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ISSUE NO 54 DIGITAL TOOLBOX

VIRUS INFECTING BOTH WINDOWS AND LINUX DISCOVERED

A computer virus, W32.Winux, infecting both the Linux and Windows operating systems has been discovered by anti-virus companies.

(source: http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/computing/2001/0103280922.asp )

3D WEB TOOL CREATES ATMOSPHERE

Adobe Systems has announced its Atmosphere solution which enables the creation and interactive use of three-dimensional Web sites.

(source: http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/internet/2001/0103270922.asp )

OPEN SOURCE FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

http://www.opensource.org is community of people, mostly from Europe, North America, and some from Asia and Latin America, who believe that the use of open source software in healthcare is inevitable and highly beneficial. Software is distributed with source code and licenses that permit modification, enhancement, and redistribution of copies without additional license fees.Major examples of software in this category are the Linux operating system the Apache web server, and key infrastructure of the Internet.

It believes that the use of open source in health related IT is "an incredible opportunity for developing countries.It makes health care IT solutions affordable and allows the adaptation to local needs.This seems an great opportunity to increase the quality of health care.Also, the success on the open source market depends purely on merit and is independent of capital, it also gives a great opportunity for development of a healthcare IT industry".

Already, there are several open source healthcare software solutions freely downloadable over the internet. Some of these can be sourced via a European project "SPIRIT" (http://www.euspirit.org) that is attempting to increase the number of open source healthcare software programmes available.Also see the Open Source Health Care Alliance (OSHCA,http://www.oshca.org).

(source: Bud P.Bruegger, Sistema (http://www.sistema.it)

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