On Wed, 14 May 2003, Sebastian Rahtz wrote:
> > O Reliance on continued availability of the company (e.g. company
> > doesn't go bust, company doesn't increase its charges, change its
> > conditions, etc.)
> >
> > Any thoughts on this?
>
> true, of course; but against that
>
> * it means no work for the host site, and no maintenance
> * the cost is low
>
> if the company crash and burn in a year, we'd have spent a thousand
> quid on a service some might find useful. our exposure is limited.
Just to throw my Free Software 2p into the pot:
Yes, the cost is low, for you. But accessibility aids are something that
all FE/HE should be looking to provide on their web sites (whether in the
form of this spoken word software or in other ways). Multiply 1000 pounds
by 130ish institutions, and suddenly it doesn't look so cheap.
It's useful to hear how it works in one deployment, but if it proves
beneficial, then it's time to put each 1000 into a central pot to develop
an open source solution for FE/HE (or to prod JISC into funding such
development). That would guarantee:
- no recurrent licencing costs (what happens when Windows 2005 comes out?
Can we guarantee Browsealoud won't charge to 'upgrade'?) or dependancy on
one company (what happens if the Browsealoud makers go bust?)
- privacy concerns: presumably this software is a nice way for the
browsealoud people to find out what sites people are viewing (since the
plugin checks to see if each site the user is on has paid). If the need
for a central (licencing?) server is removed, so are the privacy concerns
- everyone benefits: release the work that's been done into the community,
and anyone (not just FE/HE) can benefit from the aid, which has positive
humanitarian connotations.
Sorry, bit early to be ranting. I think I need another cup of tea.
Andrew.
--
Andrew Savory Email: [log in to unmask]
Managing Director Tel: +44 (0)870 741 6658
Luminas Internet Applications Fax: +44 (0)700 598 1135
This is not an official statement or order. Web: www.luminas.co.uk
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