A gerontology research project by Slovenia's Public Centre for Seniors (Dom Danice Vogrinec) is using Open Source software for collecting and verifying information, for keeping its researchers and assistants informed and for its website. The architecture was developed by Slovenia's Open Source Centre (COKS).
The gerontology research project uses a customised version of MediaWiki, Open Source knowledge management software. The project is meant to improve service to seniors, provide them with better access to health care information and also hopes to increase seniors' general use of the Internet.
The Open Source IT strategy is one of the first projects delivered by COKS. The Open Source Centre was opened in September last year by Slovenia's ministry for Higher education, Science and Technology. It should provide a single point of information and contact for Open Source software and services. The centre is staffed by two full time IT workers and four part time IT students and contractors.
According to Andrej Kositer, COKS' coordinator, the centre is often asked for strategic advise. "The phone is not ringing off the hook, but public administrations do ask us for advise on how to use Open Source in their IT department. They also want our help for selecting the best Open Source application."
Kositer says so far the private sector shows far more interest in Open Source. "Many Slovenian companies already use this type of software."
COKS is currently conducting a survey on the use of Open Source by Slovenia's public administrations. The results are expected in February. A similar survey focusing on the use of Open Source in the private sector is scheduled for March.
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Further information:
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Open Source Centre (English)
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Public Centre for Seniors, Dom Danice Vogrinec (Slovenian)
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Government policy on Open Source (Slovenian)