Technically Biased: Taking Free Software's Niche Appeal Mainstream

SeaGL 2021 Nov 6 at 15:30

The Free Software movement’s ideals are egalitarian. We aim to bring the benefits of computing freedom to all users. However, we often overlook an uncomfortable inequality: Software Freedom disproportionately empowers programmers and those wealthy enough to hire them.

For today’s average “end users”, freedomware leaves them with basically the same options as proprietary freeware: use it as-is, or politely ask the developer and hope for the best. In my opinion, this is a key reason why it’s difficult to convince the wider public to care; it’s why Software Freedom largely remains a movement by and for programmers.

In this talk, I’ll argue that:

• Programming education policy is the most important area for Software Freedom advocacy.

• Designing for “nontechnical users” is an existential threat to Free Software.

• Scriptable interfaces are a great way to make software more accessible to tech-illiterate users.

Presenters

Resources

• Video Recording