Author Archive for Ross Gardler

Protecting the Open Web

Published by Ross Gardler on October 17, 2010 in Community and Development. 0 Comments

The Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes openness, innovation and participation on the Internet. Just under a year ago the Mozilla Foundation launched Mozilla Drumbeat to keep the web open: “We want to spark a movement. We want to keep the web open for the next 100 years. The first step: inviting you to do and make things that help the web.”

Today I submitted a project to Mozilla Drumbeat. The goal of this project is to take what we have learned about enabling and educating the UK academic sector about open source and applying this to the open web as a whole.

The project aims to adapt the support model we have developed here at OSS Watch and apply it within the Mozilla Drumbeat movement. We will work with existing projects and competency centres relating to the open web, we will share experience and knowledge through a series of practical support activities and we will take these lessons to the open web community, both within and outside the academic sector.

For more information checkout out the Camelia project on Mozilla Drumbeat. There’s a couple of videos introducing the project, the first is less than 90 seconds long. Hopefully you will be motivated enough to vote for the project or even volunteer as a contributor (don’t worry we’re not holding you to any commitments).

By showing your support you are helping to ensure that we can attract infrastructural and financial support from the Mozilla and Shuttleworth foundations, so lets get this thing going.

Surviving initial project funding

Published by Ross Gardler on September 6, 2010 in Community. 0 Comments

We’ve often claimed that opening up development of a project can help in its long term sustainability. By allowing new funders and participants to take an active role, even leadership, in a project it is possible to survive the natural coming and going of project participants.

Today I added the following update to the OSS Watch sustainability case study on Apache Cocoon:

Activity on the project has slowed considerably since its heyday. However, development continues despite the departure of a significant number of community leaders. It can therefore be argued that Cocoon validates the community model of software development as described in this document.
Whilst Apache Cocoon is considered to have changed computing it is not necessary to have such a profile in order to take advantage of sustainability through openness. Even niche projects from the academic sector can be valuable case studies. For example, lets consider the JISC TechDis Toolbar.

Steve Lee, our accessibility expert, has been working with a team at the University of Southampton to open up a cross browser ToolBar designed to help make the web more accessible. It’s a great project that allows users to control the way a page is displayed, invoke a text to speech reader, spell check editable content, look up dictionary definitions and extract reference information (amongst other things). Although the tool is an accessibility tool many of its features are of much more general use, Lifehacker said the work brought “something long overdue for web users.”

Steve helped the team open source the project and tried to work with TechDis to explain the benefits of collaborative development, in particular the ability to spread the cost (and risk) of development across multiple partners. Steve spoke about this with the H Online at our TransferSummit back in June:

Lee told The H that the tool, developed as an open collaboration between JISC TechDis and University of Southampton’s School of Electronics and Computer Science, was created to replace a previous toolbar … Lee said the open development process … has allowed the project to be more sustainable.

With the support of both TechDis and Southampton the ToolBar has been getting plenty of attention and use. Nobody can call it perfect but it is certainly useful. Furthermore, since it is open source others can help improve it.

Despite the success of the ToolBar in terms of raw use figures Sal Cooke, Director of Techdis, recently announced the demise of the ToolBar. She said that TechDis were “delighted by the response and the positive feedback we’ve had from users” and that the “number of downloads has surpassed all expectations.” So why kill the project?

Sal goes on to say “many of you will be aware that we [TechDis] have undertaken a major overhaul of our own website, with a commitment to embedding within it, a set of new accessibility tools.” Here Sal appears to be saying that TechDis no longer has a need for the ToolBar in addressing the accessibility needs of their own site users. Sal goes on to say, “in view of the above and the current economic climate, we have taken the decision to discontinue further development of the JISC TechDis Toolbar in favour of channelling resources into areas where we can make the most impact.”

On the surface this looks just fine, Techdis have not invested beyond the initial pilot funding and if TechDis have an alternative solution available to them then why should they pay again to support the ToolBar?

However, for me this misses one of the most important advantages of this work. As an open source project it is not just useful for TechDis, it is useful for every web user and every website developer.

So what about the rest of us? How can we address the accessibility needs that the toolbar tackled?

Fortunately, for us, the ToolBar has never been an in-house TechDis development, despite what TechDis may think. It is an open source development managed by the University of Southampton, Dr. Mike Wald followed Sal’s mail saying:

Although the toolbar was initially funded by Techdis and we provided a ‘Techdis badged version’ for them, the toolbar is an Open Source Project and my team at Southampton University are continuing to develop it …

The point here is that whilst TechDis (rightly) considered the TechDis branded version of the software as their own, the project is an open source one and can therefore be modified and distributed by anyone. To date all of the “quarter of a million uses of the toolbar” have carried the TechDis logo in recognition of their support of the project, but the future of the project is not dependent on TechDis.

