Fun and Informative Way to Introduce Open Source? 364
jwg asks: "I work in an office environment where I provide technical services and solutions to my co-workers (as I am sure most Slashdot readers do at their respective places of employment). Once a month, we have a round-table meeting to discuss pressing issues in our office. At the beginning of these meetings, it is one person's job to provide some form of 'professional development', usually an activity or game to teach some skill, idea, or trend directly related to their job. My turn is coming up soon, and I would like to introduce my co-workers to the idea (and to some, the way of life) of Open Source. There are many examples of Open Source software and communities out there to reference (Mozilla, Wikipedia, MySQL and... oh yeah, Linux), but has anyone come up with or come across a method to introduce it in a quick, fun, and informative way to a wide variety of people each of which possess a even wider range of technical skill? Did I mention it has to be fun?"
Open Source Computer on a Stick (Score:5, Interesting)
One word... or two (Score:3, Funny)
Fun, exciting introduction to Open Source.
But, then again, nobody would have any productivity for the rest of the day.
Luke
----
Tired of answering tons of basic computer questions for friends and family? Send them to ChristianNerds.com [christiannerds.com] instead!
Re:One word... or two (Score:2)
Re:Open Source Computer on a Stick (Score:5, Informative)
If you already have a USB memory device or if you PC can not boot from a USB device, then there are alternatives.
Two Linux distros designed for small size & boot on CDR or USB devices
Damn Small Linux 50MB http://www.thepodcastnetwork.com/linuxuser/2005/0
Puppy Linux 40-90MB http://flaviostechnotalk.com/wordpress/index.php/
Two Linux distros designed to boot from CDR & used as the base for many derivatives
Knoppix http://www.linuxforums.org/news/article-24309.htm
Slax http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/1193 [tuxmachines.org]
examples you could use... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:examples you could use... (Score:3, Insightful)
No, you're *required* to. It's what separates tools from hobbies. Most people want the computer to be a tool. All they want to think about is the task they want to solve, and that does not involve messing with the computer.
I want my car to get me to work and to the store with the least bit of my involvement. Most people want that of their computer as well.
Re:examples you could use... (Score:3)
Medicine is a good analogy. But then again most software isn't life and death. So there isn't as compelling a reason why the "ingredients" should be listed on software.
Then there's the old car analogy which is becoming less and less apt by the year. "Would you buy a car with the hood welded shut?" Even if you don't kn
Re:examples you could use... (Score:3, Funny)
Present them with a freshly installed linux box running the distro of your choice, sans web browser. Then, tell them that they can open a terminal window and surf the web by simply typing "lynx" at the command prompt.
When they start asking questions about the text only browser, stare at them like they are idiots and chant "man lynx" like it will make a difference.
Re:examples you could use... (Score:3, Funny)
No need for thanks, to help is what I'm here for.
You've also seemed to have omitted the following:
Furthermore while you're driving your windshield is completely covered with advertisements (i.e. spyware), and when you get into a fatal accident due to these adverts, clippy finally pops out while your brains are oozing out of your head and he asks "It seems you've been in a near-fatal car accident and are unable to move while
Re:examples you could use... (Score:2)
Re:examples you could use... (Score:5, Informative)
Why is this insightful?
Apple
You expressly acknowledge and agree that use of the Apple Software is at your sole risk. The Apple Software is provided "AS IS" and without warranty of any kind
Microsoft:
In no event shall microsoft or its suppliers be liable for any special, incidental, punitive, indirect, or consequential damages whatsoever (including, but not limited to, damages for loss of profits or confidential or other information, for business interruption, for personal injury, for loss of privacy, for failure to meet any duty including of good faith or of reasonable care, for negligence, and for any other pecuniary or other loss whatsoever) arising out of or in any way related to the use of or inability to use the product,
Nobody is required to give warranties on consumer OS or software. It's one of the reasons why there's so much crap out there
first post (Score:4, Funny)
Re:first post (Score:4, Funny)
How about: If you don't use open source, then... (Score:2, Funny)
Hey, some people might just convert...
show em' why its good (Score:2, Funny)
Get them thinking... (Score:5, Insightful)
Ask them:
What would use a blank sheet of paper for?
