Entries from December 2007 ↓

Problem:  Installing and getting going on OLPC’s XO development takes time.

Getting the environment to work, getting the libraries installed and linked, and all the other cruft of systems administration takes  time on the XO.  Each application is written in Python and then ‘sugarized’.   Then you move it over the XO, then you run it.

This can create a real hurdle for people who want to play with the OLPC.

Solution:   Provide a premade virtual XO development environment.

What if we run a server that has an environment with an open Subversion version control system.   When you check in a new file to your project, a build bot compiles it in the correct environment, runs pychecker and other tools,  sugarizes, runs unit tests, and then makes available a binary, a report, and a screen-movie of the run.

So, good idea, bad idea?

Problem:  The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) XO Laptop coud get viruses

The XO laptop will be a perfect breeding ground for viruses.  The system is monolithic, with an expectation of identical hardware and operating systems being deployed across entire countries.   IT support is expected to be non-existent.   The machine networks heavily and promiscuously.

The primary defense against the spread of viruses is the built-in BitFrost security system.  This assemblage uses virtual machines to restrict certain combinations of rights and attempts to prevent some of the higher harm viruses from occurring.  One can expect many installations to disable any security measures found burdensome, as occurred with the rights based security in J2EE.

Solution:  Make a bootable, read only, USB key to validate that all installed software is open source.

On the other hand, the OLPC has a few truly special features that allow effective anti-virus software to exist.   All, or almost all, software on an OLPC is expected to be open source.   It becomes reasonable to validate that all possible changes to configurations, applications installed, and binaries from a known list of ‘good’ applications.  While “enumerating badness” is a doomed strategy, enumerating allowed systems is possible.

Consider a repository that keeps track of all known contributed applications and language packs in source form.  An automated script builds these into sugarized files and keeps track of the file system effects from installing these onto virtual machines.   The results are placed onto a self-booting USB key that boots up, examines the file system of the XO, and declares it to be clean or infected.

This does require some tricky programming, mostly in reducing the combinatorially exploding possible configurations into a linearly growing set of rules for allowable configurations.  The problem is engineering, not requiring perfect implementation.

This feels like a good PhD Thesis for someone.

Problem: Ubuntu troubleshooting is scattered about useless message boards

Solution: Rate messages for useful information

Ubuntu, the popular Linux distribution, discusses problems in message boards. Someone poses a problem and various people pose possible solutions. The total volume means that great posts detailing the actual way to set environment variables or handle XYZ Mark 32.42 video cards are lost. Users spend way too much time digging through chaff.

One simple solution is to rate the value of posts, ala Slashdot and others. As a user is browsing through the discussion forum, she can tag an answer as especially clear and well written. Alternately, she could tag a message as a question or otherwise content free. Later users might set a minimum threshold to search for well written explanations.

WHAT:   Hacking with the OLPC, Python, and the Sugar Environment.

BRING:  Your OLPC (XO) if you have one, and a laptop if you have one.

WHY:  You want to play with an OLPC, or want to start developing for it.

WHEN:   Saturday,  December 22, 2007.   Starting at 10 a.m., going
until we stop.

CHILDREN:   The house is generally kid-safe, and we have a four year
old and a baby.
Usually, the more the merrier, but check in with us first
(charles.merriam@gmail.com).

WHERE:   My house.  It’s next to Westgate mall in Saratoga.  RSVP for
directions.

WHY Again:  It’s fun.

RSVP:  Please.  charles.merriam@gmail.com.

Email with any questions to charles.merriam@gmail.com, or call me at
408.368.6050

Ron Eglash makes a strong case for fractals being the dominant art form of Africa in this Ted Talk.

He explores villages showing a fractal nature far beyond the accidental. Art and religion drive village architectures that repeat into small objects at the heart of the village. His discussions with tribal leaders show the deep meanings of these choices, and a continuance of these themes into African life.

Fractals are explained, and the theme is shown in the Mancala games, fence construction, tapestry, and aspects of religion. Binary patterning, as part of mysticism, produce a good random number generator. Finally, some efforts are shown as incorporating this heritage into an educational system.

This is a fascinating 15 minute video. Also, he provides software for exploring fractals.

Problem: Empty Mall Slots and No Libraries

Solution: Instant Temporary Libraries

Malls need full storefronts to attract traffic; too many empty storefronts leads to fewer shoppers browsing through the mall. The mall can cease to be a destination. On the other hand, a mall wants to charge a premium for its retail space, stores want long term leases to capitalize on their investments, and so temporary dead mall space is a normal part of life. Less innovate malls content themselves with renting out the space to a fly-by-night “Christmas Store”.

Turn the mall space into a temporary library.

Overnight, a branch library could exist. Many of the usual library and business rules could be relaxed for this civic minded venture, including rent. The library could pop into existence with nothing more than a couple hundred paperback books, a simplistic check out system or even an honor system, and a box for returns. It would slightly more challenging than a bookmobile. If Internet were available, the library could also put up their entire catalog with a “click here to have it ready for you next visit” functionality such as found at my library. People would return to the mall in order to return library books and to pick up ordered library books. As long as you are there, might as well have lunch or do a little shopping.

This type of approach has worked in the past. Red Ink Studios existed, rent free, in Santana Row for some time with a clear understanding that they would vacate within thirty days of paying tenant being found. This generated more foot traffic to the rest of the outdoor mall than would another empty store front.

The most contentious issue opposing adoption is simple: it’s different. Neither property management nor public libraries are particularly innovative. It would be a good for libraries, with increased visibility and a location with new patrons. It would be good for malls with increased traffic to the mall and new customers that may normally shy away from malls.

Libraries reel from the rapid changes of the Internet, digital media, and our changing patterns of connectiveness. Many libraries could rise to these challenges.