White Papers

Relatively short 'white papers' on selected topics related to open source, health IT, and the health care industry.

See the following -

AMIA White Paper: Free & Open Source Software in Healthcare

The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Open Source Working Group prepared a white paper in 2008 on Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) definitions, FOSS licensing, preferred FOSS licenses, major problems with Health Information Technology (HIT) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, and how FOSS licensed EHR systems can solve these problems. Read More »

CIO.Com Survey: Open Source is Entering the Enterprise Mainstream

This white paper summarizes the finding of a 2008 survey by CIO Magazine. The statistics from the survey make it clear, open source solutions are becoming more commonplace in corporate IT shops. The survey showed that more than half the respondents are using open-source applications in their organization today and an additional 10 percent plan to do so in the next year. Read More »

Publisher: 

CIO.Com White Paper: The ABC's of Open Source

A white paper published by the CIO Magazine on their web site about "The ABC's of Open Source". It addresses the following questions: Read More »

Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) Roadmap 2020

"2020 Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) Roadmap" is published yearly for Open World Forum (OWF). This is a prospective Roadmap, and a projection of the influences that will affect FLOSS between 2010 and 2020. It provides descriptions of FLOSS-related trends as anticipated by OWF contributors over a period of time. Read More »

Mitre: A Business Case Study of Open Source Software

This white paper prepared by Carolyn Kenwood back in 2001, explains open source, describes its significance, compares open source to traditional commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products, presents the military business case, shows the applicability of Linux to the military business case, analyzes the use of Linux, discusses anomalies, and provides considerations for military Program Managers. Read More »

Open Source Software & U.S. Government Acquisitions

This white paper by David Wheeler provides a high level overview about Open Source Software (OSS), what it is, why all major OSS products are essentially very similar to commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software, how OSS developed, and how it can be applied to U.S. government acquisitions. Read More »

Open Source Technologies for Clinical Trials

"Open Source Technologies for Clinical Trials" demonstrates how open source technology presents an innovative solution to the challenging pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and ultimately helps life science companies bring their medical innovations faster to patients. Read More »

TechWeb: Open Source White Papers

An online, digital library containing a wide range of white papers on the topic of 'Open Source' activities & solutions has been made available by UBM TechWeb. See TechWeb Digital Library.

The Case for Government Promotion of Open Source Software

This white paper written back in 1999 by Mitch Stoltz of NetAction.Org, explains the open source concept and attempts to show how government could make use of open source as a vehicle for promoting economic development.  It concludes that the widespread use of open source software holds advantages for the U.S. Read More »

The Dynamics of Opening Government Data

Governments around the world are working to advance open government principles in a way that responds to their own unique context. One way they are doing this is by developing the appropriate policies and management practices that allow them to open their government data by taking full advantage of the increasing power of information and communication technologies. Read More »