Another LInux Speech... Persuasive... anyone wanna brainstorm?

[smitty1276]

I have to do the last speech in my class (my topic is Linux, BTW), and this one is the persuasive speech we've been building up to all semester....

This speech has to be in a problem-solution format, and I was thinking about doing it on the national security threat that is a result of homogenous networks, etc...

A VERY, VERY basic outline of speech...

A) INTRO
B) PROBLEM
-Basic History
-How big of a problem we have now...
- Etc
C) Proposed solution: Using more open source stuff...
- Examples of governments and companies already using
- etc...
D) Conclusion

If anyone knows of a better topic, or can think of any details to stick in the outline, please let me know. I don't even know if I can find enough info to do a 10-12 minute speech on this (an interesting one, anyway), so if you happen to know where to look, at least, I'd be grateful.

[GigaShadow]

For a speach as short as you must give I suggest that you narrow you scope down...a lot. As for issues, instead of problem use "situation" as it comes off more professional and less negative. Regardless of topic I offer that you Really focus on one very small and manageable area of the Linux arena and practice the speach repeatedly. I teach, and give speaches (occasionally) and having a precise and to the point speach is easier with a very focused topic.:)



Good Luck....G

[smitty1276]

My teacher requires that it be in the format of a problem/solution, and that the problem be one that is either national or global in scope and affects us directly, particularly with regards to either health or finance.

Bear in mind that the class is composed primarily of people who have very little exposure to computers beyond email and word processing, and their only knowledge of Linux comes from a short informative speech and a short demonstration speech that I already did (I showed them how to install packages in Red Hat with a powerpoint presentation... just so they could see Linux).

So, in other words, although it is a short speech, I can't get into technical details. I was thinking about giving some statistics about viruses and the Windows platform, stats about government servers and which platforms they run on, etc.... and then make the case that open-source is a very viable low cost alternative to maintaining an enormous homogenous network which is vulnerable to attacks.

I could also choose to make the "problem" the monopolistic environment created by Microsoft's market-share and the stifling of choice and innovation that results. Or does it?

Ideas?

[l01yuk]

If a good topic is fincance how about doing something non-technical relating to how the public sector shouldn't be spending millions with a company that has been convicted of illegal practices when there are cheaper and more ethical places to obtain a replacement.

You could talk about anti-trust, open source philosophy and make the point that although initial changeover costs may make it no cheaper in the short-term, give it 10 years and the savings for local and national govt. will be huge. Not to mention that the country won't be tied to an immoral company.

I would stick to the financial, ethical and philosophical points too. Remember, if you lose everyone with tech stuff they won't be persuaded of anything. You have to play to your audience.

Hey, if you're really good you may end up forming a pressure-group that day :)

[smitty1276]

I actually thought about taking that approach. The only problem is the fact that I have to portray it as an actual concrete problem, as opposed to a dilemma, or something that would be better (does that make sense?).

I thought about mentioning the stifling of innovation and other problems that can arise when a single company controls the direction of an industry... can you come up with any concrete examples?

Actually, the "we should switch to Linux and we could save tons of money" approach would be much better, only I am having a hard time thinking of how I could demonstrate that there currently is a problem. (Of course, national security could be a part of that as well I suppose).

Can anyone help me think of specific instances where our reliance on Microsoft has caused an obvious stifling of innovation (consumers could have BETTER software but can't get it)? How has MS's dominance hurt the consumer, OR more importantly the citizen? That could set us up for a proposal to switch to Linux in businesses, government, and in the home.