We use projects as a sort proving ground: tools and methods meet the real world, are customized to local conditions, and iterated to advance design.
Our first set of projects is necessarily the development of a collection of these tools; several of which are listed below.
Tools and Methods
Big Books
Big Books are a modern adaptation of the purposes of earlier book forms – to collect and disseminate useful knowledge and information; where the digital format provides advantages of low cost, effectively infinite size, ability to serve large numbers of contributing institutions, groups and individuals, as contributors to a federated document; and, in the near future, the ability to create custom views depending on the needs of the viewer.
Among their many uses, Big Books make possible the collection and maintenance of large and detailed information archives on very specialist topics (for example, intelligence operations in World War I); which accept content from a wide range of contributors, thus removing barriers to real participation in this form of work.
Big Books can also be used as a medium of connection between institutions – which in today’s world generally work quite independently, even if doing very similar work (e.g., collecting and disseminating knowledge of the historical uses of fabric arts). By enabling closer and denser connections, without restricting autonomy, this format delivers improved access to knowledge, while providing a sort of “growing medium” for new connections.
Mitra Method: distributed learning – as “real work”
Based on the work of Sugata Mitra, winner of the 2011 TED prize, awarded for his development of a very inexpensive and effective educational method, related to earlier 20th century group-learning methods developed by Elliott Aronson; this project also provides an excellent demonstration of the ease with which knowledge and methods can be transferred from human science to digital media, and extended using digital tools.
Twenty-five years ago Mitra demonstrated that children without any previous preparation are able to learn a wide range of skills surprisingly quickly via the simple expedient of combining an Internet connection with learning tasks presented in a group-learning format. Mitra subsequently extended this work in several iterations, proving it effective with different populations of learners.
We extend this method further by adding the component of genuine content production in the context of distributed networks. Groups of learners/researchers working in groups create content on local topics; which is then included into a variation of the Big Book utility. This transforms typical learning assignments into ‘real work’ – students are producing content which becomes part of an endeavor extending beyond their classroom into the real world.
The Promise of ‘Many Users’
Many of those working to extend the reach of open digital point out that less than 1% of the human population use digital tools and methods in creative functional ways – rather than passively. They ask us to imagine a near-future world where half the population possesses access to new generations of digital tools, as well as the skills and understanding to use them effectively. The question arises: how shall we make this massive transition?
In our own work we are pursuing this question by experimenting with the model adopted by Pew Research (and others) to reduce technical overhead by building content-containers designed for the needs of the context: at Pew a small number of technologists build digital tools so that over a hundred writers and editors publish a high quality online magazine, usually without technical help. We are working to generalize this model.
Cultural and Economic Development
Our current culture supports large numbers of small – often very small – organizations, working quite independently to solve very similar problems. Because of this pattern of reliance on small-scale solutions, progress is retarded: they simply lack access to necessary resources, as well as breadth of vision, to make adequate progress, even while holding to potentially valuable goals and methods.
We believe open digital, combined with knowledge of human science, can produce utilities which more effectively combine the efforts of these small-scale operations, without restricting independence. The goal here being to produce network effects which mimic, and on some dimensions exceed those achieved by large-scale enterprise and government programs.
Diaspora Communities Projects
The US is home to hundreds of diaspora communities, groups of people who have moved here, sometimes in flight, sometimes drawn by hope of greater opportunity and better quality of life for themselves and their children.
Of course, these moves are often dangerous and costly. Efforts to smooth the way, to ensure as much success as possible, are likely to be repaid many times over. A great number of organizations large and small, as well as government agencies, federal, state and local, work to help newcomers settle in and thrive.
Virtually every diaspora community also organizes its own services, providing mutual aid, as well as working to maintain cultural values and identity. These organizations have overlapping roles in the community, working to support complex webs of individual and group connections.
At present, few of these organizations use digital technologies to any real degree, beyond the most basic applications. At the same time, our research finds considerable openness to adopt new tools and methods, as they can easily see a the benefits.
We are working with diaspora communities to provide basic services such as archive records of community events – such as “first birthday” ceremonies celebrated by some communities – which function to promote social cohesion. We also support efforts by US diaspora communities to sponsor economic development projects in their home countries.
We are also exploring digital methods to help government agencies extend the effectiveness of their current programs to connect with diaspora communities.
Farm Food Feast
Food systems have operated as long as there have been people. Our present food system, evidently insufficient to our present needs and demanding innovation, is the subject of energetic attention by a growing number of large commercial enterprises and government agencies.
Improving our food systems is also the goal of a large number of small organizations working with much more limited resources. They approach their work in ways which offer certain valuable unique benefits, being less constrained in their in their basic structures.
We believe that digital tools can connect these small organizations in ways which synthesize analogs to the advantages enjoyed by large corporations, including integrating philanthropic and government connections, without unduly restricting local autonomy and freedom of movement.
Extending the Seed Library Model
Seed libraries are a modern adaptation of a most ancient cultural activity: collecting seeds from your own garden or farm, to share with family and friends; one example of the persistence of a resilient tradition based on the human ability of mutual understanding. Supporting this activity generates beneficial community relationships; as well as enriching community life by spreading the pleasures of working creatively with the natural world.
In the US today there are over a thousand such seed libraries, some based in public libraries, and more operating out of living rooms, dens, and kitchen tables. Because of the very small scale of most of these organizations, few consider use digital tools at present. Again, open-digital seems to offer possibilities of providing tools to make their current work easier, to make them easier to find, help them create more and better community connections; and to build connections between these agencies to reduce duplication, as well as to make it easier to expand local programs.
Cultural Learning: extending useful knowledge through new communication methods
Our present world apparently lacks the capacity to collect and maintain essential knowledge bases, especially those which are specialist interests. Knowledge exists is usable forms, is evidently valuable to current and future generations, more can be collected, but we presently lack the organizational capacity to do so.
Open digital can help fill this gap by providing tools to groups of motivated individuals, organizations and institutions. Digital frameworks provide flexibility for individuals and small groups to work independently, or in more highly organized configurations, contributing content to repositories; which are then displayed using a further class of utilities designed to make displays customized to local needs and requirements.
There are many possible applications for this format, of which the following is one example:
Conscious Canine: an accessible knowledge resource with many contributors
Many people count themselves as dog lovers, many are interested in the ‘inner lives’ of their canine friends, and many also devote considerable energy to learning as much as they can about dogs. These interests are paralleled by a growing foundation of scientific knowledge on these subjects; as well as by a large amount of specialist practical working knowledge.
There is however no easy access to this knowledge, no easy path for a beginner to start a learning journey toward mastery. The knowledge is scattered and access is haphazard; the extent of one’s knowledge is often determined by chance encounters and relationships.
This knowledge can be brought together and made coherent, through contributions of diverse individuals, groups and institutions; able to work together through the mediation of an effectively designed digital utility.
Our research shows considerable interest in this topic, and enthusiasm to contribute time and effort into the creation of such a resource: filling a gap in our “learning infrastructure” – as well as providing a model for the many other similarly structured gaps in our present culture.