I accidentally did not "reply all" this morning when sending this ...
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Charles Cossé ccosse@gmail.com Date: Tue, Jan 10, 2017 at 6:17 AM Subject: Re: Project to stimulate Edu-FLOSS development To: Bastien Guerry bzg@gnu.org
Hi Bastien & All,
On Tue, Jan 10, 2017 at 1:26 AM, Bastien Guerry bzg@gnu.org wrote:
I am not sure I completely grasp the relations between users and developers in your idea.
Here is an ASCII diagram which needs to be viewed in fixed-width font:
+-----------------------------+ | | | EDU-FLS DEVELOPER COMMUNITY | | | | Dual-Purposed Javascript | | FLS Activities | | | | 1. As Activity Plugin: | | | | Busking For Percentages | | Of Subscription Fees | | Creates Incentive | | | | 2.Indep of Online Website | | Listed in FSD | | | +-----------------------------+
+-----------------------------+ | | | ONLINE WEBSITE | | | | *Subscription Service* | | | | Whitelisted by DEVICE@HOME | | Credit-Transfer API | |-----------------------------| | | | +---------------------+ | | | DEVELOPER ACCOUNT | | | |---------------------| | | | Maintain Activities | | | | | | | | Interact w/Users | | | | | | | | Get Compensated | | | | | | | |---------------------| | | | | +---------------------+ | | | PARENT ACCOUNT | | | |---------------------| | | | Login from Anywhere | | | | | | | | Configure & Queue | | | | Activities | | | |NoSQL w/Credits,Queue| | | | | | | |Subscription Distri- | | | | -bution Interface | | | +---------------------+ | | | | +---------------------+ | | | KID ACCOUNT | | | |---------------------| | | | Login from Home | | | | | | | | Complete Activities | | | | In Queue | | | |NoSQL w/Credits,Queue| | | +---------------------+ | | | +-----------------------------+
+-----------------------------+ | | | DEVICE @ HOME | | | | WiFi Access Point | | Firewall w/Whitelist | | Credit-Transfer API | | | | Local Web Server | |-----------------------------| | | | | | +---------------------+ | | | KID ACCOUNT | | | |---------------------| | | | Credit-Meter UI | | | | | | | | NoSQL w/Credits,List| | | | of Devices: XBox etc| | | +---------------------+ | | | +-----------------------------+
The device at home is a tool for parents. A parent could award credits for doing dishes, for example. The kid needs to access the internet via the device. But the device runs a firewall which only lets them access whitelisted sites unless they use credits. To use credits they browse to the website broadcast by the device and run the "credit-meter" web application. It's just a Javascript application which controls the firewall and manages their credit balance.
The online website lets them earn credits by completing activities. The parent can configure and assign them from work, and the kids can get there from home because the device's firewall allows access to that site, i.e. the site is whitelisted.
It turns out that kids will do anything for those credits, and thus there is this huge potential to supplement their education through these activities. It's different that Kahn academy, for example, because this compels them to make an effort. Their motivation is to earn credits for internet access, but the end result is still that they focus and make a real effort.
If there were a bunch of good activities then this would be a service worth paying for. How to attract contributors? What's in it for them? Require the parents to pay a subscription for unlimited access, but allow them to distribute their subscription to the developers of their choice. It creates a new market for education software, bringing the parent and developer communities together and keeping the interaction between them alive due to healthy competition for some percentage of those subscription fees.
The ultimate goal is to create a whole bunch of new Edu-FLS. Thus it seems reasonable that FSF would be interested to run a campaign advocating the whole thing. The rest is details that have solutions.
Would you like me to set up a call with Lionel Laské about Sugarizer
and your ideas?
Yes, that would be great! I will send a separate email ...
I'm skeptical on whether it's worth looking for endorsement, would it be from FSF, FSFE or any other organization.
My thinking is that if RMS agrees that it's a good thing, and authorizes an FSF campaign, then the important message is sent and FSF/* can consider participation.
Let me understand more about the "equation" in a call some day!
I would definitely like to talk by phone. I will send that separate email.
Thanks, -Charles