February 22-24, 2013
Hilton Los Angeles International Airport
The most obvious people affected by all four of the freedoms that define
free software are the programmers. They are the ones who will likely
want to -- and are able to -- modify software running on their
computers. But free software is a movement to advance and defend freedom
for anyone and everyone using any computing device, not just
programmers. In many countries now, given the ubiquity of tablets,
phones, laptops and desktops, "anyone and everyone using any computing
device" means nearly all citizens. But new technological innovations in
these areas keep coming with new restrictions, frustrating and
controlling users even while creating a perception of empowerment. The
Free Software Foundation wants to gain the support and protect the
interests of everyone, not just programmers. How do we reach people who
have no intention of ever modifying a program, and how do we help them?