January 2006 — Features
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Beyond Borders
Open to Alternatives
Many schools are embracing open-source applications to minimize software costs on collaboration projects. The Apache Software Foundation's Web server, for instance, is the world's most popular platform for hosting Internet applications. Available for free at www.apache.org, the software runs on most popular operating systems, including Linux and Windows. Moreover, the Apache software development team leverages 'international collaboration' with students and programmers across the globe, says Brian Behlendorf, one of the group's founders.
At Callisburg ISD, videoconferences are conducted with a Webcam, microphone, and Yahoo! Messenger (messenger.yahoo.com) over a T1 line. Yahoo! Messenger is an instant-messaging (IM) service that now supports PC-to-PC calls across the globe. Many other school districts are testing Skype (www.skype.com), a free, voice-driven IM service from Skype Technologies SA of Luxembourg. Acquired by eBay Inc. (www.ebay.com) in September 2005, Skype has more than 60 million users worldwide.
| 6 Technologies Worth Watching |
| • Apache: (www.apache.org) A free Web server ideal for hosting collaborative applications, blogs, and Internet-based e-mail systems. |
| • Dual Core microprocessors: From AMD (www.amd.com) and Intel (www.intel.com). Think of dual-core technology as two PC processors placed on a single chip. Widely available in 2006, dual-core technology should boost PC and notebook performance by 60 percent to 70 percent, and is ideal for videoconferencing applications. |
| • MySQL: (www.mysql.com) An open-source database that schools are using to store and retrieve collaborative information. |
| • Skype: (www.skype.com) A voice-driven instant-messaging system for the Internet that's evolving to support video communications. The company was recently acquired by eBay Inc. (www.ebay.com). |
| • StarOffice: Sun Microsystems Inc.'s (www.sun.com) alternative to the Microsoft Office suite. Through a partnership with Google (www.google.com), Sun's suite could go mainstream in 2006, gaining Internet-driven collaborative features. |
| • Web 2.0: Not a product you purchase or install, Web 2.0 is more of a concept that describes where the Internet is heading next. |
