Open source software
Most of the tools discussed here are low cost or free to users. This is because many of them use open source software, some carry advertising and others offer a higher level of service for which you have to pay.
Pros
- Open source software can be freely used and passed on
Cons
- Support can be patchy and difficult for newcomers to access
Beware
- While in theory it is possible to adapt applications for an organisation's own use, considerable technical expertise is needed
To save money you need to be creative and have some degree of technical knowledge. Where this exists, organisations, and even individuals, are 'bolting together' the free tools and services available to provide sophisticated web-based systems that deliver text, photos, audio and even video material. Visitors to these websites see an integrated whole. However, the photos users see may be hosted on Flickr and the video may be coming from YouTube while the news section of the site may be delivered using a blog. Furthermore, once set up, these composite websites are so straightforward to maintain that the Communications Officer, not the Website Manager, will be empowered to add new items themselves.
Further reading: ICT Hub's knowledgebase, Wikipedia
Related Pages: ICT Tools
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