From US Social Forum Wiki
Revision as of 15:04, 21 October 2009 by 173.8.216.62 (talk) (→Collaborative Tools: Whiteboard is being looked at as an open source alternative to Etherpad)
The USSF is committed to using high-tech and low-tech tools that help us communicate to mass audiences. To advance this, the NPC has adopted ten Principles for Developing Technology for the US Social Forum in 2010. Among our need to build, share, and use popular culture tools such as Facebook, Twitter & YouTube, the social forum needs to develop free and open source software (FOSS) alternatives. The Information Communications and Technology ICT Working Group will lead the effort of putting these technology principles into practice. Whenever possible, we will use and promote the use of FOSS and reduce our dependence on private/corporate tools that require licensing fees and have usage restrictions.
Collaborative Tools
- This wiki!
- EtherPad - real time note pad for meeting note taking! (USSF common page, another USSF common page). EtherPad is really friendly, but unfortunately closed source. Gobby is good although it doens't have a web based client. Bespin is both free/open source and a web based interface. It looks a bit harder to use and is more geared toward developers.
- Skype - owned by eBay - a good voice and video program - closed source - Gizmo is open source. We also have Asterisk plus sip phones like ekiga as options.
- IM
- IRC - Instant Relay Chat - In 2007, we used silc link here. I think having a simple web client is a good idea and will help participants. Also - I know that Crabgrass has a chat component.
- Laconi.ca - open source blogging platform - developer is very interested in helping the US Social Forum get their own (like Identi.ca and twit.tv).