Smart Cape libraries |
| Organisation name: | Smart Cape |
| OSS Used: | Suse Linux; LTSP; OpenOffice; Mozilla; PHP; MySQL. |
| Reasons for using OSS | Cost; customisation of interfaces; scalability; low spec hardware. |
| Benefits of using open source software | Network stability; cost-efficient remote administration; easy customisation. |
| Challenges of using open source software | Re-training for application usage. |
| Does using FOSS benefit your organisation? |
The system is considered successful, and could be a good model for schools and community centres too. |
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| Organisation |
| The Smart Cape project is a component of the far-reaching Smart City initititive of local government to IT-enable the population of Cape Town and surrounds. The pilot phase saw public access computers (refurbished PCs) set up in six public libraries around Cape Town. |
| Why does the organisation use FOSS? |
Linux provides a high level of security, and is far less prone to the kind of security exploits that currently affect the most popular proprietary operating systems.
The cost of supporting these installations is contained in two ways: the inherent stability of the Linux-based thin client environment and the powerful remote administration capabilities of the Linux server.
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| The benefits and challenges of using FOSS |
Using free software allows the mix of software titles used to be changed at any time, and rolled out across the multi-user network without incurring any costs for the project.
Currently the refurbished PCs being used for the project are the biggest source of system downtime, with PC fans and power supplies being the most frequently replaced components.
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| Conclusions |
The Smart Cape system has been evaluated by an independant body (Informatics, report available from www.smartcape.org.za). Based on the relative success of the pilot phase 18 more libraries were expected to be connected up within 2004. All 95 Cape libraries are expected to be connected by the end of 2005.
Research commissioned has shown that users need the system simplified further, and a volunteer programme is currently being put in place to train users in the relevant applications, especially the OpenOffice productivity suite, where audio tutorials might be developed.
Marlo Golding, chief project technician, notes that the use of open source software gave the development team freedom to build and integrate any programme code they needed for project. The front and back-end systems could therefore be developed around the end goals of scalability and flexibility, which could see the system implemented in schools and community centres.
CONTACT:
www.smartcape.org.za
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