= Children‘s book published about software, skateboards, and raspberry ice cream =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20211129-01.fi.html ]
Today, 29 November, O'Reilly Germany publishes the book "Ada & Zangemann
- A fairy tale about software, skateboards and raspberry ice cream"
written by FSFE President Matthias Kirschner and illustrated by Sandra
Brandstätter, among other things, character designer for the series
"Trudes Tier" from the show "Sendung mit der Maus".
The famous inventor Zangemann lives in a huge villa high above the
city. Adults and children alike love his inventions and are
desperate to have them. But then something happens: when Zangemann
once again wants to take a close-up look at his inventions during a
walk through the cityand with a loud thud, a child riding a
skateboard hits him in the shin! Enraged, the inventor makes a
momentous decision... The clever girl Ada sees through it all.
Together with her friends, she forges a plan.
This illustrated children's book tells the story of the famous inventor
Zangemann and the girl Ada, a curious tinkerer. Ada begins to experiment
with hardware and software, and in the process realises how crucial it
is for her and others to control technology.
A book for children from the age of 6 that arouses children's interest
in tinkering and encourages shaping technology.
"Kirschner's book introduces readers young and old to the power and
peril of software. It also highlights the accelerating effects of
sharing software freely - creating conditions for direct and
indirect collaboration which can be a metaphor for the conduct of
science. Behind it all is a backdrop of ethics of knowledge sharing
upon which the arc of human history rides."
Vint Cerf - Computer Scientist and one of the inventors of the
internet (after reading the English translation).
"Even as a non-child, I was captivated by the story from the first
page to the last. Kudos to the author for packaging difficult topics
such as monopolies, lobbyism, digital divide, software freedom,
digital autonomy, IoT, consumer control, e-waste and much more in a
child-friendly form in an easily understandable and exciting
storyline. And kudos to the publisher for having the guts to publish
a book under CC-BY-SA."
Jörg Luther, chief editor of the German Linux-Magazin, LinuxUser,
Raspberry Pi Geek
"After my son was read the book last night, he told me the whole
story this morning... He wants to make something out of old pallets
after school today. And then he wants to learn programming."
Ingo Wichmann, CEO Linuxhotel GmbH
The book "Ada & Zangemann - Ein Märchen über Software, Skateboards und
Himbeereis" [1] by Matthias Kirschner and Sandra Brandstätter, published
by dpunkt.verlag GmbH under ISBN 978-3-96009-190-5, is licensed under
"Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany (CC BY-SA 3.0 DE)
[2] ".
Matthias Kirschner wrote the text on a voluntary basis for the FSFE. All
author revenues go directly to the non-profit Free Software Foundation
Europe. The FSFE paid the illustrator Sandra Brandstätter and the
children's book editor Wiebke Helmchen for their work. Linuxhotel GmbH
made the project possble by already agreeding at the beginning of the
writing process to buy 1000 copies once the book was finished.
Currently, the FSFE is looking for a suitable publisher to for an
English translation. The FSFE would like to enable as many people as
possible to read the book in their mother tongue and asks for donations
for its work [3].
Further press material on "Ada & Zangemann" is available on the
publisher's website [4].
Discuss this [5]
1: https://oreilly.de/produkt/ada-und-zangemann/
2: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/
3: https://fsfe.org/donate
4: https://oreilly.de/presseinformationen/pressematerialien-ada-und-zangemann/
5: https://community.fsfe.org/t/773
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our
lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than
restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use,
understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other
fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
The FSFE helps individuals and organisations understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption,
encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources
to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.
https://fsfe.org
= Upcycling Android: Keep using your phone with Free Software =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20211125-01.fi.html ]
In the European Week for Waste Reduction the FSFE launches its new
initiative "Upcycling Android": Every time we keep using our phone
instead of buying a new one we support a more sustainable use of our
resources. Upcycling Android helps people to tackle software
obsolescence and to keep using their phones with Free Software.
It is the European Week for Waste Reduction, a week that is dedicated to
promoting the reuse of products and materials and to helping save
resources and reduce waste in everyday life. The FSFE joins in with the
new initiative "Upcycling Android" [1] - an initiative to help saving
resources by reusing one of our most valuable devices of our daily life,
our phones.
Every year, manufacturers produce 1.5 billion phones worldwide - and
unfortunately, probably almost as many are thrown away after what is
usually a far too short hardware lifespan. The short lifespan of these
phones often stems from so-called "software obsolescence", the situation
in which users are faced with the dilemma of either buying new hardware
or living with outdated software. The environmental consequences of
these short hardware lifespans can be dire. To help users in overcoming
this problem, with Upcycling Android we enable people to upcycle Android
phones with Free Software. Every time we keep using our current phone
instead of buying a new one we help avoid the production of new phones
and the growing disposal of e-waste.
Upcycling Android explains the issue of software obsolescence in the
Android world and helps people flashing their phones with Free Software
operating systems [2]. This process not only offers you greater control
of your phone, it can also provide a better experience than using
proprietary operating systems. But most important: in cases where phones
stop receiving software updates from the manufacturing company,
switching to a Free Software operating system helps keeping your phone
up-to-date. This way you can keep using your device, help the
environment, and enjoy many more benefits. Free Software gives you full
control over your device, as you can finally uninstall apps you could
not before, and you profit from extended privacy protection - just to
mention a few.
