TROM Computers - A Global Community Project

The project is intended to grow into a global network of 'nodes' that are effectively franchises but with the commercial emphasis removed and replaced with the principle of 'people before profit'. 

So this operation will be of no interest whatsoever to a commercial investor. Support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is welcome on the strict understanding that there will be no Windows or Microsoft Office to be seen anywhere on the project. 

The first node in the network is in Southminster, Essex UK where we are operating from a formerly disused Stationmaster's House that we are using as a drop-in centre. The operation of the project is captured in documents that describe every aspect of the operations so that the node can be replicated many times. All operating locally and independently, but benefiting from pooled information resources.

The problem being addressed is fundamentally the tendency for society to restrict access to computer equipment and software, to people with money. As a rule in life, the more money you have, the better the computer equipment available to you, and for many living below a certain level of wealth the world of computers is effectively closed to them completely. 

We are running two steams of operation to make computing available to everyone.

(1) Supply of new-build computers in single-board form.

Never in the history of computing have we had such an opportunity to make available at low cost, modular hardware that offers to the beginner or casual user, full desktop computer functionality. 

We are taking full advantage of this opportunity, to offer an entry option that's often at least well under half the cost of the alternative, a that you can get from the shopping mall. The hardware we are supplying is the Raspberry Pi 4, re-imaged with a Linux operating system. 

Sounds scary, to depart from Windows and Microsoft Office, or IOS in the price-inflated Mac. But once you have lived with Linux for a while, with the whole range support from newbie to 'fellow expert' all provided free of charge, you will appreciate the difference very well, and may even realise an overwhelming superiority of current state of the art Linux software over the Windows equivalent.

(2) Supply of reconditioned old computers - library style (borrow for as long a you like).

The drop-in centre is a place for accumulation of old equipment, and for showroom storage and display of fixed workstations ready to lend. The drop-in centre is a community hub for activities like training on computer repair and maintenance, seminars on computer topics, coding clubs and a place to have a cup of tea and a friendly chat about computers.

This second stream of operation is effectively a physical library of workstations and peripheral equipment, for supply free of charge to anyone who expresses a need. If a lender wants an upgrade or repair of his loaned computer he simply brings it back and chooses another to take away. There is in practice a continual movement of equipment through the drop-in centre which becomes regarded in the community as 'the place' for equipment recycling. Any equipment that really is at end of life is disposed of responsibly.  

****

A major project principle is to ensure that the workstations we supply are free from any trade commitment, including the operating system and software components, so that for the 'refurbished computer library' the offering is truly 'free' of charge.

This means that Microsoft Windows and Apple IOS on donated hardware will be mercilessly overwritten with a Linux operating system TROM Jaro, which is based on Manjaro and is a trade-free product with no licensing or cost.

The organisation runs on donations which are used first to meet costs and then shared among personnel who work on the operations in the project.

- to be continued ? - let's hope so. Lively discussion please in the comments.

For some background information please see the latest of two in a series of press releases that we are using to chart our project's development.

The PHC Consortium Rises to the Challenge of Supplying Free Computers with TROM-Jaro to People in Lockdown (einpresswire.com)

The PHC Consortium is Putting Education First in the Supply of Raspberry Pi Computers to Schools in and after Lockdown (einpresswire.com)

Anyone with an interest in seeing a TROM Computers drop-in centre pop up near you, or if you would like to keep in touch with regular updates on the TROM Computers project, please join the PHC Consortium by sending an e-mail to [email protected]

Also join the PHC Consortium group on Linkedin.