What do you know about where the paper was manufactured?
What do you know about the inventor of paper?
There are few simple alternatives to paper. Sure there are whiteboards / chalkboards / computers / sheets of mylar, etc., but each has limitations that are not inherent to paper.
Ask them how they would feel if it suddenly cost $300.00 to purchase each sheet of paper simply because the biggest vendor decided that that was what they wanted to charge. What would they do to get around this barrier to their productivity. The alternatives aren't very convenient for most people. Would they look into making their own paper?
Then tell them that there is a community that is offering other ways to manufacture paper that drastically decreased the cost - back down to the previous rate - how would they feel about that.
Better still, what if that community were all volunteers, whose goal is to make access to this type of information / service / activity available to as many people as possible?
This is rather simplistic, and doesn't address a lot of what OSS/FOSS is about, but it is a simple way to introduce the subject.
It wouldn't hurt if you could download an Open Source paper airplane design so that they can build $300.00 paper airplanes at the end of your chat.
- A
Re:Get them thinking... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Get them thinking... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Get them thinking... (Score:3, Informative)
Trying to persuade people that what they do normally at work is open source, but calling it open source makes it somehow better will see you swiftly moved into the loon category in the workplace hierarchy.
Re:Get them thinking... (Score:2, Interesting)
And maybe mention in passing that the community airplane has the unique advantage of not bursting in to flames after 12 minutes of flight time.
Re:Get them thinking... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Get them thinking... (Score:2)
In all seriousness, I don't know why folks who wrte computer software for a living like free software. You don't expect free rent, food, clothing, etc. Why should software be free?
Re:Get them thinking... (Score:2)
Re:Get them thinking... (Score:3, Insightful)
I can't speak for all free software developers, but the main reason I donate time to free software is that I want to contribute to the sustenance of an environment that gives me a lot more back than I put in. I have over 800 packages installed on my system, and have on
Re:Get them thinking... (Score:3, Interesting)
Ask them how they would feel if it suddenly cost $300.00 to purchase each sheet of paper simply because the biggest vendor decided that that was what they wanted to charge.
The easiest way I've found to completely undercut all arguments to open source is to describe it how you just did - as a reaction to paying for software. It makes it sound like a juvenile reaction to the 'real world'; it makes it sound like no serious developer would touch it; and it makes it sound like the whole thing is driven by pe
I would... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:I would... (Score:4, Funny)
Wait, was this supposed to be fun for him or for me?
Mod Parent Up, and demo tabbed browsing (Score:2)
Re:I would... (Score:2)
Viruses (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Viruses (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Viruses (Score:2)
Two Words: (Score:5, Funny)
Okay, some further explanation might be in order - it's an FPS that was released free to the public. It can be used/modified by anyone who is interested because it is - Open Source. And play a game or two (if your office can handle your l33t pwn4g3 sk1llz!) before steering the conversation in to the other good things about Open Source.
-1, offtopic (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Two Words: (Score:2)
I can feel the freedom from here.
So is there a way to try this out without having to register on a forum where the vast majority of downloaders will never post?
I understand that they want to keep the bandwith bills down, but would it be too hard to put up a torrent or provide an ed2k:// link? It would certainly help spreadin
Re:Two Words: (Score:2)
Here's what I found using Google:
Torrent links here [idsoftware.com]
regular download here [mrbass.org]
and another faster-for-registered-users here [3ddownloads.com]
Don't even bother... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Don't even bother... (Score:5, Informative)
I agree that most people don't care about the freedom aspect, but if you start pointing out the forced upgrade cycles, the inevitable breakage of some app or another with the next security patch or service pack, the fact that F/OSS puts as much guarantee on their software as Microsoft does for theirs (NONE), and if something bugs you about a F/OSS app, you can change it.
