Submission + - Language, culture and free software
jjohn_h writes: In his recent interview with the Linux foundation
http://linux-foundation.org/weblogs/openvoices/linus-torvalds-part-i/
Linus Torvalds mentions the weak contribution from Asian countries to the kernel and free software in general. A few excerpts:
>>> ... some of them have huge penetration of Internet use, they have a obviously great education and they do not end up contributing a lot to open source ... ... I actually think the cultural barrier is bigger than the language barrier and the reason I say that is especially South America has been pretty active, so it's not that — and they don't necessarily speak English all that much, but I think culturally they're more closer to Europe and the U.S. which makes it easier to enter.
So — and the cultural differences I don't think we even know how to really even approach.
And here are my questions to Slashdotters with extended personal experience in Asian countries:
(1) What would you consider specifically cultural barriers disregarding the language barrier?
(2) Do Asian countries have an internal developer community offering free software in the local languages? Is it comparable in some way to what is happening in USA?
(3) Would economic factors be relevant? For instance, having an own and good performing PC, sufficient space at home, regular power supply, affordable broadband?
(4) Is broadband penetration a good indicator of Internet penetration? I seem to recall a post on Slashdot by an American in Japan. The guy was saying Japanese do not really use the Internet despite their broadband prowess.
http://linux-foundation.org/weblogs/openvoices/linus-torvalds-part-i/
Linus Torvalds mentions the weak contribution from Asian countries to the kernel and free software in general. A few excerpts:
>>>
So — and the cultural differences I don't think we even know how to really even approach.
And here are my questions to Slashdotters with extended personal experience in Asian countries:
(1) What would you consider specifically cultural barriers disregarding the language barrier?
(2) Do Asian countries have an internal developer community offering free software in the local languages? Is it comparable in some way to what is happening in USA?
(3) Would economic factors be relevant? For instance, having an own and good performing PC, sufficient space at home, regular power supply, affordable broadband?
(4) Is broadband penetration a good indicator of Internet penetration? I seem to recall a post on Slashdot by an American in Japan. The guy was saying Japanese do not really use the Internet despite their broadband prowess.
