Introduction
This is a story about development, about dreaming of the future and exploring possibilities as they are embedded in the DNA of our current era. This story is seen through the eyes and mind of Erik Mols, the CEO of OS-SCi.
The Landline Telephone: The Invisible Revolution That Connected the World
Before mobile phones existed, before we dreamed of devices that fit in our pockets, a quiet revolution was underway, one that began with wires, wooden boxes, and a simple yet groundbreaking idea: enabling people to talk to each other across distances as if they were in the same room. The invention of the landline telephone was not the work of one person, but of a series of visionaries who refused to believe that distance had to be a barrier. It all started in 1876, when Alexander Graham Bell patented the first practical telephone. His device was cumbersome, with a microphone on one end and a clunky earpiece on the other, but it worked. For the first time in history, a human voice could be transmitted instantaneously over kilometers, without the need for letters or telegraph codes. Bell’s first words, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you," were not just a test, but a prophecy of a world that would grow smaller.
The landline telephone evolved into the nervous system of modern society. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, telephone poles rose like giant trees along streets, and living rooms made space for the black Bakelite device that would connect generations. It was no coincidence that telephone exchanges, staffed by women who connected calls with plugs, became the first "social networks"—places where conversations were not only routed but where gossip, cries for help, and declarations of love were exchanged. The telephone changed how we worked (business appointments could now be made in minutes), how we loved (the voices of loved ones suddenly sounded close, even when they were far away), and how we lived (emergency help could be summoned faster). And as the technology evolved, from rotary dials to keypads, from party lines to private lines, the promise remained the same: connection.
But the landline was more than just a device. It was a symbol of progress, a sign that the world was no longer confined to the physical space around us. It laid the foundation for everything that followed: the mobile phone, the internet, and ultimately the dream of a single device that could do it all. Without those first wires, without those first crackling voices, the path to the Fairphone 6 with Lomiri would have been unthinkable. Because every time we make a call, send a message, or start a video chat today, we are still doing what Bell began: bringing the world closer.
The Spark: From Science Fiction to Reality
In 1966, when Star Trek first aired on television, no one could have guessed that Captain Kirk’s flip phone would one day inspire the first mobile telephone. Martin Cooper, the inventor of the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, said it himself: "I wanted people to be able to talk wherever they were, just like in Star Trek." But Erik knew the real dream went further than just making calls. It was about one device that could do everything. A device that not only communicated but also worked, created, and adapted to the user’s needs, whether you were tapping on a small screen, sitting at a large desk, or walking through a virtual world.
The first smartphones, like the IBM Simon in 1994, were clumsy attempts to realize that dream. They were bulky, slow, and expensive. But they promised something great: the fusion of phone and computer. When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone in 2007, it felt as though the future had suddenly arrived. But Erik saw a problem. Apple and Google created walled gardens, where users were trapped in ecosystems that dictated how they could use their devices. Where was the freedom? Where was the choice?
Canonical’s Gamble: Ubuntu Touch and the Promise of Convergence
In 2013, Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, took a radical step. They launched Ubuntu Touch, an operating system that ran not only on phones but also on desktops, tablets, and everything in between. The idea was simple: dock your phone to a screen, connect a keyboard and mouse, and you had a full computer. No more two devices, no more two operating systems—just one device, one experience. Unity 8, the user interface, was designed to scale seamlessly from a 5-inch screen to a 27-inch monitor.
Erik still remembered the excitement when he first saw a demo. "This is it," he thought. "This is the future." But the market wasn’t ready. Canonical withdrew in 2017, and the project seemed doomed.
Fortunately, there was Ubports.
The Rebels: How a Community Saved the Dream
When Canonical abandoned Ubuntu Touch, a group of passionate developers stepped up. They called themselves Ubports, and they refused to accept that the story ended there. They took over the code, improved it, and have been building an open, free alternative to Android and iOS ever since. But they did more than just maintain an operating system—they created a breeding ground for innovation. Ubuntu Touch was more than just an OS; it also included the Halium layer developed by UBports, which is essential in almost all other Android replacements.
At the heart of their vision was Lomiri, the successor to Unity 8. Lomiri was not just an interface; it was a promise. A promise that your phone didn’t have to be just a phone. That you could check your messages on a small screen in the morning, do your work on a large screen in the afternoon, and dive into a virtual world with a VR headset in the evening, all with the same device.
Erik saw the potential. This was not just a technological breakthrough, but a social revolution. For neurotypical people, neurodivergent individuals with autism or giftedness who felt at home in the world of open source, for everyone who wanted to escape the closed systems of Big Tech.
The Heart of the Revolution: Lomiri and the Power of Open Source
Lomiri was different. It was modular, meaning apps automatically adapted to the screen they were displayed on. It was privacy-friendly, with no backdoors or data collection. And it was open, so anyone could contribute, improve, and innovate.
Imagine this: You walk out the door with a Fairphone 6 in your pocket—a phone that was not only sustainably and ethically produced but also ran Ubuntu Touch with Lomiri. When you get home, you place it in a docking station, and suddenly you have a full desktop experience. You open your favorite development environment, work on a project, and during a break, you put on a VR headset and find yourself in a 3D environment where you can view your designs in space. No different devices, no different operating systems—just one seamless experience.
But to make this dream a reality, people were needed. Not just developers, but also mentors, teachers, and volunteers who could train new generations. That’s where OS-SCi came in.
The Mission of OS-SCi: Educating for the Future
Erik leaned back in his chair. OS-SCi was more than just an organization. It was a bridge between education and innovation. He envisioned how the day activity programs for autistic gifted individuals in Tilburg would work: a space where participants not only learned to program, solder, and 3D print but also contributed to real projects like Ubuntu Touch and Lomiri.
"We can’t just teach them how to write code," he thought. "We have to teach them how to shape the future."
Practical Experience: Participants would work on bug bounties for Ubuntu Touch, such as testing the Fairphone 6 and documenting improvements.
Certifications: OS-SCi could collaborate with independent organizations to offer certifications, not expensive diplomas, but recognized skills that opened doors to careers in open source.
Community: A helpdesk where participants not only assisted visitors but also supported each other in an environment where differences were celebrated rather than feared.
Re-entrants and Job Seekers: Starting November 2025, OS-SCi is an official partner of the Ministry of Social Affairs and offers training to job seekers through the Ministry.
And then there was the FOSS Career Foundation, which would manage study funds for participants who wanted to learn more. With a loan, they could specialize in Linux, security, or app development for Lomiri, skills that were valuable not only for themselves but for the entire community.
The Final Picture: One Device, Infinite Possibilities
Erik closed his eyes and imagined it. Avatar Henk, a bearded forty-something with a passion for technology, walks in with his Fairphone 6 running Ubuntu Touch. He docks it at a workstation, opens Lomiri, and starts working on a new app. Later that day, he helps a visitor install Linux on an old laptop. In the evening, he takes his phone home, places it in a VR dock, and disappears into a digital world he helped build.
This was not fantasy. This was the future they were building.
But there was still work to be done. New volunteers needed to be trained. Documentation had to be written. And above all, the community had to grow.
"We don’t just need technology," Erik murmured. "We need people who believe in the power of open source. People who understand that freedom isn’t something you’re given, it’s something you build."
He picked up his Fairphone 6, running Ubuntu Touch and Lomiri, and opened the interface. The screen lit up, ready for action. The future was not far off.