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Portland, OR – Today Congressman David Wu gave welcoming remarks at the first annual Government Open Source Conference in Portland, Oregon. Congressman Wu has been a strong proponent for both this software concept and Oregon’s role in developing it.
“Oregon is at the forefront of the rapidly developing open technology industry,” stated Congressman Wu. “Open source is dramatically changing how businesses, universities, non-profits and governments at all levels procure, develop and support the essential software they use.”
The two-day event, sponsored by the Open Source Lab at Oregon State University, will explore the potential use and value in federal, state and local government of this rapidly evolving software concept. With these systems, source codes are open and the software is freely available to anyone for their use, improvement and adaptation to specific needs. Oregon academic, business and political leaders believe the state can become a national leader in the development of this industry.
The idea of open source software began in the 1990's and has expanded rapidly in recent years, as increasing numbers of users around the world take advantage of it. Aside from being free, open source software can offer advantages in terms of flexibility, sophistication, easy adaptability to specific needs, and less susceptibility to attack by some of the most common computer viruses. The market for hardware and software using the open source Linux operating system has been estimated as high as $38 billion within five years.
A full text of Congressman Wu's remarks follows:
"Thank you for having me here. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to welcome you to this very important conference.
"GOSCON is the first conference of its kind. It is the first to provide public sector CIOs, IT professionals, and others in government the chance to take part in the innovative solutions and strategies developed by research universities, private sector companies, and communities of developers that have made Oregon the hub of open source.
"While much of the general public wrongly thinks of Open Source as slang for free software, we must recognize that Open Source represents a new paradigm for stimulating innovation. The innovative ideas coming out of the Open Source community here in Oregon and throughout the country represent the biggest trend in the computing industry since the internet.
"Oregon is the hub for Open Source because it is here that the best minds, businesses and organizations have gravitated: Oregon State University and OSU's Open Source Lab; the Open Source Development Labs, Beaverton's Open Technology Business Center, The Eclipse Foundation, IBM, Intel, and a list of private companies and development communities that is far too long to recite at this moment.
"With Open Source technology encompassing an entire technological ecosystem, there are more opportunities than ever to increase efficiency, improve data security, enhance customer service, and save money.
"The Linux operating system alone has become a powerful part of world economy--deployed across all continents and embraced by governments and businesses worldwide.
"Ultimately, the development of open source technology will provide more options for public agencies and officials at the local, state, and national level to better serve our citizens. From the development and application of the Veteran's Administration's internal electronic health information system, VistA, to the use of Linux in servers by Oregon's Department of Transportation, to the recent adoption of an open source format to store documents by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the role of Open Source technology in government in the United States is growing.
"In the last several decades, the well-being of our economy and our citizens has become dependant on technological advances in software, the internet, information systems, and communications devices.
"As a member of the Science Committee and as the Ranking Member of the Environment, Technology, and Standards subcommittee that oversees the National Institute of Technology and Standards, I have often, with my colleagues, addressed difficult questions of computer security, the use of standards, and the role of the internet. In order to continue to provide responsible leadership and make sound policy decisions regarding technology, Congress must be aware and supportive of the open source technology sector and allow it to flourish in the public sector as well as the private sector.
"This conference gives the unprecedented opportunity for those in government to interact and learn from the various leaders in the public and private sectors that are at the heart of open source innovation.
"I am excited to be here today; I look forward to supporting the development of Open Source innovation here in Oregon; and I congratulate you all in taking advantage in this exciting new technology.
"Thank you."
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