What to tell 13 year old kids about Linux and Open Source?

[Uri Even-Chen]

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 08:35, Gabor Szabo <szabgab at gmail.com> wrote:
> hi,
>
> in the school of my son they are interested in getting some 1 hour long
> presentations from parents about various interesting subject.
>
> I could talk hours and days about Linux and Open Source in general
> but I wonder what do you think. What would be interesting to 13 year
> old kids?
>
> I am not sure "free speech" is interesting to them and unfortunately
> they are probably used to that every software is "free beer".
> Given the cheats and cracks.
>
> So what do you think?

I would recommend speaking about the "free as in freedom" concept of
Linux and open source software - the 4 freedoms a software user should
have, and that copying a software and giving a copy to your friend,
modifying software etc. are basic freedoms anyone should have. Then
speak about how Linux evolved, history of Linux and the status of
Linux today.

When I first started to learn programming, in 1983, I didn't know
nothing about free software, open source software etc. Only after
participating in open source conferences in 2001 and 2002 and reading
the book "free as in freedom" (about Richard Stallman) I realized the
"free as in freedom" concept and its advantages.  Even today I'm still
using non-free software such as Windows and Microsoft Office, but
today I understand more about it than 10 years ago.

Uri Even-Chen
Mobile Phone: +972-50-9007559
E-mail: uri at speedy.net
Website: http://www.speedy.net/