Minds Meet to Mull Linux Marketing

You only struggle with a problem so long.

Then you go get help.

We are in the forth year of our "mission" here. Here being HeliOS Solutions. Our mission is to let everyone who uses a computer know that they have a choice in the way they operate their computer.

Some say we might have an obvious bias toward Linux.

Ya think?

From where I sit, we've done fairly well. Without any real advertising, we've managed to scrape along well enough to fund our Helios Project...with the help of a few generous friends that is. People are beginning to get the word.

But not enough. In the past decade, we've garnered what, anywhere from 3-9 percent of the world market share? The figures are open to dispute. How do you measure the use of a product that's free? You can't...

Not with any degree of certainty anyway.

Trust me...when people see that they have a choice and that choice is Linux, many are going to try it. People are astounded when they see the possibility Linux brings to their computing experience. Even "the man on the street" is learning of his choices. Case on point.

Tom King and I were pulling into Fry's Electronics to pick up some things the other evening when Tom spotted a tricked-out pickup truck with a huge antenna on the back of it. Being a Ham Radio Operator himself, tom struck up a conversation with the individual while I stood and listened. I have no clue when it comes to Ham Radios and why anyone would make a radio out of ham escapes me anyway. But shortly through the conversation, the man asked us a question:

Do you guys know anything about Linux?

We just looked at each other and smiled.

"Yeah, a little...what do you want to know?"

Turns out the fella recently obtained a Linux Live CD and was fascinated by it. He could do so much with it...things that Windows wouldn't dream of allowing him to do. He stated that it was a huge relief not to have to worry about constant patches and updates and viruses. The fact that it took hours to install a new Windows system with all the patches was enough to make the learning curve acceptable.

One guy in a parking lot as the sun began to set on Austin Texas...he wanted to know about Linux.

There's a whole world out there waiting for some help.

And that's what we aim to do...let people know they have a choice.

Our biggest hurdle has been the fear of change. People operate within their comfort zones and it takes a lot to get them dislodged. That above most everything else, is what we've fought the whole time. The frustrating thing is that we know many of them will free themselves...but they just don't know they have a choice.

So I made a phone call.

I spoke to Dr. Daniel Robinson. Dr. Robinson is a professor at the University of Texas in Austin and he teaches what I think I need to learn. Among other things, his courses include Cognition, Human Motivation and Leaning along with a course in The Psychology of Computers in Education.

Dr. Robinson took an immediate interest in my query. He himself is well aware of FOSS and what it can bring to the learning environment. He has a deep interest in seeing FOSS play a part in dismantling the "Text Book Machine" that nearly bankrupts many students. He believes FOSS can eventually be used to present learning materials in greater percentage than the expensive text books that most professors demand of their students.

He has such an interest in my questions that he has set up a meeting next week. I am impressed with the attendees.

He has called in Dr. Paul Resta, the Director of the Learning Technology Center at UT along with Dr Ken Tothero. Ken Tothero coordinates the IDEA Studio, providers of instructional technology support services for the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin College of Education.

What we plan on discussing is how best to approach the mental inertia of the computer user. We intend to work closely with these great academic leaders in understanding what it is we have to do to reach them. I have even been invited to audit any class Dr. Robinson offers to better do what it is I believe I need to do. We are going to bring that new knowledge to bear on a full advertising campaign for Linux.

I will publish the results of that meeting as soon as I get them put together. Dr. Robinson has assured me that along with himself, he will assign two of his technical advisors to our project...people that are proficient in the use of a computer and the minds that operate them. We're looking forward to that meeting and the possible answers that come out of it.

You only struggle with a problem so long.

Then you go get help.

All-Righty Then