Freedom Toaster Press Introduction
From FTWiki
Access to the global Internet is too expensive, too difficult or just plain impossible for most South Africans. Even for people who do have access, it is hugely expensive compared to almost everywhere else in the world. This makes it very difficult for most people in South Africa to download Free and Open Source software. The Freedom Toaster project was started in 2004 by the Shuttleworth Foundation as a way to overcome these problems. A Freedom Toaster is a conveniently located, self-contained software-vending machine where users bring their own blank CDs and make copies of the Open Source software they require, at no cost.
Through most of the history of computing, software was developed and freely passed around as source code -- Open Source. Only in the last two decades have software companies managed to trick people into thinking that closed-source software is somehow "better", and should be paid-for. This is exactly like welding the bonnets of cars shut so that people are cannot perform their own car maintenance. Imagine a world where you were branded a "car pirate" for changing your own car's oil or replacing a spark-plug!
Open Source software to perform any imaginable computing task is widely available via the Internet, mostly free of any cost, and usually more reliable and secure than its closed-source equivalent. However, access to the Internet in South Africa is very expensive, slow, and not easily accessible to most people, so most are denied their freedom of software-choice. Many people turn to the alternative of illegaly making "pirate copies" of proprietary software, because they are unable to access free and legal software alternatives.
Enter the Shuttleworth Foundation: Established in October 2000 by Mark Shuttleworth, the mission of the Foundation is to "Transform lives through inspired learning". The Foundation is built on the belief that education is the key to unlocking the creative and intellectual potential of the South African youth, allowing them to live the dream that "anything is possible".
To counter the effects of slow and expensive Internet access, the Shuttleworth Foundation developed the Freedom Toaster as a software vending machine: a self-service kiosk where people can bring blank CDs and get Free Software "toasted" onto the CDs at no cost.
Initially the name "Freedom Toaster" was coined because the Linux operating-system is given away at no cost. It soon became apparent that the name also captures the philosophy of Free and Open Source Software, which is about safe-guarding our freedom to choose which software we use, how we use it, the freedom to change it if we desire, and the freedom to share it.
Freedom Toasters are maintained and supported by a group of volunteers who look after the hardware and software and will load new software versions periodically throughout the year, so be sure to check what's new on your local Toaster once in a while. To give feedback and become part of the Freedom Toaster community, visit http://www.freedomtoaster.org/ on the Internet, where you can play an active part in deciding what software and information should be provided on the Toasters.
Using a Freedom Toaster could not be easier. Using the touch-screen on the Toaster, you choose which software you want. On-screen information tells you more about the software you have selected, including how many CDs you will need. If you don't have enough CDs handy, you can always quit and return later. Some locations may offer CDs for sale at a convenient location close to your Toaster of choice. The Freedom Toasters also contain a host of on-screen information to teach people a little more about the world of Free and Open software. Touch the screen, browse and explore!
So, where it was once difficult to get hold of Free software, now reliable, secure and complete Linux distributions that are easy to install and upgrade are as far as the nearest Freedom Toaster. It's as easy as toast.
Internet links:
http://www.freedomtoaster.org/
More information on the Shuttleworth Foundation: http://wiki.tsf.org.za/shuttleworthfoundationwiki/Shuttleworth_20Foundation http://www.tsf.org.za/
More information about Free and Open Source Software: http://wiki.tsf.org.za/shuttleworthfoundationwiki/FreeSoftware http://www.fsf.org/ http://www.opensource.org/
The complete text of this article is at http://wiki.tsf.org.za/shuttleworthfoundationwiki/FreedomToasterPressIntroduction also avalable as an OpenOffice.org document: attachment:FreedomToasterPressArticle.sxw
