Difference between revisions of "BarnCamp 2017 notes"
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(Created page with "== (still) re-using computers in our communities == We discussed the social and technical challenges of computer re-use. It was noted that there were multiple environmental a...") |
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Perhaps more interesting and providing opportunities for variety are the potential social/political benefits of re-use projects, including; | Perhaps more interesting and providing opportunities for variety are the potential social/political benefits of re-use projects, including; | ||
| − | + | * opportunities for building community cohesion by getting (for example) people who can't afford new computers to cooperate with people who have tech jobs/knowledge | |
| − | + | * providing a focus for commonality with established community groups, e.g. artistic, tech, green organisations | |
| − | + | * merging 'after sales support' with basic skills education | |
| − | + | * developing everyone's experience of localised mutual aid | |
| − | + | * opportunities to have discussions with different people about consumerism and it's social/environmental harms | |
There are many obstacles to these kind of projects. Some of our experiences included; | There are many obstacles to these kind of projects. Some of our experiences included; | ||
| − | + | * people wanting to get skills they can use "in the workplace", i.e. wanting to know how to do things in microsoft office so they can get a drudge office job because our options of how to get our material needs met still require this, for many of us | |
| − | + | * even public sector organisations can be phobic about FLOSS options that could extend the useful life of machines | |
| − | + | * data destruction and other regulatory requirements (WEEE licenses for example) | |
| − | + | * demand for standardisation, whereas our strengths might be more to do with personalisation (focussing on our individual strengths and needs, and the particular needs of our customers/neighbours/mates) | |
The struggle continues... | The struggle continues... | ||
Revision as of 16:59, 11 June 2017
(still) re-using computers in our communities
We discussed the social and technical challenges of computer re-use. It was noted that there were multiple environmental advantages to re-use (as opposed to recycling) of all electronics; these are well-known.
Perhaps more interesting and providing opportunities for variety are the potential social/political benefits of re-use projects, including;
- opportunities for building community cohesion by getting (for example) people who can't afford new computers to cooperate with people who have tech jobs/knowledge
- providing a focus for commonality with established community groups, e.g. artistic, tech, green organisations
- merging 'after sales support' with basic skills education
- developing everyone's experience of localised mutual aid
- opportunities to have discussions with different people about consumerism and it's social/environmental harms
There are many obstacles to these kind of projects. Some of our experiences included;
- people wanting to get skills they can use "in the workplace", i.e. wanting to know how to do things in microsoft office so they can get a drudge office job because our options of how to get our material needs met still require this, for many of us
- even public sector organisations can be phobic about FLOSS options that could extend the useful life of machines
- data destruction and other regulatory requirements (WEEE licenses for example)
- demand for standardisation, whereas our strengths might be more to do with personalisation (focussing on our individual strengths and needs, and the particular needs of our customers/neighbours/mates)
The struggle continues...