For Mozilla, users are not the end

By Jisha Surya

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mozilla offers a slew of projects for users, ranging from students to filmmakers, explained Arky, Mozilla community manager, who was in the city to interact with users of open source software. “You need not be tech-savvy to be a part of Mozilla. For Mozilla, users are not the end. User is the central part and the technology is driven by user demand,” he said.

Filmmakers and artists can make use of the Mozilla product Popcorn.js. It is an HTML5 media framework written in JavaScript for filmmakers, web developers, and anyone who wants to create time-based interactive media on the web. Popcorn.js is the JavaScript library for integrating the web into video production. “For example, if a drumbeat artist wants to upload his video, he can use this programme,” Arky said.

“For students, there is Mozilla rep programme, where students can be Mozilla reps spreading open source software at school,” Arky said.

“In order to attract more women to Mozilla programmes, we organise Mozilla women. Technology is seen as the forte of men. But, women are a significant workforce. Work ethics of women are great. However, less number of women are coming forward to lead communities. This may be because of the lack of role models in the field,” he opined.

On why there are no localisation camps in the State, Arky said, “there are Mozilla contributors here. They must arrange the localisation camps. They must volunteer one.”

However, he added that the Mozilla rep programme, which was earlier organised in big cities, has now moved to Tier-II cities. New users can log on to Mozillaindia.org

Arky visited Insight, a joint initiative of the Kerala State IT Mission and SPACE, aimed at empowering the differently-abled through computers, Internet and other ICT tools. He interacted with visually-challenged students of Insight who were now getting trained in audio editing.

“Interacting with various kinds of users will be helpful in developing new programmes. New programmes will develop based on their needs,” he said.

�He also visited Insight’s centre for differently-abled, where a number of students, suffering from autism, learning disabilities etc, are enthusiastically working on the free education software Gcompris. “Open software becomes meaningful when it is used for something like this. Students must make projects that could help the differently-abled,” he said.