Portal:ICT Literacy/Public Software

Software can be considered as the a basic building block of participation in today's digital society. Access to software is essential for everyone to participate in the digital economy and the future world at-large. Software that is produed by a community of users which can be freely shared, modified and updated as necessary provides possiblities for access and participation. Such a software is called Public Software, also known as free software or open-source software.

The term public software emphasizes the public nature of its ownership and control, which are important factors for ensuring universal access and supporting participation in its creation and modification. In a society that is becoming more digtial, access to software resources is important for meaningful participation and therefore should be seen as a right. Such an availability of software resources offers huge possibilities for constructive learning.