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Open Source in Laos
Interview on Anousak Souphavanh - Chief Technical Advisor Organisation of Lao Open Source, Lao PDR
Learn more about the state of Open Source advocacy in Lao from Anousak
Souphavanh, the Chief Technical Advisor Organisation of Lao Open
Source, Lao PDR
Can you describe briefly the history of your organization?
Basically we have involved with Linux since first kernel in 1992 and have even been since involved in many activities namely localization. The project dubbed “Laonux” is the name for the open source KDE desktop localized in Lao langauge. I can say that we are the lao Open Source evangelists and developers at the same time. We started out localizing Open Source software for Lao language since 1997. The most first inpressive thing we have done was localized the first Lao version of KDE. Then we done the OpenOffice and Mozilla's Thunderbird. Now there are many Open Source activities that we are involving: Ubuntu, GNOME, KDE, Google Android, Xorg, and etc.
What are the objectives and aims of your organization?
To create Lao in Lao langauge for those that don't speak other langauges other than their own mother tungue. Second reason is basically create software that available for free of charge.
Why are you promoting Open Source?
Currently, Lao people who want to use computers must first learn English. In a country with low literacy rates, this creates a very high barrier to access to ICT, especially for the rural poor and women, who do not have equal access to education. Even having learned English, Lao users must pay hundreds of scarce dollars to license foreign software, or resort to widespread software piracy to gain access to ICT. Access to Information Technology is one of the keys to development, and is a crucial missing link in Lao communications infrastructure.
What are the benefits of Open Source in the public sector in Laos? Can you tell us about ongoing activities in this fields?
Social and economic progress will continue to be slowed by the lack of access to ICT in the Lao language at an affordable price, especially in agriculture and the informal economy. Increasing dualism within the economy between the few urban “haves” and the many rural “have-nots” leads to conflict and continued poverty. Schools can have Lao localized version installed for the kids to learn. Government can enjoy the benefit of having free software in their own language especially Laos will become WTO member within a year or two timeframe. There are acitivities which my team are in charge such as Ubuntu, Gnome, Mozilla's product localization.
What are the benefits of Open Source in the private sector in your country? Can you tell us about ongoing activities in this fields? The private sector especially in the eduation and telecom have been using Open Source software for their learning and maintaining systems.
What are the benefits of Open Source for the citizens in Laos? Can you tell us about ongoing activities in this fields?
The benefits are endless as I stated above. Having their own language and cost would be the biggest beneficial points.
Do you think open source will increase innovation in Laos ? Why and how?
Yes. This is essential and very good question indeed. As it has been, Open Source has its root where innovation comes from every developer's yearn for the greatness and freedom of sharing and quest for innpvative thinking and learning. Many younger generation are become adopting and yearn to learn about Open Source and its technology. The IT infrastructure in Laos is also play a great deal of role where there has been a digital divide but that is less now.
What is the state of art of open source in Laos and what are your predictions of open source in your country?
The Governement namely NAST – National Authroity of Science and Technolgy- is implementing grandeur of the E-Government project where it is plan to link every agency in the country to its HUB in the city of Vientiane. The HUB is the brain of the E-Governement where it has the latest and technology and the software is of Open Source. Laos is a small country. I think we are the pioneers doing the this for the country of Laos. The government is now planning, but it is slowly gear towards the Open Source, to have Open Source Master Plan and put software to use for its agencies. Thus the future for Laos to adopt and adopt Open Source looks quite good indeed. Something else to add? I am quite happy to be involved and the one who perhaps paving the way for the Open Source. We are promoting the use of Open Source in the public and private sector. We will do our utmost ability to continue to pull the resources together to make things happen. I really admire our friends in Cambodia namely Javier Sola who have contributed his time and energy making things happen for the Khmer OS. Lao Open Source is a small team and needs international attention as well as looking for possible contributions/funding for building capacity, training, localization work and Open Source awareness and other activities here in Laos. It is ongoing activities which required time, funding, and human resources. Thanks for your attention and go OS!
