Techno-political Criteria
An event such as the Congress of the CyberSociety implies adopting a series of socio- technical strategies that will determine its operation and impact.
The election of the technologies we use as well as the manner in which they are implemented is never neutral. If we did not critically analyze our options in order to consciously choose among them we would be adopting a strategy by inertia or by letting ourselves directed by trends; this unreflective position would still have a social or political impact.
The Congress as an organization thus has a responsibility that it must assume. The following outlines a neutral position based on the minimum criteria that no one should be excluded from participation and thus favors the use of free technologies and open projects, a strategy that reaffirms and demonstrates their viability through their capacity to enable this Congress.
A. Concerning technologies needed TO FOLLOW the Congress. Technologies (or socio " technical systems) supporting participation in the Congress:
(a.1) They will be (primarily) Web based.
(a.2) They must work with a navigator that fulfills W3C standards and that works with the maximum number of operating systems and platforms. Firefox serves as the reference browser.
(a.3) - Efforts will be made to utilize a variety of browsers in their various versions (IExplorer, Opera, Safari, Konkeror, ...) as well as a variety of access devices.
(a.4) - These devices must be able to work with different operating systems (Linux, Windows, MacOS, etc ...). Technologies that are incompatible with an open source operating system will not be used.
(a.5) " Preference will be given to technologies with free license. When deciding between two equivalent options, we will favor the free option. In those cases where proprietary technology must be used, we will favor those that comply with (a.2), (a.3) and (a.4).
B. Concerning the COMPLEMENTARY technologies to the Web of the Congress. Concerning systems or Web 2.0 services that support "connection" and participation in the functioning of the Congress:
(b.1) - There will be no system or service essential or important for monitoring the Congress that can not be used on the browser of reference (see A.2) and / or can not be used on a free operating system . Persons who work only with free technologies can not have a quality and level of participation that is inferior to those who do not.
(b.2) " A distinction is made between systems and services that are corporate driven and those that are maintained by nonprofit organizations. A distinction is also made between systems and services based on technologies available for free or open to modification and those that are based on closed-source technologies. Positive evaluation will be given to open projects with systems and services that allow for open participation. We will adopt a critical and cautionary attitude towards systems or services offered by corporations that have a dominant position or operate as a monopoly or oligopoly, working to accumulate rather than distribute, and / or have a history of malpractice.
(b.3) " We will take into account the "conditions of use" of services or systems to be used. We will reject any conditions found abusive or ethically reprehensible.
(b.4) - Full participation in the Congress must not require the use of a corporate system or service.
(b.5) " All attempts will be made to allow congress participants to connect to Congress activities by employing systems or services they typically use as long as they comply with points outlined above (a system or service that violates the principles above cannot be essential for full participation in the Congress, and a person who uses such systems or services cannot enjoy advantages over others who do not).
C. Concerning the PREFERRED attention to free and open technologies. The Congress and its organization will promote and support the use among congress participants of:
(c.1) "free technologies.
(c.2) - systems and services promoted and maintained by non-profit organization and based on open projects and free technologies.
D. Concerning the PUBLICITY and discussion of these principles. These principles:
(d.1) all discussion will be public.
(d.2) discussion channels will be open within the congress so that participants can comment, support, and consult with one another regarding technologies used.
(d.3) a working group will be initiated to propose, discuss and seek alternatives.
The election of the technologies we use as well as the manner in which they are implemented is never neutral. If we did not critically analyze our options in order to consciously choose among them we would be adopting a strategy by inertia or by letting ourselves directed by trends; this unreflective position would still have a social or political impact.
The Congress as an organization thus has a responsibility that it must assume. The following outlines a neutral position based on the minimum criteria that no one should be excluded from participation and thus favors the use of free technologies and open projects, a strategy that reaffirms and demonstrates their viability through their capacity to enable this Congress.
A. Concerning technologies needed TO FOLLOW the Congress. Technologies (or socio " technical systems) supporting participation in the Congress:
(a.1) They will be (primarily) Web based.
(a.2) They must work with a navigator that fulfills W3C standards and that works with the maximum number of operating systems and platforms. Firefox serves as the reference browser.
(a.3) - Efforts will be made to utilize a variety of browsers in their various versions (IExplorer, Opera, Safari, Konkeror, ...) as well as a variety of access devices.
(a.4) - These devices must be able to work with different operating systems (Linux, Windows, MacOS, etc ...). Technologies that are incompatible with an open source operating system will not be used.
(a.5) " Preference will be given to technologies with free license. When deciding between two equivalent options, we will favor the free option. In those cases where proprietary technology must be used, we will favor those that comply with (a.2), (a.3) and (a.4).
B. Concerning the COMPLEMENTARY technologies to the Web of the Congress. Concerning systems or Web 2.0 services that support "connection" and participation in the functioning of the Congress:
(b.1) - There will be no system or service essential or important for monitoring the Congress that can not be used on the browser of reference (see A.2) and / or can not be used on a free operating system . Persons who work only with free technologies can not have a quality and level of participation that is inferior to those who do not.
(b.2) " A distinction is made between systems and services that are corporate driven and those that are maintained by nonprofit organizations. A distinction is also made between systems and services based on technologies available for free or open to modification and those that are based on closed-source technologies. Positive evaluation will be given to open projects with systems and services that allow for open participation. We will adopt a critical and cautionary attitude towards systems or services offered by corporations that have a dominant position or operate as a monopoly or oligopoly, working to accumulate rather than distribute, and / or have a history of malpractice.
(b.3) " We will take into account the "conditions of use" of services or systems to be used. We will reject any conditions found abusive or ethically reprehensible.
(b.4) - Full participation in the Congress must not require the use of a corporate system or service.
(b.5) " All attempts will be made to allow congress participants to connect to Congress activities by employing systems or services they typically use as long as they comply with points outlined above (a system or service that violates the principles above cannot be essential for full participation in the Congress, and a person who uses such systems or services cannot enjoy advantages over others who do not).
C. Concerning the PREFERRED attention to free and open technologies. The Congress and its organization will promote and support the use among congress participants of:
(c.1) "free technologies.
(c.2) - systems and services promoted and maintained by non-profit organization and based on open projects and free technologies.
D. Concerning the PUBLICITY and discussion of these principles. These principles:
(d.1) all discussion will be public.
(d.2) discussion channels will be open within the congress so that participants can comment, support, and consult with one another regarding technologies used.
(d.3) a working group will be initiated to propose, discuss and seek alternatives.
- efore the discussion of communications (12-29 of November) we have prepared a series of online workshops that will be published progressively.
Do you want to take part in it?
