Open Source is Not About the Code
The history of Open Source is very much tied into the history of computer software. What is interesting about Open Source is how the term, which was orginally used to describe a set of principles and practices on how to write software, is being applied to many other areas including to describe the future of education. At the start of a session at the Web 2.0 conference in 2005 Tim O’Reilley, founder and CEO of O’Reilly Media. surveyed the audience with two questions: “How many of you use Linux?” and ”How many of you use Google?” Virtually everyone in the room raised their hands compared to the latter question. What does this mean in terms of education? O’Reilly explains that arguing about whether traditional desktop applications run on Linux misses the point. Everyone who raised their hand as a Google user is, by extension, using Linux. It’s a concept that requires a real change in perspective–but this is the change of viewpoint central to understanding Web 2.0… ” It is also the change in viewpoint that is central to the idea behind the term Open Source being used in education. Jonathan Schwartz, president and CEO of Sun Microsystems remarked during the Web 2.0 conference, “it is not about the code. If you choose to focus on the code, you miss the massive phenomenon that has taken over the world, which is the freedom with which you can access wonderful network services.” (http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/network/2005/10/07/open-source-and-web-20.html) John Seely Brown (JSB), Henry Jenkins, even Tim O’Reilly use the term Open Source in a very similar way. JSB refers to Open Source from the perspective that there is no longer a need for an arbitrator of truth, which is part of his larger argument against the Cartesian model (I pour knowledge into your head) of schools. Tim O’Reilly sees very much a connection between the idea of Open Source and democracy. Even though Open Source is not a new concept according to O’Reilly, Web 2.0 has democratized many of the impulses that had previously been outlets for people produce and share. For example, blogging being the new journalism class.
Writer,
ouvyt
Topics: Web 2.0 | 2 Comments »
2 Responses to “Open Source is Not About the Code”
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April 1st, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I wonder: is the idea of open source being applied retroactively to brick and mortar sorts of things associated with freedom and democracy (libraries, public schools/universities, museums and such)? And if so, what does that say?
April 1st, 2008 at 6:13 pm
It would seem impossible to imagine that the idea of open source is not being applied to the brick and mortar world. Although, it’s difficult to find specific concrete examples of how open source is influencing these institutions, I think the concepts and relationships linked with open source have lots of radical potential when applied to the brick and mortar world and can be used to envision a more progressive and egalitarian society.