OLPC UK/Lending Library and Repair Centre: Difference between revisions

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== Now that I've got a Laptop, what do I do? ==
== Now that I've got a Laptop, what do I do? ==


* See the SugarLabs [http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sugar_Labs/Getting_Involved Getting Involved page].
* See the Sugar Labs [http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sugar_Labs/Getting_Involved Getting Involved page].


* Some activity development FAQs: http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Development_Team/Almanac
* Some activity development FAQs: http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Development_Team/Almanac
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* Community
* Community
⚫
** Use irssi or another IRC client to get on to irc.freenode.net channels #sugar and #olpc to chat with other developers.
** Sign up to the olpc-uk list ( http://lists.laptop.org )
** Sign up to the olpc-uk list ( http://lists.laptop.org )
** Sign up to the sugar-devel list ( http://lists.sugarlabs.org )
** Sign up to the sugar-devel list ( http://lists.sugarlabs.org )
⚫
** Use irssi or another IRC client to get on to irc.freenode.net channels #sugar and #olpc to chat with other developers.
** Both OLPC and SugarLabs will give you shell accounts and git hosting space ( http://git.sugarlabs.org and http://dev.laptop.org/git ). Check IRC (below) for contacts or google/wiki for how to do that.
** Both OLPC and Sugar Labs will give you shell accounts and git hosting space ( http://git.sugarlabs.org and http://dev.laptop.org/git ). Check IRC (below) for contacts or google/wiki for how to do that.


* Get accounts on:
* Get accounts on:
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** dev.sugarlabs.org
** dev.sugarlabs.org


== Specifics ==
== What do we do? ==

The previous section lists the objectives the underlie the project. These will be translated into specifics on-the-ground that are consistent with OLPC and OLPC UK's mission. That's plenty vague (necessarily), so here is an initial plan that we intend to fine-tune based on feedback and experience:

=== Month 1 ===

* Refine this plan on the olpc-uk mailing list
* publicise project
* continue to solicit volunteers
* survey OLPC / SugarLabs activities to find potential LLLL beneficiaries (LLLL)
* [[/XOSurvey200906|survey XO-1 in-country base]] as best possible (Repair Centre)
* Receive, inventory, and triage hardware (LLLL)

=== Month 2 ===

* reach out to community of LLLLs and RCs to a) share/exchange "market research"; b) proposal acceptance criteria (LLLL); and c) repair tips (RC)
* prepare LLLL / RC administrative support (web site(s), statistics, etc.)
* continue to publicise project
* continue to solicit volunteers
* gather LLLL applications
* Receive, inventory, and triage hardware (RC)
* begin hardware repairs

=== Month 3 ===

* continue hardware repairs
* gather LLLL mentors
* on the basis of mentors and applications, approve first LLLL application(s)
* continue publicity / volunteer solicitation efforts

=== Month 4 ===

''steady state''

* receive / repair / send out hardware (RC)
* monitor / mentor / share LLLL projects
* solicit / receive / approve LLLL applications
* continue publicity / volunteer solicitation efforts


== Examples ==


Some examples of how the LLLL / Repair Centre could help:
Some examples of how the LLLL / Repair Centre could help:
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* OLPC UK member organises teachers mini ContentCamp
* OLPC UK member organises teachers mini ContentCamp


XOs might be lent to ContentCamp organisers to supplement a majority of sugar-jhbuild / Sugar-on-a-Stick instances to give teachers a hands-on sense of the deployment scenario, and enable testing the content on "real" XOs. As mentioned in the OLPC UK LLLL FAQ, with OLPC and SugarLabs encouraging software development that makes use of the unique OLPC hardware, what's lacking often is a sense of what exists and what incremental developments are best (witness some of the GSoC proposals that start off very rough even after a motivated student has gotten so far as to reach out and get involved)
XOs might be lent to ContentCamp organisers to supplement a majority of sugar-jhbuild / Sugar-on-a-Stick instances to give teachers a hands-on sense of the deployment scenario, and enable testing the content on "real" XOs. As mentioned in the OLPC UK LLLL FAQ, with OLPC and Sugar Labs encouraging software development that makes use of the unique OLPC hardware, what's lacking often is a sense of what exists and what incremental developments are best (witness some of the GSoC proposals that start off very rough even after a motivated student has gotten so far as to reach out and get involved)


* OLPC UK publicity efforts
* OLPC UK publicity efforts
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: Repair Centre would consider a swap / help in sourcing the hardware.
: Repair Centre would consider a swap / help in sourcing the hardware.



== FAQ ==


==== Who is "we"? ====

See [[#People|People section]]


==== Who's going to stock them? ====

[[People]] and other volunteers - anyone else with sufficient space is welcome to put their hand up. [[User:MartinDengler|Martin]] has space he can use in Central London (City), but the proposal is not offered contingent on exactly (or specifically) one site. Sites around the UK run consistently with the vision above are encouraged.


==== Who's going to do the repairs? ====

[[People]] and other volunteers. For example, Martin has all the [[Repair Center Kit|kit]] recommended at home and in Central London, and has already demonstrated an ability to [[http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/5658#comment:103|take apart his XO]] (further pictures of computers in various states of a) disarray and b) subsequently working happily provided upon request.


==== Who's going to deal with the "customers"? ====

[[People]] and other volunteers. The Lending Library and the Repair Centre are not envisaged as for-profit or guaranteed/bonded concerns. The target audience and number of laptops involved seems a fit with this level of organisation.


==== How much will it cost for each repair type? ====

Each repair type will be done at shipping and material cost (if any, and agreed beforehand). Donations are welcome but this will be effectively free.


