COMPUTERS, SINGAPORE PRISONS and the COMMUNITY

SUPERSEED is partnering with the Ministry of Manpower and Singapore Prisons Service to refurbish donated computers, provide training to inmates and distribute the refurbished items to volunteer welfare organisations in Singapore.

This project -- which started with a proposed donation of 120 computers, monitors and other computer accessories by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) -- has been a bit like a jigsaw puzzle.

MOM is donating the computers. But they have been wiped clean. No data, no software, no operating systems.

CommGate, a Singapore-based company specializing in Open Source servers, will donate a Linux operating system and software for all the machines.

Inmates at Changi Prison will (a) verify that the machines are in good condition, (b) combine the RAM cards from machines with insufficient memory and (c) install the new software. A volunteer from CommGate will provide training to inmates in the program.

Once the computers have been refurbished - a process that is expected to take about one month - SUPERSEED will distribute the machines to worthwhile projects in Singapore. Some of the older computers will remain at Changi Prison for use in a computer maintenance training program.

All of the parties involved have expressed an interest in making this a long-term project.

Instead of benefiting a single recipient group, this project has two levels of beneficiaries - the inmates and the end users. The inmates will benefit from training as well as the knowledge that they are contributing to the community.  This complements Singapore's nationwide "Yellow Ribbon" campaign whose goals are to

· Create Awareness of giving second chances to ex-offenders.
· Generate Acceptance of ex-offenders and their families into the community.
· Inspire community Action to support the rehabilitation and
reintegration of ex-offenders.

On a personal note, I spent Friday afternoon inside Changi Prison touring existing computer work and training programs. I visited a video edit suite where inmates played their showreel for me. Prior to the program, they did not have any experience as editors. But the quality of their work is as good as some segments produced in the commercial sector. I was also shown website design projects and spoke with prisoners who are learning computer programming. (That evening I telephoned my mother. When I told her I had spent the afternoon in prison, she replied with a smile "Michael, that's something no mother wants to hear! : )

I would like to thank the Ministry of Manpower, CommGate and Singapore Prisons for their support!

Comments

[Lim Chee Seng]

I am in full support for this computer re-assingment project. I would not say that I am an expert with PCs, but with my tertiary education in Computer Engineering and years of using PCs, I think I can assess to many IT resources to make PCs more useable. I would like to volunteer to help out in this project, especially to work together with the inmates, and also I have this humble idea of setting up a few computers in government facilities such as RCs, eductional centers, community centers, in lower income HDB areas for the public to use. The retirees can learn computing skills like internet, chinese computing, VOIP or IMS with their grand children abroad, so many broad usages of the computer with broadband access. Currently it is limited only because of application guidance, encouragement to learn, and the luxury of broadband access in their homes. By timesharing and with the donated computers, the retirees and children of the less privileged families can enjoy being online and benefit from Internet like their peers.

I have this plan for sometime, and I can submit more details if needed. In any way, you can count on me to dedicate some time each week to help in setting up the computers or related matters.

Thank you.

[CS Lim]

Regarding the donated PCs from MOM that are depleted of all softwares, I am curios to find out why MOM cannot donate the PCs with the O/S intag. I presume that most branded PCs are sold with OEM license of the Windows. Now that the PCs are donated, does it mean that MOM could use these licenses and upgrade them for their new PCs? It could be a case of corporate licensing scheme and MOM's hands are tied on this. However, I would like to request for MOM's effort to look into this matter, to see if it is possible to donate with the O/S may it be Windows 95, or 98.

Certainly, the PCs will be more useful with Windows than open source ones like Linux, especially if we are considering for the ordinary users. I am not promoting Windows nor critising other O/S, only considering the common knowledge picked up by the general public, and the application softwares it supporting.

Alternatively, efforts can be put into donations for licensed Windows O/S as well. I also have obsolute or faulty PCs that are sold as scrap but it certainly come with a licensed O/S. We can always make good use of these.

I think the key issue here is the proper handling of IPs, and the fear of going against the law. Let us put some effort at the legal way to get the O/S, and not jumping to conclusion that open source O/S is the only way to go.

I may be wrong, but it is my personal opinion and I will put effort to get some legal license for these PCs if required.

[Michael Switow]

Hi CS,

Thank you so much for your comments and offer to provide support.

To ensure that no confidential data was inadvertently released, MOM wiped the computers clean - erasing all data including the operating systems and software.

We approached Microsoft but they did not respond to our request for operating systems and software.

A growing number of computer users meanwhile are using Open Source applications. The interface of these applications is often quite similar to Microsoft programs. However since they are Open Source, users can make improvements. This encourages creativity, promotes entrepreneurship and leads to better programs.

SUPERSEED is still open to working with Microsoft in the future. However this initiative is now an Open Source project.

All the best,

Michael

[cheap computers]

I think they had some good,refurbish and cheap computers to donate

[new balance]

In our efforts to adjust differences of opinion we should be free from intolerance of passion, and our judgements should be unmoved by alluring phrases and unvexed by selfidh interests.

[Nike Shox Navina]

For me, each job is another job and if you really want it, if it's something you desperately feel that you need to do, you'll work as hard as you possibly can to do it.you feed everything to your fire.Do you think so?

[Nike Shox Rivalry]

Love the motherland, it is one of the most sensitive pure noblest beings most strongly tenderest most the most attentive the harsh feelings. A true love the motherland, the people in every aspect is a real man.Do you think so?