People want a minimum of hassle. So point out things like the Word 95/97/2000/XP incompatibilities. My previous employer sent out a company-wide e-mail stating that we were not to install Office XP on any systems, either from our own CD's (as this amounted to piracy) or from MS Developer Network CD's, and we especially weren't to spend company money to buy a copy. The reason was that they didn't want to upgrade the entire organization to Office XP, and yet once you saved a doc with XP, you had a decent chance of being able to open it only with XP.
-paul
Re:Don't even bother... (Score:4, Insightful)
people definitely don't give a crap about the politics and why free/oss is better than proprietary software (try telling any graphic designer that there's a f/oss thing that's better than the adobe products).
your grandparent mentioned firefox. start there. talk about extensions. talk about spyware and popups and how it's mainly for IE. mention the ieview extension. show other cool extensions and cool features of firefox that IE lacks... because being a computer tech for an office generally means you are their spyware remover... show them how to avoid it with firefox. i think that'll get their attention and make it a bit more interesting.
Re:Don't even bother... (Score:2)
You could try, but you'd be wrong. There are plenty of features that professional graphic designers rely on which are absent from most FOSS tools - like good, solid support for Pantone or Wacom tablets.
For most tasks, they may be as good, or even better, but a lot of the stuff that isn't so hot on the FOSS stuff is absolutely critical for many professionals.
Re:Don't even bother... (Score:2)
Re:Don't even bother... (Score:2)
How about bringing in a couple of copies of Knoppix, than challenging them to create an MS Word document (using MS Word) that could be opened by MS Word, but not by Open Office? Start by showing them how to create a document (with Word) that can be opened by OpenOffice, but not by MS Word.
Re:Don't even bother... (Score:2)
Slashdotters love to mock businesses' use of VBA in Office documents, but they're a big (and non-free) barrier to adoption of OpenOffice.org.
Re:Don't even bother... (Score:3, Insightful)
You could get them into the 'free' aspect of it by showing them Open Office and Gimp. Gimp will be the most useful for Mary Jane and Brad who want to make a collage of their kids.
Most browsers are free so that won't woo them and most desk jockeys use IE for the games that sites like Popcap has that are IE only (recent ones)
Re:Don't even bother... (Score:2)
I don't think so. Gimp is not ready for professionals that now use Photoshop, and way too much for people that just want to make a collage for their kids. Gimp has potential but trying to say it is anywhere near what current Photoshop users want is just dilusioning yourself.
Re:Don't even bother... (Score:2)
Give someone a peice of software like a spam filter and then after 30 days it stops working and they have to register - At this stage they care.
They buy it and then try to use it on there notebook as well but they can't - At this stage they care.
They tell there friend that they to can get rid of spam but they'll have to pay for it - At this stage they care.
They upgrade there email client and they have to upgrade the spam filter - At this stage they care.
They get
Write a story (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Write a story (Score:2)
jesus (Score:5, Insightful)
Prime examples of wasted time at the work place. You know what would make this even worse? Having to do something like this with co-workers you hate. Even so, I think I could make it fun.
"Today, were going to play some reality television. I want everyone to vote for someone to leave the office. Now, while this isn't indicative of that person losing his or her job... it just might help.
It's secret ballot... so have at it... I should also mention that not choosing another individual indicates you are not a "Team Player" and will be autmoatically chosen for not submitting a ballot."
Re:jesus (Score:2)
Can I vote for myself?
Re:jesus (Score:2)
Fun and Informative Way to Introduce Open Source? (Score:5, Funny)
Nethack (Score:2)
From reliable reports, it's epidemically infective in offices that have never encountered it before.
Sort of like when the Europeans introduced smallpox to the Western Hemisphere, there's no resistance.
Start off with... (Score:2)
Let them decide if they want to trash their existing software in a jump to a full linux machine on their own. If they think they might want to but aren't sure, give them a Knoppix (or similar) CD to play with BEFORE they trash their software.
It's the forcing them into an all-or-nothing situation that will turn them away from you faster than girls from pocket-protector-wearing, tape on the bridge
The Open CD (Score:2, Informative)
Black Box (Score:2, Interesting)
LiveCD's (Score:2, Insightful)
Collaborative Effort Game (Score:5, Interesting)
One person draws something, then each person takes a turn 'fixing it.'
