the
OSGeo education group. So I’ve got some experience in the challenge
of getting volunteers to work with one another.<br>
<br>
Thanks, all, for your time and ear. Cheers.<br>
<br>
Charlie Schweik<br>
UMass Amherst<br>
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