More info at:
http://anousak.blogspot.com/
http://www.ict4dev.gov.la/
Can you describe briefly the history of your organization?
Basically we have involved with Linux since first kernel in 1992 and have even been since involved in many activities namely localization. The project dubbed “Laonux” is the name for the open source KDE desktop localized in Lao langauge. I can say that we are the lao Open Source evangelists and developers at the same time. We started out localizing Open Source software for Lao language since 1997. The most first inpressive thing we have done was localized the first Lao version of KDE. Then we done the OpenOffice and Mozilla's Thunderbird. Now there are many Open Source activities that we are involving: Ubuntu, GNOME, KDE, Google Android, Xorg, and etc.
What are the objectives and aims of your organization?
To create Lao in Lao langauge for those that don't speak other langauges other than their own mother tungue. Second reason is basically create software that available for free of charge.
Why are you promoting Open Source?
Currently, Lao people who want to use computers must first learn English. In a country with low literacy rates, this creates a very high barrier to access to ICT, especially for the rural poor and women, who do not have equal access to education. Even having learned English, Lao users must pay hundreds of scarce dollars to license foreign software, or resort to widespread software piracy to gain access to ICT. Access to Information Technology is one of the keys to development, and is a crucial missing link in Lao communications infrastructure.
What are the benefits of Open Source in the public sector in Laos? Can you tell us about ongoing activities in this fields?
Social and economic progress will continue to be slowed by the lack of access to ICT in the Lao language at an affordable price, especially in agriculture and the informal economy. Increasing dualism within the economy between the few urban “haves” and the many rural “have-nots” leads to conflict and continued poverty. Schools can have Lao localized version installed for the kids to learn. Government can enjoy the benefit of having free software in their own language especially Laos will become WTO member within a year or two timeframe. There are acitivities which my team are in charge such as Ubuntu, Gnome, Mozilla's product localization.
What are the benefits of Open Source in the private sector in your country? Can you tell us about ongoing activities in this fields? The private sector especially in the eduation and telecom have been using Open Source software for their learning and maintaining systems.
What are the benefits of Open Source for the citizens in Laos? Can you tell us about ongoing activities in this fields?
The benefits are endless as I stated above. Having their own language and cost would be the biggest beneficial points.
Do you think open source will increase innovation in Laos ? Why and how?
Yes. This is essential and very good question indeed. As it has been, Open Source has its root where innovation comes from every developer's yearn for the greatness and freedom of sharing and quest for innpvative thinking and learning. Many younger generation are become adopting and yearn to learn about Open Source and its technology. The IT infrastructure in Laos is also play a great deal of role where there has been a digital divide but that is less now.
What is the state of art of open source in Laos and what are your predictions of open source in your country?
The Governement namely NAST – National Authroity of Science and Technolgy- is implementing grandeur of the E-Government project where it is plan to link every agency in the country to its HUB in the city of Vientiane. The HUB is the brain of the E-Governement where it has the latest and technology and the software is of Open Source. Laos is a small country. I think we are the pioneers doing the this for the country of Laos. The government is now planning, but it is slowly gear towards the Open Source, to have Open Source Master Plan and put software to use for its agencies. Thus the future for Laos to adopt and adopt Open Source looks quite good indeed. Something else to add? I am quite happy to be involved and the one who perhaps paving the way for the Open Source. We are promoting the use of Open Source in the public and private sector. We will do our utmost ability to continue to pull the resources together to make things happen. I really admire our friends in Cambodia namely Javier Sola who have contributed his time and energy making things happen for the Khmer OS. Lao Open Source is a small team and needs international attention as well as looking for possible contributions/funding for building capacity, training, localization work and Open Source awareness and other activities here in Laos. It is ongoing activities which required time, funding, and human resources. Thanks for your attention and go OS!
More info at:
http://anousak.blogspot.com/
http://www.ict4dev.gov.la/
