[luau] A Mission For Luau

[R. Scott Belford]

On Thursday, April 25, 2002, at 05:49  PM, Warren Togami wrote:

> This is exactly my idea with Linux Thin clients for schools.  The 
> potential
> benefit far outweighs giving computers to individuals (that can come 
> later).
> Instead, hundreds and thousands of students will be using Linux every 
> day,
> and it will be far easier for us in the Linux community to support 
> because
> they are in few locations.

Yes, Warren, it is my knowledge of your successes at Mid-Pac that 
convince me that this is possible. I completely agree that targeting our 
schools would be the best first step.
>
> We have plenty of storage at Mid-Pacific, so I would suggest that we 
> use the
> school as a central location for refurbishing and deployment.

Surely this is more convenient for most of the community.  Sounds 
great.  As good as a Windward depot sounds, it would probably be more 
convenient for most to go to Mid-Pacific.  This would be a noble and 
worthy contribution for the school to make.  I imagine that there will 
be times when we can collaborate and accomplish some things on the 
Windward side as well.

> On campus, we are almost ready to deploy another 20 thin clients in
> classrooms.  We have another thin client server ready for this purpose, 
> but
> we need to buy PCI network cards and monitors for the computers.  We 
> could
> use a more computers and parts too.

Yes.  Your work at Mid-Pac is the best local model, so we should 
reciprocate the school's kindness by channeling some worthy hardware 
(once we begin to collect it) to your deployment.  20 more.  Go Warren 
Go.
>
> The next phase after this would be to identify another school that wants
> this.  I think Kalani High School would be the next logical candidate
> because they already have a large number of computer savvy students.  
> Once a
> school wants Linux thin clients, we would need the following things in 
> order
> to make it happen:

Excellent.
>
> * Volunteers for computer refurbishing, wiring and initial setup.

we sure seem to have that.

> * Roughly $4,000 for a powerful server with backup drive, ethernet 
> cable,
> network cards, monitors, etc.

Hopefully schools will have some resource.  I think this is wishful 
thinking, though.  A future success for us would be to secure a grant or 
private funding to buy this one component for each school as required.  
I will have to learn more about some options.  If we are fortunate 
enough to generate more publicity than Warren or that name, then it is 
possible that someone would reach out and help.  There is a lot of 
wealth on the islands interested in helping a worthy cause.
> * Donated computers

seems like these will come.

>
> But the most important part
> * People familiar with the system to maintain and support, only a phone 
> call
> away.
> * Free labor for support initially.  We need to prove the system works 
> and
> has value.  Only after that we should charge.

I sort of see it the same way.  This is like a club activity.  It should 
be free.  I suppose that inevitably some project will be large enough 
that they will want someone to come around and help.  Either we leave it 
to the community to do it, or perhaps they hire one of you.  This would 
hopefully not create a situation where someone felt slighted, etc.  I am 
working on a business plan in my MBA program that addresses customer 
service while employing my Democratization of Capitalism concepts.  I 
intend to share it.  You can check out the concepts of the DOC at 
http://www.democratizationofcapitalism.org/.  Well, someday you will be 
able to, I haven't really figured out how to make a web page without 
frontpage, and, well...
>
> Anyone want to meet about this?  I can explain how all the pieces of it 
> work
> together so more people can be familiar with Linux Thin Clients, then 
> we can
> talk about strategies in promoting this and getting funds to deploy in
> schools across the state.

I really want to.  A funds strategy ultimately sounds smart. Between 
then and now, we should all keep an eye out for good, old hardware.  
There are people slipping through the proverbial cracks each day we fail 
to act.  I have covered the CBA at UH.  If any of you get around any 
other campuses here on the island, find who has the power and press our 
case.