Johnny Stork

Near the end of 2000 the use of Linux and other open-source software was exploding globally into all areas of technology, handheld devices, multimedia, network systems, embedded systems and super-computers. The message was clear. Open-source software was rapidly becoming the new paradigm for software and technology development. In many cases entire governments were embracing the collaborative model of open-source on a national level to fend off caged and expensive proprietary IT models.

Why has Linux and open-source exploded into every area of business and technology? Simple, it saves money, returns control of software and technology back to the user, is expanded and developed through an open and transparent model of sharing information which cumulatively improves the product, and it is the one true infrastructure which is "free" to innovate with minimal restrictions or corporate control. Open-source is (mostly) free of those business models which are based on self-serving or economic interests alone. A model which is often at the heart of the proprietary software industry and which often inhibits, rather than encourages innovation. A few examples of where Linux and/or open-source have even been legislated into use, include the governments of the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa, the Netherlands, China, Singapore and many others. It was during this time (2000) that Academic Computers was re-named Open Enterprise Solutions in order to reflect an emphasis on supporting, advocating and developing powerful business solutions with open-source and open-standards based technologies. 

The technical value and superiority of open, transparent and collaborative development models continue to expand globally. Today, there are few areas of technology where open-source software and the cooresponding collaborative development model, have not made a contribution, or dominated. The underlying technologies from which the Internet itself is derived and maintained, are themselves built almost entirely from open-source software. It was also around this time (2000) that I had a sort of technological and philosophical realization. This open and fundamentally collaborative model for developing and distributing software, was really a model for general knowledge aquisition, development and dissemination. In my opinion, nothing less than a burgeoning new epistemology.

It is my personal belief that the open, transparent and collaborative nature of this technology and software paradigm is not only a powerful new tool for the business environment, but the same model and philosophy can be utilized to the benefit of any knowledge-based endeavor. Today we see a growing interest in science (open-science ), education (open-education), government (open-government), publications (open-publication), journals (open-journals) and general knowledge paradigms (open-knowledge). Even the City of Vancouver has made a commitment towards the support and use of open-source, open-standards and open-government. The Future of Open Source in Government seem's to be clear. 

I beleive that as an expanding global species putting increased demands on the environmental, economic,  political and social infrastuctures of our planet, our very survival may be based on our ability to "pool our resources" epistemologically speaking. One way to (loosely) describe this personal philosophy, is with the word Ubuntu . Ubuntu is a South African ideology which means "humanity towards others" or "I am because we are." Another translation is "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity". There is even a Linux distribution that's been given the name Ubuntu , which is one of the most popular Linux distributions for the personal desktop computer at home or work. Overall, I believe that the growing popularity of these concepts of openness, collaboration and knowledge-sharing may very well shape our future for the next millennium. Therefore my business and philosophical interests are inextricably linked.