We ran our first open access media lab in the newly refurbished Rising Sun Arts Centre today. Just two computers set-up running Kubuntu with a load of multimedia software installed. I'm going to pick up another computer tomorrow, and there are a few other possibilities I have to chase up. Donations are gratefully received, as are offers of help on the day, especially from techies!

A couple of people who came by had heard of Linux, and those who hadn't were interested to hear about free software. They can't wait for us to get our hands on some decent LiveCDs and Windows free software CDs. It'd be great if we could get these free from somewhere... I could order some Ubuntu live CDs, I suppose, but then the sudden appearance of brown GNOME might confuse them ;)

A reporter from BBC Berkshire got completely distracted playing with the kicker tooltips and generally enjoying how slick KDE now looks. Everyone else seemed quite happy using the computers, though certain things really confused them. Konqueror opening images in the embedded gwenview part kept throwing them - they'd close Konqueror and wonder where the file browser had gone - so I think I'll disable that and make images open up in a separate application. Single click caused some little kids all sorts of bother by opening up loads of files as they haphazardly used the middle mouse button to scroll through a folder full of audio/video/image files. Multiple desktops were new to everyone, but with the taskbar showing all apps they didn't really mind it.

The most fun thing was watching this little girl, who must have been about 8 or 9, play with Inkscape. Once I showed her the basics she dragged and dropped a photo into the app then drew crazy facial hair and long dreads in using the calligraphy tool. Little kids are so great :) Fingers crossed we'll be doing some work with local refugee group so we'll have a regular flow of little ones remixing work from the web site.

Update - one other funny thing. A bloke I was talking to recognised 'KDE' on the Kubuntu CD sleeve and started asking me if it uses Qt... apparently he knew Richard Dale before he fled the country :)