Here is an interesting article:
http://www.telfor.org.yu/telfor2004/radovi/PU-1-3.pdf
ABSTRACT:
Author of this text describe possible context in which there are arguments for nonÂprofit NGOs to foster economic growth in developing countries. Since economies in developing countries are confronted with various difficulties that prevent economic growth it is very important to use existing knowÂhow resources that are placed on the Internet on various discussion and reseacrh and development fora. Those repositories and archives may offer solutions that enable enterprises to be flexible, feasible, legally safe, technologically efficient, preserve independence from big suppliers and manufacturers. Implementation of free software and free hardware may prove to be efficient method for improving technological and economic conditions in profit and public sector. Author emphasizes that non governmental organizations founded by the citizens themselves may be genuine organizational form in which motivation, knowledge, dedication and independence may ensure proper management and development techniques for endÂuser oriented development and cooperation using international cooperation on a larger scale. Since they can give all development documentation, manufacture instructions and software for free use, modification and distribution, timeÂtoÂimplementation period may be made significantly cheaper and faster. A special emphasis is made on necessity to organize proper administration of those projects in order to avoid complications that may arise from inproper code testing and debugging.
CONCLUSION
The companies that support development of free software and free hardware as well as some grant giving and governmental agencies have to be aware that sometimes activities which are more based on civic motivation may result in successful projects. A good example of that is manufacturer Genesi which on their Internet site read:â€Genesi 's engineers created an open hardware platform based on the CHRP motherboard standard for the PowerPC and selected Open Firmware so that many operating systems can work easily on the Pegasos platform.†(www.genesi.lu). They developed their products PegasOS (www.pegasosppc.com). That project grown up from the effort to make open development of free software and hardware. Consequently, conjuction between profit companies and nonÂprofit indvididuals (IBM and Motorola, currently Freescale) are good examples how freedom may be feasible and shift market paradigms to new level of knowledge hence making market more dynamic instead of being stuck to patents, expensive licensing policies and inert and often selfÂimploding company life cycles. Hence, civic approach may be significant move towards fostering development and growth of developing countries.
That is closely tied to what we have said here:
http://genesi.pegasosppc.com/connectee/
The Internet continues to grow in both the quantity and quality of material available; however, the Internet is not accessible in most of the world. Satellite delivery can dramatically open Internet access to the world. Simultaneously, when the corresponding computing platform relies on open source software and supported remotely by non-commercial open source software development communities local governments can promote and support their own National IT infrastructures with what becomes over time a progressively valuable resource.
We have shifted gears on this particular project to support a SkoleLinux effort, but the concept is still the same and we have had discussions with interested parties in Mali and Sri Lanka. We would really like to take the successful results of the SkoleLinux efforts in Greece and Norway and convert the exprience to benefit third world countries.
Very sincerely,
R&B
