This document discusses the acceptance and benefits of free, libre, and open source software (FLOSS) in Cuba's higher education system, emphasizing its role in narrowing the digital divide and fostering self-reliance among local communities. It outlines the social responsibility of adopting open-source technologies and highlights various motivations and barriers concerning the integration of FLOSS in educational institutions. Additionally, it presents strategies for creating awareness and building expertise within the framework of Cuba's informatization strategy.

1. Free Libre And Open Source Software Acceptance
in The Cuban Higher Educational System
Aceptación del Software Libre y el Código Abierto
en el Sistema de Educación Superior Cubano.
Ayandi Lemus - formerly University of Pinar del Río
Prof. dr. Frederik Questier - Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Prof. dr. Febe Angel Ciudad Ricardo - University of Informatics Sciences
Universidad 2016, Havana, Cuba

2. This presentation can be found at
http://questier.com
http://www.slideshare.net/Frederik_Questier

3. 4
1980's:
Stallman defined
“Free Software”
The freedom to
➢ use
➢ study
➢ distribute
➢ improve
the program
Free Open Source Software - FLOSS

4. 1991 comp sci
student
“I'm doing a (free)
operating system (just a
hobby, won't be big and
professional like gnu) for
386(486) AT clones.”

5. 6117 persons, 659 companies
have contributed to Linux kernel

6. 7
“Open Source ... it's just a
superior way of working together
and generating code.”
“Like science, Open Source
allows people to build on a solid
base of previous knowledge,
without some silly hiding.”
“you can obviously never do as
well in a closed environment as
you can with open scientific
methods.”
Linus Torvalds (2007-03-19). The Torvalds
Transcript: Why I 'Absolutely Love' GPL Version 2.

7. Row 1 Row 2 Row 3 Row 4
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Our social responsibility:
how open is the future?

8. ➢ "bridge the digital divide
by adopting open source
thus narrowing the effect of techno-colonialism"
➢ “Need for technology
that is controlled by local communities
and not by foreign companies,
that is public property
and empowers people to be self-reliant”

9. Stay in control!
If you don't control the program,
the program controls you!
W
hy?

10. Stay secure!
You can't trust software
if its source code is hidden
W
hy?

11. Avoid:
data lock in
vendor lock in
Improve interoperability
W
hy?

12. FLOSS tools are
most often cross-platform
W
hy?

13. The (Unix) philosophy of
connectable and reusable
modular components
→ best modules are most reused
→ get most feedback
→ survival of the fittest
→ quality
“Linux is the benchmark of Quality”
Coverity Report 2012, ...
W
hy?

14. Modularity and lightweight solutions
allow to use small or old devices
Save energy
W
hy?

15. Easy localization and customization
W
hy?

16. Possibility to involve students
W
hy?

17. Business opportunities
Innovation opportunities
Network effects
W
hy?

18. Better support
Support is often core
of the FOSS business model
+ fair competition of service providers
Easier troubleshooting
Because of transparency
W
hy?

19. Fun
Learning
W
hy?

20. Reduce costs
Avoid piracy
Avoid license management burden
W
hy?

21. Linux is everywhere from the smallest devices to 92% of the top 500 Super Computers

23. >50% of all computing devices is running
Android, a mobile version of Linux

24. There are FLOSS solutions for all
computational tasks

25. Everybody is using FLOSS
and contributing to it
IBM, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, ...

26. Increasingly governments demand
Open Standards
Source code

27. Some countries and regions have done Linux migrations
Extremadura in Spain
or have expressed the desire to do so
China, Russia, Cuba

28. ESTRATEGIA MAESTRA:
INFORMATIZACIÓN
2016
Enfoque integral de la informatización
como elemento transformador de la educación superior,
que impulsa el cumplimiento de los objetivos de la organización
y la convierte en protagonista de la informatización de la sociedad cubana
“10. Priorizar el empleo del Software Libre
en todas las acciones de implementación de la actual estrategia.”

30. “Linux has come to dominate
almost every category of computing,
with the exception of the desktop”
Jim Zemlin, Linux Foundation Executive Director, 2011

32. Perceived barriers?
➢ Pre-installation of non-free software
➢ Anti-competitive behaviour
➢ Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt
➢ Lack of awareness
➢ Limited in house experience
➢ Transition efforts

34. innovation diffusion model
➢ Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th edition). New York, NY: Free Press

36. Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and
User Acceptance of Information Technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319

37. Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User acceptance
of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS Quarterly, 425–478.
UTAUT
Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology

38. Validated acceptance model for
Free Software in (Flemish) schools
F. Questier, S. Froeliger, Acceptance model for Free Open Source Software in
(Flemish) schools, 37th Annual Conference of the Association for Teacher
Education in Europe, Eskisehir, Turkey (25-29 August 2012)

39. What is your motivation
to use Free Software?

40. What is holding back the
adoption of FLOSS in your school?

41. UTAUT2
Venkatesh, V., Thong, J. Y., & Xu, X. (2012). Consumer acceptance and use of
information technology: extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of
technology. MIS Quarterly, 36(1), 157–178.

42. Interview with
ICT director of Cuban Ministry of Higher Education
is done
Survey questionnaire (in Limesurvey)
for ICT managers of universities
is ready to be deployed
Dreams for:
students & teachers questionnaires,
Close The Gap analysis,
migration experiment,
elaboration of strategies & policies
Who wants to collaborate
to continue this project?

43. FLOSS opportunities in Cuba
➢ Create awareness, all stakeholders
➢ Build expertise
➢ Nova Linux
➢ Share migration experiences
➢ Provide repositories
➢ El paquete semanal
➢ Build an economy on it

44. This presentation was made with 100% Free Software
No animals were harmed
Questier.com
Frederik AT Questier.com
www.linkedin.com/in/fquestie
www.diigo.com/user/frederikquestier
www.slideshare.net/Frederik_QuestierMuchas
gracias!
¿Preguntas?

45. Credits
➢ Photo Linus Torvalds: GFDL. Permission of Martin Streicher, Editor-in-Chief,
LINUXMAG.com
➢ Picture (open source business strategies) from IT Manager's Journal, may 2004,
with personal permission from John Koenig
➢ Screenshot http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/
➢ Cartoon Open Source Fish by openssoft
➢ T-Shirt “Best things are life are free” by http://zazzle.com
➢ Drupalcon DC 2009 copyright by “Chris” (Flickr)
➢ Screenshot Acquia
➢ Internet map by The Opte Project, CC-by
➢ Open arrow, CC-by-nd by ChuckCoker
➢ Share matches CC-by-nc-nd by Josh Harper
➢ Question mark CC-by by Stefan Baudy
➢ Social Icons by Iconshock http://www.iconshock.com/social-icons/