IT-Review

Lightup Tracks Growth of Desktop Linux

Lightup maps show real-time data on global number of new Linux computers

Lightup releases up-to-date graphical maps that show where, when, and just how often people are connecting to the Internet with computers running Linux.

Data for the new maps is based on the number of computers running Linspire: The first time one of these machines connects to the Internet, that IP address is converted into map coordinates and a "lightup" (a unique, new desktop or laptop running Linspire) appears in the corresponding location on a satellite photograph of the Earth. Dot colors on the map correspond to how many lightups are in a particular area - for instance, a yellow lightup means more than 100 people are using desktop Linux in that geographic area. These maps are a highly accurate way to track the daily growth of desktop Linux - data that could only be theorized about before.

All of the data gathered from computer IP addresses is anonymous, with only general geographic data and numbers of connections being tracked. The IP addresses are converted into latitude and longitude coordinates to narrow down the location of the computer to a particular country and city. Though most computers can be counted using this system, some IP addresses cannot be mapped to a particular location and these users are not counted. Also, some user's actual geographic locations may not be tracked if their Internet connection is routed through a server in another location.

To view the lightup maps, users should visit http://www.lraiser.com/, a website created to highlight this real-time data and help spread the word about desktop Linux. From there, users will be able to see the number of people who began using Linspire in the previous 24-hour and week-long periods, plus use interactive zoom-in maps to see the how many Linux users have connected in a specific geographic location. Cursors and photo selections allow customized zoom-in views of a particular country or continent, or to see lightups from a different day or time period.

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