Technical Folk Step Into Internet Spotlight
The techies are out there and they've just stood up to be counted. A group of technically minded people has proposed
that InternetNZ, the manager of the New Zealand namespace, create a new Second Level Domain - '.geek.nz'. InternetNZ's
Domain Name Commissioner recently issued a Request for Discussion, the first step of the public consultation process.
UniForum NZ's President, Sue Leader applauded the initiative saying "There are a whole lot of unsung heroes, male and
female, in New Zealand - the people who created the Internet and the ones who keep it going today. A space where they
can get together and continue the experiments which have brought us the Internet is a good move."
Leader noted that UniForum NZ is interested as it is the association for Open Source Professionals, and the Internet is
founded on Open Source protocols. "The Internet just wouldn't work if it tried to run on proprietary software.", she
said. "We've also seen a huge swing back to Open Source software, such as Linux, for the underlying computer systems in
the last few years. The self-identified geek community is a major reservoir of talent from which such developments
arise."
"UniForum NZ is the foremost provider of training and networking for Open Systems Professionals in New Zealand, and
we'll be getting the word out to our members to join in the debate on '.geek.nz'." Leader said.
The proposal is at http://www.dnc.org.nz/story/30058-30-1.html
The proposers' of '.geek.nz' have established a website at http://geek.nznog.org/