To understand the computer revolution, you need to get an inside look at what motivated these people to go above and beyond what anyone thought they'd be able to do. Technology has advanced in leaps and bounds, and continues to do so at an astonishing pace. What kept these folks going? Why did they pursue a goal, even if they didn't get paid? How did they interaction with each other and what was it about that interaction that "incubated" innovation? To get a good feel for the inside story, read all about a couple of computer programmers who developed one of the most popular computer graphing calculators ever developed (and still in use). Could they get away with this today? Should they be able to? What would you do to pursue a project you believed in? http://www.pacifict.com/Story/
Revolution OS is another such story. There are several alternatives for viewing the movie we will watch this week. This movie "tells the inside story of the hackers who rebelled against the proprietary software model and Microsoft to create GNU/Linux and the Open Source movement." Instead of being a movie about computer guys, it is a movie that *stars* the real people who made a difference. Are they a little quirky? Well, yes! Most geeks are! But you will get a sense of who they are and why they were so passionate about what they did.
Revolution OS is a 2001 documentary which traces the history of GNU, Linux, and the open source and free software movements. It features several interviews with prominent hackers and entrepreneurs (and hackers-cum-entrepreneurs), including Richard Stallman, Michael Tiemann, Linus Torvalds, Larry Augustin, Eric S. Raymond, Bruce Perens, Frank Hecker and Brian Behlendorf.
Website: http://www.revolution-os.com/