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