The Society of Computer Users (SCU) was founded in 1990. At the time of its creation, personal computers (whether Apple Macintoshes, IBM machines or IBM-compatible machines) were quite expensive, online communications were more dream than reality (there was no Internet access in Trinidad and Tobago) and software could only be had at a premium price. The SCU had an ambitious mission: to be a user-friendly outlet in the distribution of computer related information to the general public.
(more…)Author: ttcsadmin
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TTCS meeting on October 11 2008 – TTCS Comments on Draft National E-business policy of Trinidad and Tobago
Note : May 14 2013 : this page makes references to the TTCS wiki in use at the time which is no longer in use. We’ve added local copies of the documents mentioned for reference.
- Draft National Policy on Electronic Business for Trinidad and Tobago (PDF ; 745K ; 25 pages)
- TTCS comments submitted on “Consultative Document on a Proposed Policy Framework for e-Business in Trinidad and Tobago” (PDF of Google Doc)
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Update (20 Oct 2008) – comments submitted. View the Google document of the questions and our submitted answers.
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society will be having a meeting on Saturday October 11th, 2008 from 1pm to 5pm at Engineering Consultants at 112A Edward Street, Port of Spain.
At this meeting, we will be framing our response to the proposed National E-business Policy of Trinidad and Tobago (PDF ; 745K ; 25 pages) . The deadline for comments is Monday October 13th, 2008.
However, you can make and review the existing comments BEFORE the meeting on the TTCS wiki page on the Draft National Policy on Electronic Business for Trinidad and Tobago .
To add/modify comments on the TTCS wiki page, just select the “Edit this page” button. At the login screen, the wiki password is “ttcswebwiki” ; enter your name and email address to proceed to add/edit the comments on the Draft National Policy on Electronic Business for Trinidad and Tobago.
Comments to the Ministry of Public Admin must use the fastforward’s e-Town Hall Website at http://ebusiness.fastforward.tt/business/townhall
- Draft National Policy on Electronic Business for Trinidad and Tobago (PDF ; 745K ; 25 pages)
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Computers for communities launched
Not much was heard about the Computers for Communities announced by the (then) Ministry of Public Administration and Information (MPAI) last year. See
- Commonwealth computer recycling project in Trinidad and Tobago supports community development
- MPAI announces Computer Refurbishment Project
for more background information. However, the project has now been launched according to a Newsday newspaper article dated Thursday, October 2 2008 :
PUBLIC Administration Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh has urged further collaboration between private and public sector entities to ensure citizens have access to computers in the near future.
He was speaking at the launch of the Computers for Communities programme at the Hilton recently. The programme is a pilot project done by the Ministry and the Commonwealth Secretariat. The project is part of a Commonwealth initiative called the Connects Programme and will eventually affect the entire region.
Microsoft Corporation has agreed to assist the initiative by providing knowledge and experience regarding the implementation of the first refurbishment centre. Swaratsingh, at the launch, commended Microsoft’s participation in the project.
“Computers for Communities, as it is being called, primarily seeks to develop and implement a national and sustainable system for collecting, upgrading and repairing used computer equipment for distribution to communities across Trinidad and Tobago,” a release issued by the ministry stated.
Read rest of Newsday article.
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Trial for Trinidadian charged for turning off computer set for November 11, 2008
An update to the Trinidadian charged for turning off the computer as spotted in the Newsday newspaper dated September 20 2008 :
A TRIAL date was set yesterday by a Port-of-Spain Magistrate, hearing the case of a former employee of the Land Registry Division, who is accused of tampering with a company computer.
Avinash Bahadoor was told by Magistrate Cheron Raphael, presiding in the Third Court, that the trial will start on November 11, at 10.30 am. Bahadoor is charged with causing a computer to temporarily cease functioning and interfering with the lawful use of a computer sometime in August 2006. He was formally charged by PC Matthews on May 11, 2007.
Sushma Goopiesingh is Bahadoor’s counsel, while Randall Hector is prosecuting. Three witnesses are expected to testify against Bahadoor when the trial commences.
The wording “causing a computer to temporarily cease functioning and interfering with the lawful use of a computer” is from the Computer Misuse Act, which would make this case the third time someone was charged in Trinidad and Tobago under this act.
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Trinidad and Tobago Software Freedom Day 2008
The Software Freedom Day 2008 event at the Old Fire Station, Port of Spain on September 20th, 2008 was well attended with estimates between 200 and 300 persons attending. All 200 TTCS OSSWIN CDs and 150 Ubuntu CDs were given out. A detailed writeup is in the works but you can take a look at :
- Preliminary photos from SFD 2008 :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttcs/sets/72157607414496498/ - Software Freedom Day 2008 in the Local Press :
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article?id=161378007
http://www.newsday.co.tt/day/1,22970.html#foto
- Preliminary photos from SFD 2008 :
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Electronic Transactions Bill 2008
The Electronic Transactions Bill 2008 was introduced to the House of Representatives in September 2008. It “seeks to provide for the transfer of information and records by electronic means”.
However the bill lapsed in Dec 2008 with the end of the Parliament session.
- View / Download The Electronic Transactions 2008 (PDF ; 110K)
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Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society celebrates Software Freedom Day on September 20th
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS), will be celebrating Software Freedom Day (SFD) 2008 on Saturday September 20th, 2008 from 9am to 5pm at the Old Fire Station Building, National Library, Port of Spain. Everyone is welcome to attend this Software Freedom Day event.
