[OSGeo-Discuss] Candidate's Thoughts on OSGeo

[Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo)]

Thanks Eduardo.  Indeed many of these are not even realised in North America, so they are very thought provoking for me.

Tyler

----- Original message -----
> hi Tyler,
> 
> Despite some thoughts below might not be new in north hemisphere,
> there goes my Latin American user vision:
> 
> #OSGeo is already inside the minds of power GIS users and GIS
> developers, we already know like things work and how/what to be done
> to work. Now maybe is the time to make OSGeo more visible and
> understood by users
> ##ok, it's a long process but it has to begin. eg.: general population
> already knows that "oh Linux? yes, I got. It's free of charge right?"
> and some commercial users, after 2008 economical crisis plus
> web2/social networking boom, already got that it's not just a matter
> of cost, but also because free/opensource tool will not make a big
> change of architecture, basic concepts/structures without talking to
> users ( eg.: MapServer mapfile programming structure is almost the
> same since it was born, but in some commercial tools things may change
> a lot in minor/major releases)
> ##these same end-users ( including independent workers, commercial
> users) must to see that F4G platform can help SERVICES market: helping
> to cut costs on software acquisition ( smaller total project/service
> costs) and making service providers FREE from this or that software
> supplier ( and to help services market is help on job opportunities
> too... a cool social role of foss and foundations)
> ##and maybe one way to help on that is to make more SOLUTION cases
> visible. First step is to prove that existing foss technology works
> and this is done. The step to enforce is to 'sell the fish' that
> integration with commercial solutions is possible and support on foss
> communities can even be better/faster than commercial support centers.
> ##certification and stamp matters: for corporate communities/users is
> important to ensure that this or that software/solution have an "OSGeo
> certified stamp". There are a lot of users that do not need more than
> one or two softwares. And most of them is always looking for work with
> only one, if possible. So, if the second tool the user will look for
> also has the "osgeo stamp", user may feel better with that. In this
> sense, a certification program (eg. Linux LPI) for professional geo
> users is a plus too.
> ##interoperation: another oportunity maybe could be to insert OSGeo
> stamp/talks on other kind of events - not only on GIS events but also
> on business events ( logistics, environmental, agriculture, forestry,
> mining, etc) with less tech language and more 'executive'
> presentations
> ##inside corporate world, acronym like GeoBI, GeoETL, GeoEAI or GeoCRM
> can take attention of sponsors ( managers, directors). And this will
> also help on base techs projects advertising.
> ##OSGeo partnering with academia projects ( R&D) and private/publich
> companies will always be welcome too.
> #for the power user who follow planet OSGeo is not hard to get the 1st
> contact with a new released tool. But, for the newcomers, a simple
> setup can take a month or months. How to help on that? More docs (
> 'for dummy' guides, quick ref cards, process oriented manuals and not
> only function guide/reference guide) and tutorials and this include
> local references.
> ##and for translation tasks, I believe it's not only to do the
> translation. But to adapt texts, images, data and senses can be a plus
> on users influence
> ##tools such as surveys (online, magazines, collected on events) could
> help to map local gap's and user desire/needs
> #communication: I think local committees/communities should always be
> in talk to international foundation goals and tasks and vice-versa.
> Parallel initiatives such as local groups must be inserted/combined on
> OSGeo projects/tasks - we should sum efforts and not divide. So, it's
> important to highlight the benefits on working together OSGeo to these
> parallel heads.
> 
> Ten or fifteen years ago I saw a lot of projects and services to be
> killed because the lack of free options or free cases. Now, we have a
> lot of options to replace or interoperate with. We need more
> visibility, more users enabled to call the attention of other users.
> 
> best
> 
> Eduardo Patto Kanegae
> http://www.webmapit.com
> 
> 
> 2011/8/5 Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) <tmitchell at osgeo.org>:
> > 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.
> > 
> > As a potential director:
> > * What important areas do you see OSGeo needing to fix or strive for in
> > order to grow?
> > * What challenges do you see for OSGeo in the short and long terms?
> > * 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).
> > * What is needed for a board to be successful? ...For OSGeo to be a
> > success? * Have you had to deal with similar challenges before?
> > * Etc...
> > 
> > I'm sure others have good questions too, but thought I'd share the
> > ones on my mind based on my experience working alongside the board.
> > 
> > Any thoughts?
> > 
> > Tyler
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Discuss mailing list
> > Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
> > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> > 
> > 
> 
> 2011/8/5 Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) <tmitchell at osgeo.org>:
> > 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.
> > 
> > As a potential director:
> > * What important areas do you see OSGeo needing to fix or strive for in
> > order to grow?
> > * What challenges do you see for OSGeo in the short and long terms?
> > * 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).
> > * What is needed for a board to be successful? ...For OSGeo to be a
> > success? * Have you had to deal with similar challenges before?
> > * Etc...
> > 
> > I'm sure others have good questions too, but thought I'd share the
> > ones on my mind based on my experience working alongside the board.
> > 
> > Any thoughts?
> > 
> > Tyler
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Discuss mailing list
> > Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
> > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Eduardo Patto Kanegae
> http://www.webmapit.com
> +55(19)9610-8768

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/discuss/attachments/20110805/3d342791/attachment-0002.html>