Or, play a mini-game of "Clue." You come up with something like maybe 'Dumbo.' Then you tell one person to draw an elephant while you give everyone else individual clues as to specifics about what you want this elephant to look like.
The Clue people tell the elephant person small changes to make for the elephant to look more like it's supposed to. (You can have the clues be images, to more accurately explain what the clue givers are supposed to describe.)
Okay, so that's nothing like "Clue." The point is, you involve your coworkers in an exercise where they each contribute to help the outcome achieve a more desired shape.
Re:Collaborative Effort Game (Score:2)
One person draws something, then each person takes a turn 'fixing it.'
Oh, great. Sounds like loads of fun.
Remember:
None Of Us Is As Dumb As All Of Us.
m-
Re:Collaborative Effort Game (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
focus on the business/development model (Score:3, Interesting)
If you figure out a way to get the point across that the different business model you need for open source is not hindering your chances of succes, you will have your 'war' won. You will still have to battle the nah-sayers, but if you can show the money and how it's made, you win.
Knoppix (Score:2)
LiveCDs + media (Score:2)
TheOpenCD (Score:4, Informative)
Chock full of F/OSS software for Windows, it's a great tool to introduce MS entrenched minds to the availability of quality, alternative software.
http://www.theopencd.org/ [theopencd.org]
Firefox (Score:2)
All I can think of, other than PenguinRacer that is. =)
The egg trick (Score:2, Interesting)
- 1 pan to each participant;
- The same number of eggs as participants to one of the participants;
- Salt to another;
- Dishes to another;
Secretlly promise sushi lunch to one or two of the participants if they get the ommolet on the pan they have.
After some time reveal you secret agrrement, and ask each participant to give some of the things youo gave them.
Finnally you will
Dunno... (Score:2, Funny)
Our Host: Hey, kids! I'm Open Source Bob! Today we're going to have informative fun with the wonder of open source.
Children: (dead silence)
OSB: And here to help me is my sidekick, Tickle-Me-Tux, the Linux penguin! Say hello to the children, Tux!
Tickle-Me-Tux: (takes a draw from cigarette) Hey, kids.
C: (tepid cheers and puzzled looks.)
OSB: Where shall we begin today, Tux?
TMT: (stares at OH while grinding out cig under foot) Look,
Re:Dunno... (Score:2)
At least it would keep them awake.
Pain vs. Pleasure. (Score:3, Insightful)
Introduce it like this: (Score:3, Insightful)
Make a list of popular, successful Open Source programs. For example:
Give a brief synopsis on each of them, and then ask how many of your colleagues have heard of one or more. Then throw a curve: Continue speaking, and itemize the cost per program by comparing with other examples of such software. (i.e. the latest edition of MS Office retails for almost a grand). Now say: "These programs and their alternatives are compatible, deployed in many hundreds of companies and countries. They have a loyal user base, are easy to use, and are well known for their professional quality.
Show them the command-line (Score:5, Funny)
$ ps -ef|awk '{print $2}'|xargs kill
Edit a file and delete the first and last line.
$ vi
1GddGdd:wq!
Find out what's filling up your home directory.
$ du -k|sort -rn|head
Who has access to the computer?
# cat
Add commas to numerical strings
sed -e
Re:Show them the command-line (Score:3, Informative)
For example... (Score:2)
Then tell them that if they use close sourced programs they become immoral too.
Then tell them that immoral people go to hell.
And if that doesn't work, turn off the light, light your face with a torch and repeat. It may help to change the tone of your voice accordingly.
Myth TV Setup (Score:3, Informative)
Get a normal ariel antenna, get a tv card ( get the one that works please no tv card hackin ) and a box that can hold all that stuff and an nvidia gfx card. Put it together. Tell people why you have the hardware you have.
Get a good guide, and start getting the parts of mythtv installed. Make small groups and make everyone install a small portion. The zap2it direcotry services. One group does the mytht tv config, one group does the themes etc....