We will be having scheduled presentations with giveaways and booths showing various aspects of free and open source software. Admission is free and while stocks last, attendees will receive free software CDs.
View Scheduled Presentations at SFD 2008 :
http://www.ttcsweb.org/articles/sfd/ttcs_sfd2008_presentation_schedule.pdfFor more details, visit the SFD website at
http://www.ttcsweb.org/sfdIf you are attending SFD 2008, complete the TTCS SFD attendence form :
http://www.ttcsweb.org/sfd2008attendenceAbout Software Freedom Day
Software Freedom Day (SFD) is a global, grassroots effort to educate the public about the importance of software freedom as well as the virtues and availability of Free and Open Source Software. The non-profit company Software Freedom International (http://www.softwarefreedomday.org/) coordinates SFD at a global level. Volunteer teams from all over the world organise the localised SFD events for the third Saturday in September.
The Software Freedom Day event in 2007 hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society received a “highly commended” award out of 200 international teams from the Software Freedom Day organisation.
Additional information about the Trinidad and Tobago Software Freedom Day event in Port of Spain can be found at http://ttcsweb.org/
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Trinidad and Tobago draft Broadcast Code
The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has published a draft Broadcasting Code containing rules for regulating the content of programmes and material transmitted by radio and TV broadcasters (specifically the free-to-air radio, free-to-air TV and the basic (or general audience) package of subscription TV broadcasters).
According to the document :
“the principles which inform the Code are respect for the right of adults to choose the programming they want, while protecting children and young persons from unsuitable
material through appropriate scheduling and, the need to protect persons from harm or
unnecessary offence.”The Code prescribes specific standards for the broadcast of free-to-air radio and television programmes in relation to a number of issues including the following :
- Protection of children and young persons
- Harm and offence
- Crime
- Race
- Due Impartiality and due accuracy in the reporting of news
- Election coverage
- Fairness and privacy
- Right of reply
- Information and warnings
- Advertising and sponsorship
- Religion
The Code also outlines procedures for receiving complaints and for redress.
TATT will be holding public meetings (not announced as of August 10th, 2008 ) at locations throughout Trinidad and Tobago between 18th August 2008 and 29th August 2008. Persons may also submit comments in writing to the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago at 76 Boundary Road, San Juan, Trinidad or by email to legal@tatt.org.tt.
The deadline for the receipt of written comments on the Code and the Guidelines to TATT is
August 29, 2008.Download :
- Draft Broadcast Code of Trinidad and Tobago (PDF ; 192K)
Also, see Presentations from TATT’s seminar “Balance on the airwaves ; free speech and responsibility”
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TTCS OSSWIN CD v1.93 released
The TTCS OSSWIN CD v1.93 (http://ttcsweb.org/osswin-cd), a collection of over 100 Free/Open Source software for Windows is available for download.
TTCS OSSWIN CD v1.93 details :
- Date created : Tuesday July 29th, 2008
- File name : ttcs_osswin_cd_v1.93.iso
- File size : 695 MB (729,485,312 bytes)
- MD5 checksum : fec73ecfd687bb84ff7b5de336d51b26 / fec73ecf d687bb84 ff7b5de3 36d51b26
- SHA-1 : c6003633 59e37802 2d52867f 6d353e26 63cd42df
- SHA-256 : 369a8c35 451a1d34 869f5b81 a20944a0 7cae1159 dc73c3c0 75430e0d d6e178e4
Changes from v1.92 :
- updated Abiword, GanttProject, WinMerge, Wikidpad, Tuxpaint, Portable Puzzle Collection, Sokoban Yasc, Freeciv, Paint.NET, Dia, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird, Filezilla, Miranda IM, XAMPP Lite, VirtualDub, VideoLAN, TrueCrypt, Launchy
For more details about the TTCS OSSWIN CD, including links to other download mirrors (including BitTorrent) can be found at https://www.ttcs.tt/osswin-cd/
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Software Freedom Day 2008 event planning for TTCS
Software Freedom Day (SFD) 2008 will be on September 20th, 2008 and the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS ; http://ttcsweb.org/ ) needs your help.
What is Software Freedom Day?
Software Freedom Day (SFD) is a global, grassroots effort to educate the public about the availability and benefits of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Local teams around the world organise and have events
on the third Saturday in September.Software Freedom Day is on September 20th, 2008. We need to plan now and
- decide what to do
- locate a suitable venue
- promote the meeting once the venue and format of SFD 2008 is confirmed
The TTCS wiki page is available to assist with planning at https://files.ttcs.tt/ttcs-wiki-sfd2008-planning.pdf
Local Linux users, Windows users, Mac users, fans of open source software, everyone is welcome to assist with this project.
If you :
- can help us with these tasks
- have ideas and suggestions
- would like to volunteer to help with planning SFD 2008 in Trinidad
- would like to volunteer to help on the actual day(s)
please go to the planning page for further information and/or to add your contribution : the TTCS SFD 2008 wiki page at https://files.ttcs.tt/ttcs-wiki-sfd2008-planning.pdf and email admin at ttcsweb.org. Notes of meetings will be posted to the planning page with the first virtual one scheduled for July 27, 2008.
Further details will be posted to the SFD2008-planning page as well as via email to those persons interested in helping with SFD2008.
In 2007, the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society’s entry for SFD 2007 received a “highly commended” award from the Software Freedom Day organisation! Information about that event can be found here: