Technology
In a broad sense, technology is the usage and knowledge of tools and crafts applied to modifying and adapting our environment. It is indeed one of the defining qualities of human beings, and one of the parameters we use to compare the level of progress of different civilisations.
Technological knowledge provides some of the most evident proofs of the importance of sharing knowledge. The history of technology is made of incremental inventions, of artisans, technicians and inventors that build upon previous knowledge. From the simplest tools to the most sophisticated devices, from the wheel and the lever to the microchip and the space shuttle, virtually all human inventions have benefited from the knowledge built up in previous generations.
We see in technology, and very specially in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), a double interest for the goals of the FKI. On one hand, technology constitutes a form of knowledge that can highly benefit from the sharing and exchange of ideas. On the other hand, technology --and specially ICT-- is a necessary tool in the information society.
The Free Knowledge Institute develops activities in the following technology-related areas:
- Free Software and Open Standards
- Free access
- Open fabrication
Related content:
The Spanish Internet Users Association (Asociación de Internautas) has published a manifest to raise awareness on the most urgent issues regarding European citizens' rights in the digital arena: the Telecom package, privacy of electronic communications, broadband access to the Internet, the technological neutrality of the Net and the balance between author's rights and the coll
The ODF Alliance, of which the Free Knowledge Institute is a member, has published a Fact Sheet [PDF; also available as text on their website] for governments and others interested in how Microsoft's SP2 for Office 2007 handles ODF. The ODF Allliance says their testing revealed "serious shortcomings that, left unaddressed, would break the open standards based interoperability that the
Begin 2009 meldt de vrije technologie gemeenschap aan de staatssecretaris van Economische Zaken enige bezorgdheid over concrete plannen van het programma Nederland Open in Verbinding. Op 23 april 2009 vindt een bijeenkomst plaats met de staatssecretaris Heemskerk om diverse plannen voor het voetlicht te krijgen, waaronder het plan 'Vrije Technologie Onderwijs' (VTO). De staatssecretaris staat positief tegenover het VTO plan zonder daar concrete toezeggingen over te doen.
Several projects in various areas are in the making. A couple of them are presented here:
The other day I met with two filmmakers in Spain. They are planning to make a documentary about Free Knowledge in general. They would like to show to the general public the aspects and culture within the various communities, ranging from Free Software projects to the editors of Wikipedia, from people protecting public knowledge and culture to people fighting for keeping the internet open. And place these movements in perspective to the intents of corporate interests in the privatisation of knowledge and enclosure of our culture.
Strasbourg, May 6 2009 − The debates on the Telecoms Package, thanks to a remarkable citizen mobilization, led to an extremely strong recognition of the access to internet as a fundamental right with the re-adoption of amendment 138/46 in second reading by a qualified majority. It is the final blow against three-strike laws such as Nicolas Sarkozy's HADOPI bill, which are explicitely banned. The European Parliament nevertheless adopted a soft compromise on issues of network equity: no strong protection against “net discrimination” was adopted.
More information on: http://blackouteurope.eu and http://www.laquadrature.net/en/amendment-138-46-adopted-again
The European Commission can read "documents sent to its services in a wide range of formats including international standards such as PDF, ODF..." replies Mr Morán García, Director General of the Informatics Directorate General of the Commission, DIGIT. Mr. Morán's answers the request for adherence to Open Standards in EU bodies and EC programmes that a group of people have sent under the initiative of the Free Knowledge Institute.
The European Parliament will vote about the future of the internet. Several plans are under discussion to lock up the internet and condition it to corporate interest. The Free Knowledge Institute participates in the Open Net Coalition to work together and warn people for this inminent danger.
URGENT - VOTING IN EU PARLIAMENT 5th of MAY 2009
Don't let the EU parliament lock up the Internet! There will be no way back!See for more information: the Blackout Europe website.
