[wos] yes, we're open

[Atul Chitnis]

On Thu, 19 May 2005, Inke Arns wrote:

> Hallo Atul, hallo alle,

Hey Inke!

>
> schoene Vorschlaege, das!
>
>> Open Worlds
>> It's not just about software anymore
>
> das gefaellt mir am besten - es bleibt aber auch vage (aber eben auch 
> suggestiv, kann viel bedeuten)

War geplant fuer die letzte Linux Bangalore, aber im letztem Moment sind 
wir doch bei "Technology for a Free World" geblieben.

>> Uebrigens - gibt es Plaene, RMS einzuladen? Falls ja, dann wuerde ich das 
>> ganze "Open" Thema noch mal ueberlegen.
>
> Stimmt ;) Aber ich glaube, die gibts garnicht?

Na dann kein Problem :)

> Den ersten Titel finde ich garnicht schlecht - es sei denn, das Thema der 
> naechsten WOS laesst sich schon enger eingrenzen?

Enger ist nicht "Open" :)

>
> Warum macht man als Logo der naechsten WOS eigentlich nicht dieses bekannte 
> amerikanische Tuerschild "come in, we're open"? Das koennte man in schoenen 
> Neofarben machen, sehr auffaellig .... und es wuerde den Pop-Faktor extrem 
> erhoehen (ich stimme neuemethode sehr zu, was die Sichtbarkeit der WOS angeht 
> - die muss ueber den Kreis der Eingeweihten hinaus gehen ...)

Echt. Man trifft ja immer die selben Leute (wenigstens hier in Indien). 
Man muss andere Einfluesse als Koeder benutzen - ob Musik, Literatur oder 
einfach Warhol-style.

I am certainly in favour of "Come in, we are open", however I do have one 
comment on that, which is best said here:

http://www.orbitlight.com/events.html

"Have you ever considered why carefully designed and properly lit retail 
stores do not use the awful "Come in, We are open," signs?  It is because 
lighting has become multifunctional.  Proper lighting indicates that the 
retailer is open and welcomes the customers.  Once that customer is 
inside, lighting functions to appraise the merchandise in a way that 
attracts attention, hopefully leading to successful business 
transactions."

In this case, the role of WOS would be precisely this - to be a light 
shining on "merchandise" (i.e. the things we want to draw attention to), 
but wouldn't be an end in itself (i.e. it wouldnt be the merchandise or 
the shop).

My point is that I encourage people to focus on the quality of the product 
("hey, this is great"), then point out the obvious ("of course, it is 
open").

This is different from the typical advocate's "Open is good" mantra, which 
does achieve the desired goal (the listener is at least sensitised to the 
concept of "Open"), but does not leave an impression as longlasting as the 
former example.

Apologies if I didn't state that very clearly, but I thought I should say 
it. Feel free to set me right about it. :)


Atul