This is an old revision of the document!
This section intends to outline the goals of the project and answer some questions to those joining the project at any stage as to why we've chosen our specific approach.
Background
Who/What/When/Where/Why/How?
Once upon a time… Kami Griffiths contacted Jim Stockford to see if any SF-LuG members could volunteer to assist her with a community computing project. You can follow the email path in the online archive of the mailing list by searching for her name. Long story short, after a couple of initial aborted runs, updating a computer lab at the Hayes Valley Community Center(part of the San Francisco Housing Authority?) became the task at hand. The project was helped immensely by the generous hardware donations of two SF-LuG members, Romel Jacinto(15 Dell GX150s) and Johan Martin(2 Dell PowerEdge 2300 servers).
From part of an email Kami posted, "Not everyone can afford a computer and the 2007 City Survey shows that 20% of San Francisco residents still don’t have a computer or internet access. That number jumps to 30% in the Southeast and the report highlights the growing digital divide when it comes to income, education level and race. There was a push to address this issue in the late 90s, government and foundation funding was plentiful and computer labs popped up everywhere. The current administration declared that there was no longer a digital divide, funding dried up and so did the salaries that paid for trainers and technicians to keep the labs running. But people still don’t know how to use the computer even though the need to know is growing."
This lab will provide computing and internet access to the under-served community around it. In addition, this collaboration(SFHA, Compumentor, SF-LuG) may serve as a blueprint for future projects. SF-LuG members have an opportunity to learn as few of us have before… by teaching. Kami has already appealed for additional volunteers to teach a variety of computing subjects, focusing on the basics initially, but open to more advanced topics as the need arises.
Parse through the notes below for a look at How this lab is coming together. It will constantly be under some level of construction. Your time, expertise and insight are encouraged and appreciated!
Current Status
This is a meant to be a high level, non-technical summary of the current situation that can be understood by anyone.
We have 8 working desktop computers (Dell Optiplex) running Edubuntu (desktop edition), and 2 spare desktops in the Server room which also have Edubuntu Desktop edition installed. We have a server (through which all the desktop computers connect to the Internet) in the server room (surprisingly), running Edubuntu (server edition).
All workstations connect to the Internet through the Server, and the Server provides automatic content filtering through a program called DansGuardian (this only works for http: sites, not https: sites).
Each desktop can print to the Printer located next to the Kitchen area, and has this printer set as it's default. This is an HP LaserJet 4000TN.
Currently each desktop stores it's own data, has it's own users set up, and has to be administered (installing applications, updates, etc.) individually.
We have two options for how to ease the administration of this.
User Requests
This section documents items that have been requested by the users that have not yet been implemented. Note that there's a separate section below for administrative issues that those involved on a technical level believe that need to be done - this simply covers items requested directly by the users.
Contacts
sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list # Remove references to CD as software source sudo aptitude update && sudo aptitude upgrade # This does software upgrades sudo aptitude install edubuntu-desktop gcompris kalzium khangman kmplot kig kpercentage kstars tuxkart tuxtype tuxpaint keduca kbruch flashplugin-nonfree
This timetable outlines dates and times that the center would like to have volunteers available at the center to "manage the lab" and/or provide technical assistance, and who is willing to provide that.
Date | Time | Volunteer(s) |
---|---|---|
Thursday, 11/01/2007 | 6-8pm | jim stockford + Jason Turner |
Thursday, 11/08/2007 | 6-8pm | Jason Turner |
Thursday, 11/15/2007 | 6-8pm | Tom Haddon |
Thursday, 11/22/2007 | 6-8pm | Closed for Thanksgiving |
Thursday, 11/29/2007 | 6-8pm | Tom Haddon |