==== How does this relate to the contributor program? ====

The contributor program is a great engine to have going. This proposal - Lending Library and Repair Centre - is specifically intended to encourage and enable a contributor program application by lowering the barriers to entry of that proposal. With OLPC and SugarLabs encouraging software development that makes use of the unique OLPC hardware, what's lacking often is a sense of what exists and what incremental developments are best (witness some of the GSoC proposals that start off very rough even after a motivated student has gotten so far as to reach out and get involved). The Lending Library specifically addresses that barrier, and the Repair Centre naturally supports such a Lending Library in addition to the already in-country XOs.


==== Is this a "hack" around the contributor program to get laptops? ====

No. That is explicitly not a goal -- keep in mind lenders don't '''keep''' the laptops they are '''lent'''. We hope that Lending Library beneficiaries will go on to submit contributor program proposals to get laptops of their own (that '''is''' a goal), but that is a separate part of the virtuous cycle we hope will begin in the UK. The program has been characterised as "an '''amplifier''' [emphasis mine] on the developer program, by lowering the barrier to entry, lowering the cost to OLPC, and multiplexing the hardware" (quoting bemasc on #sugar).

==== Do you know what you're doing? ====

We haven't done this before. But we want to do it right, and will leverage all our OLPC, SugarLabs, OLPC [[XO Austin/Library|grassroots community peer organisations]], hardware- and software-development contacts to try to make it a success.


==== You forgot about Big Problem A or Nasty Surprise B ====

Probably - see the previous question's answer. Please tell us at olpc-uk@lists.laptop.org about it so we can avoid the pitfalls.


==== Can I help? ====

⚫
Yes please! [[#I want to help|Jump in here]], and then join the [http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-uk olpc-uk] mailing list.




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* Happy to help on promoting and publicising the OLPC library: Dom Baker
* Happy to help on promoting and publicising the OLPC library: Dom Baker
* Happy to help with the library; repairing laptops and administrating the library: [[User:Seveneleven|David Craddock]]
* Happy to help with the library; repairing laptops and administrating the library: [[User:Seveneleven|David Craddock]]



== I want to help ==
== I want to help ==


Great - please add your name above. Here is a list of suggested areas that we can definitely use help in:
Great - please add your name above and then join the
⚫
[http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-uk olpc-uk] mailing list. Here
is a list of suggested areas that we can definitely use help in:


* being an available contact person for the combined LLLL/RC
* being an available contact person for the combined LLLL/RC

Latest revision as of 20:15, 25 September 2010

Laptop stack.jpg Repair1.png

Objectives

The combined Lending Library / Repair Centre serves to:

  • support the OLPC mission and community via lending out laptops to UK volunteers / contributors; and
  • facilitate with space, materiel, and expertise XO repairs by volunteers; and
  • encourage, enable, and support Contributor Program applicants from the UK.

We see the Lending Library and Repair Centre concepts as symbiotic and synergistic: the same set of hardware and volunteers can both encourage the OLPC mission and supply a volunteer-run Repair Centre. For more specifics, read on.

How do I get a Laptop?

  • Just ask. If there's one free we'll lend it to you (within reason). Email olpc-uk@lists.laptop.org and say "I would like to borrow a laptop for X months to do Y thing".

Now that I've got a Laptop, what do I do?

  • Get accounts on:
    • wiki.laptop.org
    • wiki.sugarlabs.org
    • dev.laptop.org
    • dev.sugarlabs.org

What do we do?

Some examples of how the LLLL / Repair Centre could help:

LLLL

  • UK professor interested in prototyping a contributors program application

A professor (or Linux User Group or...) might be considering a contributors program application but hesitant to commit the time / effort. The LLLL could bootstrap this effort with a loan of two (2) XOs for 1-3 months and two part-time mentors, in order to guide the professor and students towards a first prototype activity and a full Contributors Program application.

  • OLPC UK member organises teachers mini ContentCamp

XOs might be lent to ContentCamp organisers to supplement a majority of sugar-jhbuild / Sugar-on-a-Stick instances to give teachers a hands-on sense of the deployment scenario, and enable testing the content on "real" XOs. As mentioned in the OLPC UK LLLL FAQ, with OLPC and Sugar Labs encouraging software development that makes use of the unique OLPC hardware, what's lacking often is a sense of what exists and what incremental developments are best (witness some of the GSoC proposals that start off very rough even after a motivated student has gotten so far as to reach out and get involved)

  • OLPC UK publicity efforts

OLPC UK can enable "XO demos" at conferences / LUGs without having to rely on the same volunteers giving up their laptops.

  • OLPC UK member wants an XO to look cool

This is not a good enough reason to lend out an XO.


Repair Centre

  • Community member's XO develops a fault
Repair Centre could assist in triage and repair. RC would use its own volunteers (see People section), liase with RCs, mailing lists, IRC participants, OLPC UK members to execute this.
  • Remote Repair Centre requires hardware
Repair Centre would consider a swap / help in sourcing the hardware.


People

  • All: Peter Robinson
  • Happy to help remotely: Martin Dengler
  • Happy to help on promoting and publicising the OLPC library: Dom Baker
  • Happy to help with the library; repairing laptops and administrating the library: David Craddock


I want to help

Great - please add your name above and then join the olpc-uk mailing list. Here is a list of suggested areas that we can definitely use help in:

  • being an available contact person for the combined LLLL/RC

...and one or more of:

  1. help lending out laptops
  2. help mentoring laptop lendees
  3. help administering the library
  4. help repairing laptops
  5. help administering repair processes
  6. help publicising the LLLL/RC
  7. provide inventory space


Prior proposals archive

The earlier proposals have been moved an archive page


Inventory

Library

TODO

Repair Centre

TODO

Status updates

Status 20090505

Status 20090925

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