Localisation Camp/2 Pune 20,21 March 2010/Press Release0

Press Release

To

Editor,

____________

Subject: “Localization Camp” for promoting software availability in Local Languages on GNU/Linux

Madam/Sir,

Use of IT services and software in our country has increased very rapidly during last decade. However availability of most of the software in Local languages (Marathi, Hindi, Malayalam, etc.) remains a major hurdle in taking IT to the last person. At the same time most of the people today use “proprietary” software which does not give it's users the freedom to study,modify,copy and redistribute the software. Examples of proprietary software include Microsoft Windows, Adobe Pagemaker, CorelDraw, Oracle, etc.

The world of IT has been witnessing a paradigm shift in last 2 decades, in the way software is developed and distributed to its users. The philosophy of “Free Software” has lead to the emergence of GNU/Linux operating system and a plethora of software applications, which are acknowledged to be the major threat to monopoly of software giant Microsoft. “Free” in “Free software” stands for Freedom and not for no-cost. Free software gives its users the freedom to copy,study,modify and redistribute the software. Many companies like Redhat, Canonical, etc. have created sustained business using free software. Such software is always developed by a community of software professionals using open standards and always by making the “source code” (the technology) available to people. Free software promotes sharing and co-operation among people and hence it is essential for a democratic society.

Many volunteers from India have been working on making available GNU/Linux in local languages. Today it is available to a good extent in many local languages like Marathi, Malayalam, Hindi, etc. However improvements can always be made.

To promote the use of localized software and to promote development of software in local languages we are organizing a free of cost “Localization camp” that aims at introducing to software developers the state of the art and unresolved issues in this field. This camp is being organized by “Swathanthra Malayalam Computing”, a group of developers working for Malayalyam software support; “Uncode” which is the free software initiative of “Lokayat”, an activist group in Pune and CoFSUG (College of Engineering, Pune's Free Software Users Group). The venue for this event is being provided by “Red Hat”, which is a leading provider company of Free and Open Source software. The camp will focus on introducing various localization tools, processes and communities and as a forum for developers to connect. This event is open for all to participate, learn and have fun.

This is one of its kind event happening in Pune. These kind of events are the distinguishing features of the “Free software community” which believes in co-operation and sharing. Event details:

Localization camp for promotion of software availability in local languages on GNU/Linux Date and Time: 20th March 2010, 10 am to 5 pm; 21st March 10 am to 3 pm Venue: Red Hat office, Tower 10, Cyber City, Magarpatta City, Hadapsar

We request you to send your reporter and photographer to cover this event and help us promote local language computing. Sincerely,

Praveen Arimbrathodiyil +91 9561745712 Swathanthra Malayalam Computing

Rishikesh  Yeolekar +91 9423507864 Uncode,Lokayat's Free software Initiative

Abhijit A.M. +91 9422308125 CoFSUG(CoEP's free software Users group)