GNU/Linux distributor Red Hat published two interactive maps showing the state of open source and open standards around the world. The maps are based on research by the Georgia Institute of Technology. Administrations in France and Spain are most active on open source, the maps show.
The maps are meant to allow quick comparing and contrasting of countries, based on their open source activity and environment.
The first map, on open source activity, is based on factors such as government policies open source and open standards and on estimates of the number of users or producers of this type of software. "This shows that open source is widespread and thriving", the GNU/Linux distributor explains on the map's web site.
The second map, on the open source environment, is more speculative. A country may not yet be very active on open source, but may have a high number of Internet users and information technology patents. "This indicates a favourable environment for open source software to take hold."
Governments in France and Spain top the first map, on open source activity. On the other end are public administrations in Greece, Romania, Hungary, the Czech republic. Lithuania and Latvia.
Red Hat is making the data sets and other research information available on the web site. They invite government officials, researchers, students, CIOs and open source advocates to examine and improve the data. "(...) not just to examine the use of open source in their native countries, but also to encourage the advancement of research in this area to build more successful and robust open source environments."
The maps and data is made available under a copyleft licence. The company hopes other users will share their improvements on the maps likewise.