The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) has opened the APC Chris Nicol Floss prize for 2007.
The $4 000 biennial award provides recognition for individuals or groups of people making it easier for ordinary computer users to use free, libre open source software (Floss), APC says in a media statement.
"We are looking for people who improve the accessibility to, knowledge of and/or usability of [Floss], are user-oriented and have documented their work so that others can replicate their model," it says.
For a project to be in the running for the prize, it has to incorporate the concept of accessibility, meaning it makes existing difficult-to-use software more user-friendly. Participating projects must also have produced a manual or instructions that make it easy to start using OSS or have organised training for particular groups of people, who otherwise would not be using it, APC says.
The project should also have demonstrable impact and have increased the number of people using Floss on a day-to-day basis, it says.
Deadline for nominations is 30 March 2007. The prize is open to any person or group anywhere in the world that supports or promotes user-oriented Floss.
The award was established in honour of Chris Nicol, a long-time Floss advocate and former APC board member. Nicol died of cancer in August 2005.
Application forms to enter the competition are available on the APC Web site.
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