OSS Watch are working with the Southampton team on a number of initiatives and we are pleased to report that we have been asked to help ensure the ToolBar continues to survive. I’m certain that it will and can only repeat Steve’s words from June:

they [Southampton ECS] are undoubtedly a group to watch as they steadily increase their portfolio of widely applicable open accessibility projects

Take a look at this great accessibility project and help the Southampton team by reporting any bugs you find, suggesting new features or even contributing code. The ToolBar will live on under a different name (to be decided ).

Live Blogs from TransferSummit

Published by Ross Gardler on June 24, 2010 in Event. 0 Comments

TransferSummit is will be underway very soon. We have a couple of live bloggers at the event so keep an eye on their reports.

We are using the #TS10 hashtag for delegates to use in tweets, blogs, photos etc.

TransferSummit hits the mark

Published by Ross Gardler on June 17, 2010 in Community and Event. 1 Comment

Next week sees tha launch of our new conference TransferSummit. Despite it being a new conference and despite it being possibly the worst time to launch such an event we are already looking at making it twice the size next year.

TransferSummit provides a forum for business executives and members of the academic and research community to discuss how they might benefit from one anothers activities. It seems that we’ve hit the mark with this topic, as evidenced by the recent report that UK universities deliver £2.97B in services to business and industry.

TransferSummit is all about connecting our universities to our businesses in order to capitalise on the wealth of knowledge and experience

We are very proud of the programme we have put together, with speakers from all walks of the academic, commercial and not-for-profit sectors. We have talks ranging from first steps towards open innovation in software through to case studies ranging from the niche (such as the University of Nottinghams TexGen project) through the the large scale academic (such as Sakai) to massive cross-sector foundations (such as the GNOME Foundation).

Take a look at the full programme, you are certain to find information of value to you.

We are also proud of the sponsors who have lined up to support the event, again with all sectors represented. The level of support we have gathered is testament to the importance of this event.

Two days, three tracks, a Gala Dinner and a BarCamp… Endless Possibilities!

We still have a very small number of free tickets for the academic community and a few discounted tickets for everyone else, all you need to do to get your discount code is mail us.

Open source allows innovation on Microsoft products

Published by Ross Gardler on May 25, 2010 in Community, Development and Strategy and Policy. 0 Comments

For many people, Microsoft and open innovation may not seem the most obvious of bedfellows. However,  in 2008 the company’s deputy general counsel for IP, says that is exactly what they are.

In our our article “Microsoft: an end to open hostilities?” we observed that that “FOSS activists remain split over how to respond to Microsoft’s forays in open source.” Those splits remain today.

On the one hand we have postiive moves such as the releasing of key tools for interacting with Microsoft Outlook files. This allows third parties to build products that can interoperate with Microsoft Outlook files more easily.

On the other hand we have Darren Strange, Head of Open Source Engagement, Microsoft UK, telling us “patents are a good thing and they help to fuel the industry. Patents drive innovation and they drive openness actually,” a point that is in strong opposition to the opinions of most FOSS supporters.

How should you approach open source and patents in order to maximise opportunities without limiting or compromising your own research efforts?

Come and hear some of the greatest thinkers and leaders tackling these kinds of issues at our Transfer Summit conference in June (early bird registration ends on May 27th, so register now).

Transfer Summit early bird closing

Published by Ross Gardler on May 25, 2010 in Community and Strategy and Policy. 0 Comments

Don’t forget the early bird registration for Transfer Summit, our conference on open innovation, development and collaboration, closes today.

TransferSummit provides a forum for members of the academic and research community and for business executives to discuss requirements, challenges, and opportunities in the use, development, licensing, and future of open source technology.

Two days, three tracks, a Gala Dinner and a BarCamp… Endless Possibilities!

TransferSummit is organised by OSS Watch in partnership with key individuals and organisations from the Open Source community, including the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) and University of Oxford.

Free academic passes for TransferSummit/UK

Published by Ross Gardler on May 4, 2010 in Business, Community, Development, Discussion and Event. 0 Comments

We’ve been posting about the importance of open development in sustianble open source projects for a long time. We’ve been running well attended workshops on the topic for almost as long. Now we are stepping up a gear and bringing you a three track, two day conference with a barcamp thrown in.

What’s more, if you are an academic we’re even giving you free tickets (mail us for a discount code).

Showcasing an array of presentations, the two-day conference comprises three content tracks – innovation; development and collaboration – each containing six sessions a day. The Innovation track, aimed at executive-level attendees, provides a top-level immersion into the world of Open Source. Topics cover foundations, infrastructure, licensing, governance, community-building and more.

