Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research

Juha Siltala, M.A., Doctoral Student

Email: juha@siltala.net
Tel.: +358 9 191 44157
Mobile: +358 45 113 9900

Postal address:
Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research
P.O. Box 26
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland

Personal home page:
www.siltala.net

Current Activities

I am part of Professor Reijo Miettinen's research
group, which focuses on Innovations and Organization of Research Work, at the Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research, Helsinki, Finland. My main interest is the organization and practice of very large Free and Open Source software projects, such as the Linux kernel of the GNU/Linux operating system, and the GNOME Desktop Environment project. The products of these projects have a large user base and are gaining importance in the strategies of major computer software and hardware manufacturers and vendors. With users depending on their products, and economic incentives increasing, the nature of the projects has visibly changed, and nowadays they can by no means be described as bands of hobbyist hackers.

I hope my studies in the practices of these developer groups will generate germinal theoretical contributions for Innovation and Research Studies, while applying and refining the concepts of modern Activity Theory in a novel environment. I also wish my work to benefit the Free Software community itself.

Short Biography

I graduated from the University of Oulu, Finland, in 2002, majoring in the History of Science and Ideas. My interest in Free Software and the open development model comes from personal experience with Free systems and involvement with the online community of Free Software enthusiasts and in the technical user groups. My Master's thesis was a historical overview of the political thought and ethics of the worldwide community of hackers and Free Software evangelists.

I have done assistant research work for the Center since early 2002, and started as a full-time doctoral student there in January 2003. Currently I am writing my dissertation on the evolution of commercial Open Source, particularly the GNOME project.

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