process.arts - Comments for "Libre open studio space at Chelsea"

Never been to one of these,

avelios — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 20:02:48 +0000

Never been to one of these, but let me know if I can be of any help.

Name for the space

cwebb — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:00:07 +0000

Hey guys - I think we should avoid any terminology that the uninitiated might not recognise!? Do you think 'Libre' would make sense to people? I'm wondering about

Open source technology space

Open source technology lab

Maybe ask students at your event tonight Chris!?

Open source learning studio

cfollows — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 12:05:01 +0000

The other thought is, we are planning a learning studio event at Chelsea so it would be good to have an open-source represented in this and future learning studio events?

Ok great, its good to be

cfollows — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 11:32:00 +0000

Ok great, its good to be clear about what the group needs and commitments are, it would be best to pilot a small test case first, this ties in with the plans for A215 to create a more open access projects space, change the layout and have spaces for digital experimentation and online conference booths etc. So we could plan in an open-source area for this space. We also need to ballance the impacts of using this space for digital experimentation projects and formal Adobe teaching.

Be good to see who the group includes and what their interests are - have added a 'Group Members and interests' forum post.

"Formally" agreeing to help

avelios — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 11:13:17 +0000

"Formally" agreeing to help manage the space may be difficult at the moment. I was thinking that maybe this is too much of a first step, i.e. committing time, resources, fund-raising etc. I would find it difficult to be in the room on a regular basis, but I find it much easier to run specific workshops at pre-agreed times. The other thing is that most of the students/staff have their own laptops and we should focus on this fact for every day computing with Linux rather than to have to be in a specific space to use Linux.

Having said that, I think that having a space which we could use regularly for Libre "surgeries" is useful. I would suggest that we keep some machines with the UAL clone and only install open software on the rest. Then we will see the usage pattern and preferences. Also, it is perhaps easier to ask for some of the computers to be dedicated to open software than all of them in any room.

I think we should schedule another workshop for installing Linux on people's computers. Perhaps in A215. So ask them to backup files and convert to open file formats. Then come to the workshop to choose a distribution and install it on their laptops. So they come in with MacOSX or Windows and they leave with GNU flavours. We only need a small number of decisive users.

Hi yes have started this

cfollows — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 12:37:00 +0000

Hi yes have started this process: first job is to identify a space, there are a few spaces that have no hardware but may be available, the ideal space would be A215 as this is currently under used, as the computers are notoriously slow and its a closed space only accessible via booking etc. So I'm am starting to write a rational for why this space would be ideal (I wont list the issues, they are long standing issues with the UAL clone we are all aware of). The other main driver is the use of free and open source in every way possible, OS, software programmes, browsers etc.

The room by default closed and has no sense of ownership: our group will have to agree to take ownership of the room and help manage it as an open access space and teaching space for open practices, how do we formally agree this?

We'd like to make this space a new dynamic, experimental and innovation space for developing and integrating free and open source practice in education so would seek funding to maintain, staff and develop this space as a group, but will have to look at more sustainable models.

The space will be a leading research space in this area, open to all UAL staff and students to participate and learn.

..... More to follow, please add your thoughts.

Roadmap

avelios — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 12:12:06 +0000

Having a libre space in Chelsea would be great. Chris, could you put together and cirlulate a list of steps to make this happen? I.e.:

we need to get approval for the use of space by whoever needs to approve it,
we need to notify IT to deactivate sockets in that room,
we need to find wireless dongles for the computers etc.