=== Political background & information material ===
The FSFE is steadily committed to a more sustainable use of technology
with Free Software. In the beginning of the year, we participated in the
EU consultation [3] about "Energy labelling of mobile phones and
tablets" and later in the year we published a study [4] on software
obsolescence with a call for Device Neutrality and Upcycling of
Software.
We have a huge collection of information and background material [5] to
help spread the word about the environmental impact of our phones. And
how to help reducing the problem by upcycling your Android device with
Free Software. The range of material includes stickers, infographics,
leaflets, videos, podcasts, articles and studies.
=== Upcoming activities ===
In the upcoming months, the FSFE's activities within the Upcycling
Android initiative will be two-fold: In cooperation with local groups we
provide several workshops [6] where people can gather and network around
the topic of Upcycling Android, can experiment or receive help in
flashing their phones. In addition, we watch and engage within the
current discussions on the European level surrounding the "Sustainable
Products Initiative" and the "Circular Electronics Initiative". Within
these activities we aim at explaining the benefits of Free Software for
a more sustainable use of our products to decision-makers.
Discuss this [7]
1: https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/upcyclingandroid.fi.html#head
2: https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/howtoupcycle.fi.html#head
3: https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20210127-01.fi.html
4: https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20211015-01.fi.html
5: https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/informationmaterial.fi.html#he…
6: https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/workshops.fi.html#head
7: https://community.fsfe.org/t/759
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our
lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than
restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use,
understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other
fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
The FSFE helps individuals and organisations understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption,
encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources
to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.
https://fsfe.org
= Digital Markets Act - the FSFE calls for Device Neutrality =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20211122-01.fi.html ]
On the imminent voting of the Digital Markets Act - the latest EU
proposal on internet platform regulation - the FSFE demands device
neutrality as a fundamental element for safeguarding consumer protection
in open, fair, and contestable digital markets.
While digital devices are a ubiquitous reality in all aspects of life,
control over the hardware and software running on them is increasingly
being limited by internet platforms, digital services providers,
hardware manufacturers, and vendors. The European Commission's Digital
Markets Act (DMA) [1] is a regulatory instrument for targeting large
internet companies that act as gatekeepers in digital markets. Such
gatekeepers may be internet platforms, service providers, manufacturers,
and vendors satisfying criteria defined by law. This regulatory
initiative is an attempt to create fairer and more competitive markets
for online platforms in the EU. On November 22, the European
Parliament's leading IMCO committee will vote on its position.
The FSFE urges the Members of the European Parliament in the upcoming
vote to safeguard device neutrality principles based on Open Standards
[2] and interoperability, securing the interest of consumers for a
contestable, open, and competitive digital market in the EU.
Freedom in the information society needs your financial contribution.
== Become a supporter now [3] Free Software and Device Neutrality ==
Device neutrality [4] translates as non-discrimination of services and
apps by providers, manufacturers, and vendors. The objective of device
neutrality is to enable consumers to bypass gatekeepers and enable a
fair and non-discriminatory use of Free Software in the application and
operating system layers of devices. The FSFE demands the inclusion of
the following principles in the DMA legislation:
- *Strict end-user consent for pre-installed apps*. The DMA must impose
on gatekeepers the obligation to allow their customers to uninstall
any pre-installed software applications they provide on their services
or with their hardware. This means more restrictive rules for pre-
installed apps, providing users the same access privileges for both
pre-installed and alternative apps, and the possibility to uninstall
pre-loaded apps;
- *No vendor lock-in*. The DMA should enable side-loading of apps in
dominant operating systems, so consumers can install any compatible
software on their devices. The DMA shall require gatekeepers to permit
third-party app stores and code repositories that compete with their
own. The law must prohibit gatekeepers limiting the ability of end-
users to switch between and subscribe to different software
applications and services. This prevents gatekeepers from locking
users into specific service providers;
- *Interoperability of services based on* Open Standards [5]. It is
urgent for the DMA to require gatekeepers to provide free of charge
access to and interoperability with the same hardware and software
features accessed or controlled via an operating system. This includes
communication apps and social media platforms. Interoperability should
be defined by Open Standards;
- *Real-time data portability*. The DMA should require gatekeepers to
provide real-time data portability for devices, so that consumers can
switch from one device to another - including operating systems - as
smoothly as possible.
== Next steps ==
After the committee voting on Monday, 22 November, the proposal will
incorporate the approved amendments. Next up is the plenary voting to
achieve the final position of the European Parliament, planned for
December. The FSFE will continue to monitor the whole process closely
and demand device neutrality to the full extent in the legislative text,
so users are empowered to control technology.
"The digital markets will benefit by the regulatory proposal of the DMA.
Device neutrality is fundamental for a fair, competitive, and
contestable market. We demand stricter consent rules for pre-installed
apps, no vendor lock-in, full interoperability, and real-time data
portability. Free Software and Open Standards are key to achieve these
goals", says Lucas Lasota, the FSFE's Deputy Legal Coordinator. Discuss
this [6]
1: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-…
2: https://fsfe.org/freesoftware/standards/index.fi.html
3: https://my.fsfe.org/donate?referrer=https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-2021112…
4: https://fsfe.org/freesoftware/sustainability/sustainability.fi.html#id-devi…
5: https://fsfe.org/freesoftware/standards/index.fi.html
6: https://community.fsfe.org/t/763
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our
lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than
restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use,
understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other
fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
The FSFE helps individuals and organisations understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption,
encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources
to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.
https://fsfe.org