College-level Linux

For those of you that didn't know, I'm back in school. I'm only going part-time which works well with my work schedule. This summer I've been taking Fundamentals of Public Speaking. It's a fun class, and I've been doing well in it. I'm currently working on my second speech of two (gotta love summer classes). Both have been about technological subjects, so I thought I'd share them with you. The following is the first installment. Also, if any of you would like the sources for this speech, let me know and I'll be happy to email them to you.

An Education in Linux -- Formal Outline
Vital Issue Informative Speech
Joshua Bartholomew

Introduction:
Attention Getter: In five years, if you were to walk into a classroom in Hillsboro, ND, what would you see? You would probably expect to see desks, a chalk board, and visual teaching aids hanging from the walls. But what would you think if you saw a computer at every desk? No, this isn't a dream; it's a vision. As we speak, this vision is being realized across the globe, in countries such as Spain and India. This is possible because these countries are using Linux.

Thesis Statement: The use of Linux distributions, like Ubuntu, in personal computing is allowing inexpensive and localized access to students from all backgrounds.

Listener Relevance: The great thing about Linux is that it's free for anyone, including you. I'm sure by now that you're curious as to how I am aware of Linux and its benefits.

Speaker Credibility: For the past two and a half years, I have been a network infrastructure technician with the North Dakota Air National Guard. Among my coworkers, I am unofficially considered one of the subject matter experts specializing in Linux due to my extensive use of it at home.

Preview: By the time I'm finished speaking today, I hope to have conveyed to you a basic understanding of Linux, how Linux can be a beneficial tool for your education, both now and in the future, and how Linux is positively affecting education and industry in third-world developing countries and rural communities.

Transition: Now that we are familiar with the important issues surrounding Linux, let's take a closer look at it. First, I'd like to discuss what Linux is.

Body:
First Main Point: Linux is a general term for a number of free operating systems.

First Sub-Point: According to the 2005 edition of The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, some examples of operating systems are, "Microsoft® Windows® or Apple® Computer's OS." Linux is a term for a variety of operating systems that all share the same basic architectural build. Many also have graphic interfaces that are similar to those of Window® and OS X. To better illustrate this, I have Ubuntu, one example of a Linux distribution, running on the computer here. (Demonstrate similarities between Windows and Ubuntu) As you can see, Ubuntu looks and functions much like any other major operating system on the market today.

Second Sub-Point: As I said earlier, it's also free. Canonical, Ltd. is the company responsible for the creation and maintenance of Ubuntu Linux. On their website, which I accessed on the 28th of May, 2009, they claim their mission is to provide widely available software with quality technical support. While Canonical is only one example, there are many other companies and non-profit organizations that share a similar mission.

Transition: We now understand what Linux is and why it is free. For my second point, let's take a look at how Linux could affect your lives as college students in the U.S.

Second Main Point: Linux will start to have effects on the U.S. education system and the workplace, in terms of globalization and monetary cost.

First Sub-Point: In a September 21, 2006 BusinessWeek Article, Nandini Lakshman writes about the Indian state of Kerala, which was in the process of switching all of its computers to a Linux operating system. She says, "That means each of the state's 1.5 million high school students will grow accustomed to working not in... Windows..., but in Linux." This switch is happening in schools across India. As I'll establish in a few moments, this is not an isolated case. Many governments are starting to implement similar programs, which, in the near future, could cause hiccups in our current trade and telecommunication practices. In ten years, the average U.S. employee could be required to have some basic Linux experience to help deal with the lack of Windows® knowledge in other nations.

Second Sub-Point: However, thanks to a proliferation of inexpensive computers preloaded with Linux operating systems, experience with Linux should not be hard to come by. In fact, they will also make it possible for users like you to replace to your system every few years, allowing you to keep up with current advancements in technology. According to Erica Ogg in her CNET® News article published on January 24, 2008, Wal-mart has been having great success selling the Everex gPC. This computer runs a version of Ubuntu 7.10 and sells at Wal-Mart for $198. To give you a true sense of the affect of Linux on the overall cost of PCs, I wandered over to the Dell website. (Show price comparison on slide.) On identical computers, there's a $500 difference.

Transition: So now that I've shown you what Linux is and how it could affect your education and future career, let's take a look at how it's affecting education around the world.

Third Main Point: Linux is positively affecting education in third-world and developing countries.

First Sub-Point: Schools are implementing changeovers to Linux to increase technological literacy in low-income regions. In an article published on Nov. 3, 2002 in the Washington Post, Ariana Cha describes a region of Spain known as Extremadura, whose government has developed its own distribution of Linux. She states that the software has been distributed to schools and communities around the region, and that, "Organizers regard the drive as a low-cost way to bring technology to the masses in the impoverished region."

Second Sub-Point: Schools are also implementing changeovers to Linux to avoid prosecution for using pirated versions of Windows. The BBC News website, edited by Steve Herrmann, published an article on October 9, 2007 quoting the Director General of the Company ALTLinux, Alexey Smirnov, as saying "'that schools formerly tended to run illegal copies of Microsoft operating systems, but..." recently "...schools began to be prosecuted for doing so." Alexey also said that, "...so much software was being used, [buying licences] proved too expensive... so the decision was taken to use free software."

Conclusion:
Thesis Restatement: The use of Linux distributions, like Ubuntu, in personal computing is allowing inexpensive and localized access to students from all backgrounds.

Main Point Summery: Today, I've talked to you about what Linux is, how Linux is making computers very affordable among U.S. college students, and how it's use on school computers in third-world developing countries and rural communities is helping to expand their technology industries.

Clincher: Give a man fish; feed him for a day. Teach a man to use Linux; educate his country for a lifetime.