burrokeet
 
 
PDF -icon
PDF

Burrokeet - Open Source Development in the Caribbean

What is Burrokeet?

  • Burrokeet (the project) is creating an environment for creating Content Packages
  • A Content Package is a sharable unit of Documentation
  • Goal is to free stakeholders from the burden of:
    • Content creation so they can focus on content quality
    • Content sharing so they can focus on content accuracy
    • Content management so they can focus on content relevance
    • Content publication so they can focus on content accessibility

What is a Content Package (CP)?

  • Collection of related documents and materials
  • Provides content for a specific purpose
  • Content can take the form of white papers, videos, presentation slides, tutorials, policy documents etc.
  • Shareable Content Packages (SCP) are sharable across different delivery platforms
  • A common use of Content Packages is the Learning Object
    • This is domain which gave birth to the Burrokeet project
    • Now starting to explore implementation of Enterprise Document Management Facilities

The Burrokeet Project - Today

  • Three major components:
    • Sharable Content Management System
      • Create and manage a Content Package Repository
    • Content Delivery Tool
      • Standards compliant Sharable Content Packages for delivery in multiple formats
    • Content
      • Learning Objects for various subject areas

Sharable Content Management System

  • Sharable Content Package repository
  • Standards compliant (IMS Content Packaging, IMS Meta-Data, and ADL SCORM Editing)
  • Integrated Meta-Data editor
  • Integrated content editor

Content Delivery Tool

  • Multiple input formats (MS Office, Open Office, Docbook, (X)HTML, etc.)
  • Multiple output formats (HTML, WML, RTF, PDF, XML, Speech, etc.)
  • ADL SCORM compliant
  • Embedded Multi User Web Server

Why create Burrokeet?

  • Existing work on various aspects of Content Management Systems
  • Most are incomplete, they usually focus on one of the following:
    • content package structure editing
    • document/content editing
    • metadata editing
    • repository control
    • content delivery tools
  • Most are web based
    • assume that both the content creator and the content consumer have Internet connectivity

Why use Burrokeet?

  • Burrokeets unique features are:
    • All in one solution
    • multiple input formats
      • leverage existing tools and content
    • optimised output formats
      • from high bandwidth to no bandwidth
    • accessibility (voiceXML interaction)
    • Full system is Free Software (free to do what you want)
    • Provides free (for non-profit) content repository
  • Open Source model means you can help with its development
    • if you need a feature or some content you can add it

Why use Burrokeet? (cont..)

  • will provide a full content management and publishing framework (online or offline)
    • reduce the cost of publishing and distributing materials
    • increase accessibility to materials both within and outside the organisation
    • reduce business training costs
    • create a commercial publishing opportunity (not directly a Burrokeet objective)
      • identified by the UN as one of the major ECommerce opportunities for developing countries)

Burrokeet and Open Source

  • Burrokeet integrates a number of Open Source Tools
    • Apache Cocoon for application framework
    • Jetty or Apache HTTPD + Tomcat for web server
    • Apache Forrest for publication of Content
    • Eclipse for Content Package Editors
    • DSpace for content repository
    • Kupu for in browser WYSIWYG editing
    • OpenOffice.org for Office suite editing

The Backing of Open Source Community

  • Ensures that Burrokeet will have continued support and help in development
    • project lead is a member of the Apache Forrest Project Management Committee
  • Burrokeet code has already been donated to the Apache Forrest project
  • Additions to Open Source tools used by Burrokeet enhance Burrokeet
  • Such partnerships with projects with an international standing can only serve to strengthen the world perception of Carribbean software developement

Beyond Education

  • Burrokeet is a flexible Document Management and Publishing System
    • can be easily adapted for applications in business and government, both for training and document/content management
    • project lead is currently securing funding for phase two which will take Burrokeet into the realm of Enterprise Document Management Systems
  • Burrokeet is already being used (even though there is no official release as yet)
    • this presentation is being delivered within it (using the slide presentation view)
    • Computers in Society project in Trinidad and Tobago (http://www.cis.org.tt)
    • multiple Open Source projects use it for project documentation management
    • Ross Gardler it for management of his Research Materials

Project Structure

  • Project Lead: Mr Ross Gardler (independant, UK)
  • Project staff:
    • Mr Rajendra Singh (PhD Student, UWI)
    • Mr Anil Ramnanan (full time software developer, Trinidad and Tobago)
  • Other resources:
    • E-Learning research Group (DMCS, UWI)
      • Prof. Christian Posthoff
      • Dr. Margaret Bernard
      • various PhD, MPhil, MSc students
  • Funding: funded until Dec 2004 by IBM (continuation funding being sought)

More Info

  • Burrokeet, with its partnerships with projects of an international standing can only serve to strengthen the world perception of Carribbean Software Developement