At the recent Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) Software Freedom Day event on September 15th, 2007, Mike Tikasingh recorded some video footage with a camcorder. Thanks to Mike’s hours of editing, we have a 18 minute video of the TTCS Software Freedom Day 2007 event which also features the TTCS new logo!
The video is available in three formats :
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) will be having a meeting on Saturday 29th September 2007 from 1pm to 4pm at Engineering Consultants, at 112A Edward Street, Port of Spain. (located at the corner of Oxford and Edward Street).This meeting will be an opportunity for those unable to attend the TTCS Software Freedom Day event on September 15th, 2007 as we will be repeating some of the presentations made on Software Freedom Day .
We will be :
– giving an overview of what is free and open source software
– demonstrating Ubuntu, a popular Linux-based operating system bundled with many applications.
– demonstrating the TTCS OSSWIN CD, a CD of over 100 free and open source programs for Windows
Attendees can get a TTCS OSSWIN CD and a Ubuntu CD for $20 TT ; schools and other educational institutions can get these free of charge, provided an email is sent before Saturday).
Anyone who uses a computer is welcome to attend. Attendance is free.
See you there!
Mark Lyndersay’s latest Bitdepth column #595 for Tuesday 25th September 2007 is online featuring the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society’s Software Freedom Day meeting on September 15th, 2007.
(Edit 28/9/2007 : corrected date of BitDepth column)
Saw this news item in the Wednesday September 19th, 2007 Trinidad Express newspaper :
Teen charged with hacking into AG’s computer
Wednesday, September 19th 2007A TEENAGER has been charged with hacking into the internet account of the Attorney General’s office.
Shezie Huggins, 19, yesterday appeared before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Port of Spain First Magistrate’s Court.
Huggins is alleged to have illegally attained and used the internet account of Attorney General John Jeremie on two separate occasions.
The incidents are said to have occurred on July 31 and August 1, respectively.
Huggins, who was represented by attorney Sean Cazabon, pleaded not guilty to the two charges.
The court heard that police officers entered the Diego Martin home of Huggins’ parents and seized the family computer he is alleged to have used.
The case has been adjourned to November 20.
A few observations :
Meeting on Sept 8th, 2007 went well and the TTCS will be having a meeting on Sunday 9th, 2007 at ENCO from 10am to continue preparatory work for Software Freedom Day on September 15th, 2007.
You can read a summary of what happened on Sept 8th, 2007 and other TTCS SFD preparations at the TTCS SFD wiki page.
TSTT’s website has this short press release regarding the Single National Rate (SNR) :
TSTT defers implementation of the Single National Rate
Trinidad – TSTT today announced its intention to defer implementation of its proposed Single National Rate plan. The current rate structure will remain in place until further notice.
TSTT has pledged to continue its commitment to implement pricing plans based on customer preferences which deliver exceptional value to its customers.
Wonder if this is a rethink by TSTT to implement SNR at all, or was this this due to TATT’s objections (not in principle about SNR but how TSTT went about doing it). Or maybe enough customers (including government) complained once they did the math and realised that the cost of business would increase with the proposed SNR.
See related blog posts :
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society Software Freedom Day event flyer (PDF ; 180K) has been uploaded. Print and redistribute! Also see the TTCS wiki page on SFD to keep track of the TTCS preparations for the event.
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS), will be having a tech meeting on Saturday September 15th, 2007 from 1pm to 6pm at Hand, Arnold (Trinidad) Limited, El Socorro Road Extension, El
Socorro, San Juan (View satellite image at http://tinyurl.com/knbef)
We will be celebrating Software Freedom Day 2007, a global, grassroots effort to educate the public about the benefits and availability of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
Anyone interested in computing and related technology are welcome to attend this event. While stocks last, attendees will receive the TTCS OSSWIN CD and Ubuntu CDs (or any Linux distro) free of charge. Additional linux distros can be obtained for $5 TT each.
Some of the activities planned at this meeting include :
Please let us know via email at admin at ttcsweb d.o.t org if you are attending and what distros you may be interested in getting) so we can prepare the venue accordingly.
See you there!
Recently, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) website at http://ttps.gov.tt/ was defaced sometime last week (at least since August 19th, 2007 according to the Microsoft cache of the site). The main page contains several images and the title of the website reads “Welcome to Rum Bar Jamaica” and several links to a Jamaican social/portal site. The TTPS site is offline for now….here is the Google cache of ttps.gov.tt
Also, the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organization (TUCO) website at http://www.tuco.co.tt/ was also discovered to be defaced apparently by persons from Turkey.
The 2008 National Budget of Trinidad and Tobago (PDF ; 337K) was released today in Parliament.
The IT related aspects contained in the 2008 budget of Trinidad and Tobago :
Page 27-28 : under ‘Education’
“…Mr. Speaker, one of the Government’s major focus is the infusion of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the curriculum of our schools. The main objective of this programme is to prepare students to live in a knowledge-based society.
Under the Primary Schools Computerization Programme infrastructural work on computer laboratories has been completed at 340 primary schools and eleven special schools and before the end of this fiscal year the majority of these schools will boast modern, fully equipped computer labs.Mr. Speaker, Phase I of the ICT in Secondary Schools Programme commenced
with the provision of computers and network and security systems. Free internet access is now available at one hundred and eighty primary and secondary schools.In the new fiscal year, we intend to complete the computerization of 193 primary schools, and 11 special schools. In addition computers and networking will be provided for 133 Secondary Schools throughout the country.
Phase II of the Secondary Schools ICT Project, which includes purchase of teaching software and provision of classroom collaborative solutions, will also be completed during the coming fiscal period.
Page 48 – ‘Telecommunications’
“…Mr. Speaker, the Government is committed to the development of a modern and competitive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Sector to ensure that all citizens have access to efficient and affordable telecommunications.
The Government’s goal is to promote ICT acculturation among all citizens through: expanding the use of ICT to modernize the operations of the public sector; increasing the availability of online government information and services; promoting the development of competitive ICT-based businesses; encouraging greater use of ICT in business operations and market transactions; and expanding high speed Internet connectivity to all schools, libraries and community centres.
In this context Mr. Speaker, the National Broadband Action Plan includes: facilitating the establishment of International Carrier Shared Landing Stations; implementing a public sensitization programme for Broadband in Trinidad and Tobago; facilitating the implementation of a National Internet Exchange Point (IXP); and facilitating the development of a domestic hosting industry.
These initiatives will help to ensure a sound ICT infrastructure in Trinidad and Tobago thereby facilitating our transition towards a knowledge-based society, using the technology to improve our economic, social and cultural development.
Pages 63-64 “Legislation to ban the use of Cellular phones while driving.”
“..Mr. Speaker, in light of the need to reduce the quantum of road accidents and the overall carnage on our roadways, it is proposed to introduce legislation to make it an offence to use cellular phones and other similar electronic devices while driving. It is also proposed to introduce legislation to ban the use of television type monitors in the front seat of vehicles. These measures will involve amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act.”
