Manchester Digital Laboratory

Manchester Free Software

Title: Manchester Free Software
Location: MadLab
Description: The purpose of Manchester Free Software is to promote the Free Software philosophy.
Date: 20-11-2012
Start Time: 19:00
End Time: 21:00

* Talk: Blender 3D
http://www.blender.org/

Details
——-
Blender 3D is the de facto standard in free software 3D modelling.
Its power and utility is surpassed only by its notoriously steep
learning curve.  Lauded by artists worldwide, it is truly a jem in the
offerings of the free software movement.

This talk will discuss the features of Blender, its history and the
artistic endeavours associated with it.  Manchester Free Software hope
to encourage artists and other interested free software users to take
advantage of this excellent package by demystifying and sharing
knowledge about it.

Speaker
——-
Jacek has been using GNU+Linux since 2004.  He is a web developer and
in his spare time plays with computer graphics using free software.

Manchester Free Software

Title: Manchester Free Software
Location: MadLab
Description: The purpose of Manchester Free Software is to promote the Free Software philosophy.
Date: 18-09-2012
Start Time: 19:00
End Time: 21:00

This month there is no talk scheduled so this is a social meeting.

Manchester Free Software

Title: Manchester Free Software
Location: MadLab
Description: The purpose of Manchester Free Software is to promote the Free Software philosophy.
Date: 21-08-2012
Start Time: 19:00
End Time: 20:30

Following on from his previous talk, Bob Ham will
demonstrate the use of a 100% free software laptop as a MIDI-controlled
DJ laptop.

Details
——-
A great deal of computing hardware is produced today that requires
proprietary software in order to operate. Some of the worst culprits in
this respect are laptops, whose manufacturers rarely support free
software. Many of the components used in modern laptops likewise require
proprietary software either in the form of proprietary drivers or
proprietary firmware (the odious “binary blob”).

As a follow-on from last month’s talk, Bob Ham will be updating his
progress with a 100% free software laptop and providing an exciting
demonstration of what can be done with such a device. Specifically, he
will be showing its use as a MIDI-controlled digital DJ laptop

The event will include a Q&A session, discussion and then lively debate
in the pub afterwards.

Speaker
——-
Bob Ham

“I’ve been using GNU+Linux and advocating free software for over
10 years.  I have helped develop numerous free software projects
including professional audio systems, high level database APIs,
and more recently started working on software for free phones
such as the Openmoko Freerunner and Golden Delicious GTA04.  I
work as a GNU+Linux system administrator.”

Manchester Free Software

Title: Manchester Free Software
Location: MadLab
Description: The purpose of Manchester Free Software is to promote the Free Software philosophy.
Date: 17-07-2012
Start Time: 19:00
End Time: 20:30

• Talk: The Quest for a 100% Free Software Laptop
• Speaker: Bob Ham

Details
——-
A great deal of computing hardware is produced today that requires
proprietary software in order to operate.  Some of the worst culprits in
this respect are laptops, whose manufacturers rarely support free
software.  Many of the components used in modern laptops likewise
require proprietary software either in the form of proprietary drivers
or proprietary firmware (the odious “binary blob”).

In this talk, Bob Ham discusses his quest to find a modern laptop whose
hardware is fully supported by free software and showing that it is not
only possible but easily done.  Topics covered will include the Coreboot
project, FSF-approved 100% free software GNU+Linux distributions and
hardware components that are supported by free software drivers.

The event will include a Q&A session, discussion and then lively debate
in the pub afterwards.

Speaker
——-

• Bob Ham

“I’ve been using GNU+Linux and advocating free software for over 10
years.  I have helped develop numerous free software projects including
professional audio systems, high level database APIs, and more recently
started working on software for free phones such as the Openmoko
Freerunner and Golden Delicious GTA04.  I work as a GNU+Linux system
administrator.”