End result you will have people doign the samething at home. Sure Linux is free, only if your time is free. And if you get a community and each individual gives a small bit and talks what they have done then, you get a pretty fast application turn around. And mythtv is easy. Tiedious but with good instructions you got MythTV box ready to blow away the TiVo and that VCR.
PS nothing against Gentoo but please no gentoo distro because the time required to install would be too great. And yes Distcc is great but it doesn't work all the time etc... This is educational so use a binary disribution. Afterwards you will be set. Men will want to be you and women will want you and children will make you their idols. And slashdot users will slashdot your webpage.
Mythtv is fun try it
keyword: refreshments! (Score:2)
presuming such a topic as beer [wikipedia.org] is not going to get you fired, you could get them into the hacking mode w/ a little bit of "spirited" (yuk yuk, i slay me) fun [glug.org].
the best way to teach is to do, the best way to do is to not fear failure, the best way to not fear failure is to use failure to learn, the best way to learn is up to each person to find. so, don't worry if no one groks your presentation. w/ some luck there will be a bite, if not sooner, then perhaps later.
Two Word Answer: "Briefing Puppets" (Score:4, Funny)
Yep. Seriously.
They're fun to make and great fun in those long, boring staff meetings.
Just decorate old tube socks (Puh-leeese wash them first) or paper lunch sacks with bits of brightly colored felt and pipe cleaners. Use Dilbert comic strips for subject matter inspiration if you lack creativity in this area.
Once complete, break out your favorite Monty Python sketch recital voices and brief your audience's pants off!
P.S. If you get fired, I NEVER POSTED THIS and YOU DIDN'T READ IT!
Now, where did I leave those Meds.....
Free Beer! (Score:2)
It is guaranteed to enhance the team spirit(s) and after a while, you may even be able to convince one or two of them to boot Knoppix or Puppy Linux and try it... hic...
You've picked quite a challenge (Score:2)
Your challenge is to make looking at source code and changing it fun for people who may not nessecarily have the skills to do so. It may very well be that although OSS is beneficial to a company
Legos and CD's (Score:2)
Bring a tub of legos. Not the fancy stuff, just simple rectangular blocks. Before the presentation, prep the foundation of a house using the blocks. Then during the presentation, pass the house around with the tub of blocks and ask everyone to add something to it until you have a simple house-like structure.
When you're done, point out that everyone working together can produce something. Usually it takes someone with some inspiration to start it. The comm
Re:Legos and CD's (Score:2)
Use "utilities" and entertainment software first. (Score:2)
In the course of the month, introduce people to some cool software that also include their source code.
Some of it could be, for example, Firefox
For peer to peer downloads, recommend shareaza 2.1 (it's free of spyware!)
You could ALSO use freeware (but not open source), like CDBurnerXP Pro or IrfanView for image editing. Earn your reputation as
Open Hand Game (Score:2)
Then make everyone but the dealer play 5 card stud - the dealer continues to play 5 card draw - and everyone plays against the dealer, blackjack style. Tell them "that's open source, in a closed source world".
Then switch to everyone, including the dealer, playing 5 card stud, but with all cards showing, and everyone against
Re:Open Hand Game (Score:2)
Open Source Cartooning (Score:2)
Of course not everyone's comfortable with the process of sequential-art storytelling, so maybe instead you could produce an "open source" drawing of a beach scene, or
Start off with a contest (Score:3, Interesting)
Dig an old PC out of storage, like maybe something around a P500. Install Linux. Install OpenOffice and Firefox.
Start your activity by having everyone use the PC for a bit, then have them try to guess the MHz of the machine.
Give the winner the PC. Give everyone who attends a copy of TheOpenCD [theopencd.org].
games (Score:2)
You then explain how OSS works and if any of them make any content (maybe even some new clothes in a game or whatever). Explain how they are now "part of the system" and they should spread stuff on and such, so then everyone benefits and gets a better game because everyone shares.
It's fun! (Score:3, Funny)
You'll be having lots of fun in no time!
