Date:24/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/24/stories/2006082423610300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Stallman impresses teachers, fans

G. Mahadevan

Fields questions on free software

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For the school teachers, IT@School coordinators and free software fans who gathered at the 14 Edusat Training Centres across the State on Tuesday, it was probably an experience they would remember for long; a discussion on free software with none other than Richard Stallman.

The occasion was a discussion on `The Role of Free Software in Education'. Mr. Stallman was seated in the central Edusat up-linking facility at the Gorky Bhavanam in the city and his address was beamed live over satellite to all the 14 centres.

The questions that were posed to Stallman covered a range of issues relating to free software. Why free software at all? What is the difference between free and open source software? The free software guru was even asked why he was always seen dressed in jeans and T-shirt and not in formal wear.

Mr. Stallman explained the importance of knowledge not being monopolised by a few. In reply to a question on free/open source software and the lay computer user, pointed out that even a common user of free / open source software has the freedom to modify it according to his preferences; even though the modification may be done by his friend.

Replying to another question — on the use of free software in mobile phones — Mr. Stallman said that while some portions of the software being used in a cell phone may be proprietary in nature — for various reasons — the rest of the software should be amenable to modifications.