Sessions on the Innovation track include:

  • Dissemination beyond academic circles: Scott Wilson, Assistant Director, JISC CETIS,looks at how open source has taken work from the University of Bolton well beyond the usual academic circles
  • Are developers important?: Paul Walk, Deputy Director, UKOLN, discusses the important of developers in the innovation cycle
  • Is my community too small for success?: Gianugo Rabellino, CEO Sourcesense, dissects a typical large community and considers the assumption that projects need to be large in order to succeed
  • FOSS business models: Mark Taylor, CEO Sirius IT, examines common strategies for sustaining FOSS and the licensing and community models that support them
  • The economics of innovation in mobile technolgies: Andrew Savory, Open Source Manager LiMO Foundation, evaluates FOSS in the mobile ecosystem

Register now on the conference website (don’t forget to ask for your discount code if you’re working on academic projects)

Open innovation builds success at LEGO

Published by Ross Gardler on April 28, 2010 in Business, Community and Development. 0 Comments

Six years ago, LEGO was on the brink of bankruptcy, as reported by PRESANS on the “Open Your Innovation” blog. LEGO had suffered in the 1990s at the hands of video games and computers, and had negelected its relationship with its users during difficult times. Today, under new CEO Jorgen Vig Knudstorp, it has turned its fortunes around and the familiar little coloured bricks are as popular as ever.

Knudstorp achieved this dramatic turn-around by establishing an innovative client relationship through the creation of a social network dedicated to children and LEGO bricks. This user community – accesssed through 40 ‘LEGO ambassadors’ in over 20 countries – provides valuable market information and is completely integrated in the design of new products.

Young adult interest has also been harnessed, through LEGO Mindstorms, which are programmable by computer. When advanced users began hacking the system in ways LEGO hadn’t foreseen, LEGO decided to utilise their ‘collaboration’ instead of fighting it. This enabled it to benefit from cloudsourcing and draw on the creativity and intelligence of a large number of users.

By opening the companies innovation processes to the outside world LEGO have recovered from its near-death experience. At the Transfer Summit we feature practical discussion, case studies and networking to enable you to realise the benefits of open developent within and beyond your own projet boundaries.

Life is wonderful

Published by Ross Gardler on March 10, 2010 in Discussion. 9 Comments

Whilst this blog allows OSS Watch members and guest posters to express personal opinion we don’t usually use this blog for personal items. However, I’m making an exception today to remind myself, and hopefully some others, that whilst life can sometimes be horrible it is more often than not wonderful

.Loving brotherDad and newborn Saskia Proud MumSaskia Frances Gardler

On Sunday at 17:17 (GMT) March 7th my wife gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl, Saskia Frances Gardler at 7lb 10.5 oz. Mum and baby are doing very well and are now home with a proud Dad.

I’d like to publicly acknowledge the superb  care that my wife and I received during this pregnancy. We only truly appreciate the National Health Service when we really need it, and Heidi and I have  needed it on far too many occasions over the last few years. The care we have received has been exceptional when compared to what I have seen in other countries.

I should also mention Oxford University Computing Services. I could not have hoped for a more understanding employer, it was clear from the first day that as long as I worked hard when I was able OUCS would respond by giving me as much space and time as I needed to support my family during this difficult period. I’m truly grateful to my boss Lou Burnard and to my exceptional team here at OSS Watch.

As for extended family and our friends – we hope they already understand how appreciative we are of their combined efforts in recent years.

Like I said in the intro, sometimes life is horrible, but more often than not life and the people around us are wonderful. We should never forget that in the difficult times.

Can open source reduce costs?

Published by Ross Gardler on March 1, 2010 in Development, Procurement and Strategy and Policy. 1 Comment

It is often said that open source software will reduce costs.

Those with little or no experience of implementing computer systems assume these savings come from the fact the free and open source software does not carry a license fee. However, this is not usually the case.

Anyone who has rolled out an software solution, even in a small organisation, will tell you that there are hidden costs. These include training, support,  customisation and maintenance.

In 2005 BECTA published “A study of the spectrum of use and related ICT infrastructure costs” which concluded that training and support costs accounted for 60% of total cost for any software solution. The report also found that open source software reduced these costs by 40-50%.

Further to reducing training and support costs, open source can reduce the cost of customisation for specific environments.

It is extremely rare for a back-office software solution to be a perfect fit for any specific organisation straight out of the box. Consequently, the software needs to be customised to suit specific needs. In a closed source environment there is a single provider, or a limited set of approved providers, who can make these modifications. However, in an open source environment anyone with the appropriate skills can make these modifications, including internal staff.

As a result of this competition, market forces can often result in a lower cost for a tailored product. Just how much can be saved here depends on the customisations you need to make.

Finally, the open source culture of code sharing results in lower development costs for the software in the first instance. That is, once one user has commissioned a specific feature or configuration option the results of that work is available to all. As a result, the more a product is used and developed within any given domain, the more widely the development costs are shared. In addition to a reduction of costs open development can significantly increase the rate of innovation as it brings together great minds to collaborate on shared solutions.

Where there is no pre-existing solution to match ones needs the open developent model can be an extremely cost effective way of reducing cost. This process is examined in more detail in our document “Meritocrats, cluebats and the open development method: an interview with Justin Erenkrantz.”