Let's play .. "help your neighbor"!! (Score:2, Funny)
* one Windows XP disk
* one Linux disk
* one FreeBSD disk
* one telephone
* computer (any OS) with a few CD burners
Have the group divide into pairs. Call them "departments". One pair can be "accounts receivable", the other "human resources", and "I.T.". Yay!
Now, give a short presentation on the GPL, the BSD license, and the Microsoft EULA. Have each "department" pick one of the three OS CDs to run their department.
Then burn a copy of each team's choice ont
Ask them what they want. (Score:2, Informative)
Now first off you're asking the wrong crowd. You already know about open source, and therefore you are, what they call in the field of educa
How about Blender (Score:2)
LetterRip
Firefox extensions (Score:2)
First, show them just the naked browser, and how it doesn't differ much from IE in its capabilities.
Then begin installing extensions, as diverse as possible: maybe mouse gestures, adblock, an RSS reader, scrapbook, smoothwheel, tab extensions and so on.
Finally make the point that all of this is only possible because every part of the browser is open and can be extended or overwritten by extensions.
Now while such a demo might
Instruction Game (Score:2)
When your turn comes up... (Score:2)
Before your co-workers can react to your entrance, stroll into the meeting room and shoot each and every person in the kneecap.
While they're wailing in pain and rolling in pools of their own blood, fire a few rounds into the air to get their attention. If you're out of ammo, just bang the butt of the gun on a table or wall.
Once you hav
Play Distro Wars with them (Score:2, Interesting)
It wont really teach them what OOS is but it will be fun and introduce them to some of the players. :P
play the apt-get game (Score:3, Interesting)
Get a computer with Debian attached to a network and projector. Then take software installation requests from the crowd. For example, when some says "computational linguistics" hunt through the package listings and apt-get install the closest program - probably mmorph in this example. Encourage bizarre requests and surprise yourself at how much wild and crazy open source software is at your fingertips.
PS. If anyone asks how it works, say the computer is downloading knowledge from 'The Matrix' and refer to the helicopter scene in the movie.
OpenOffice & Firefox yes, politics no. (Score:3, Interesting)
The place I last worked I was responsible for the IT budget, such as it was, and like any rational person I used the money on hardware--actual stuff--as much as possible. Shiny, quiet computers with lots of ram, mirrored RAID drives on the server, a zoomy networked laser printer that cut the cost of consumables. Stuff like that.
Everyone got Thunderbird for mail. Everyone got OpenOffice except the owner, who did these baroque spreadsheets in Excel that wouldn't run in OO.o without a lot of screwing around.
The biggest hit was showing IE and Firefox w/Adblock running side by side. Again no mention of politics or anything. No ads or pop-ups either.
What software did I pay for? OEM Windows SBS 2003 ($450), a half dozen OEM copies of XP Pro ($140 per), Grisoft antivirus ($35 each for 2 years), one OEM Office XP ($70). About $1600 all in, a lot less than it could have been.
I couldn't really do linux on the server because the owner knew I was quitting and he felt like he'd have more of a chance with a familiar looking interface. In actual fact administering SBS probably isn't much easier than linux, but I didn't push it.
It's just not possible to shove your own software preferences down other people's throats. But now there are a few more happy users of OO.o, various Mozilla products, etc, and an owner that'll balk at shelling out big bucks for a $0.25 CD that'll only run on one machine.
Use free software where it makes sense. Gradually things will change.
Do any statistical work? R Project is IT! (Score:3, Interesting)
http://www.r-project.org/ [r-project.org]
Its open source. Its got loads of examples. In runs in every environment (I've got it for Mac in a
...or Wiki in general (Score:5, Interesting)
-Em
Re:...or Wiki in general (Score:2)
Oh hell. Why even bother with that intranet stuff? Just start putting out a bunch of real Wiki nodes with names like SecretProject that links to more pages. That way we can all observe and see what they're doing and offer helpful edits!
Even better, show them the real joys of Wikipedia by having them edit pages, seeing how their content comes back after they do so.