The fearsome blog of Andrew Davies

Topic: Communities of skilled people can serve as platforms for sourcing ideas, work, and solutions across industries. But how can we ensure that the new era of crowdsourcing actually empowers those that participate? (description)

Crowdsourcing is really an umbrella term, it encompasses a number of different things. June 2006 – term crowdsourcing was coined by Jeff Howe, it existed before that and has been utilized for decades. “Customer made” was one of the other terms going around at the time. Social media was on the rise, provided opportunities.

Common misconception – Crowdsoucing ONLY equals access to free labor. It can have other advantages as well. “Wisdom of the crowd”.

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This was a cool talk, but not very linear, so I had a tough time noting it down.  So, it made a lot more sense at the time than you might see here.

Topic: Open data on mobile devices is a lens for daily choices. (description)

What you make goes everywhere – and it sticks around.  So we have a chance to kick out little bits of awsome into the world.

Information overload – we give each other signs, guidance.  Think about the vast array of refreshing beverages.  People are open to ideas about which to pick.   Another example – “drains into the bay” sings on sewage drains.

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Topic: Even though technology evolved at a crazy pace the last 100 years, the humble button has stayed at the center of it all. (description)

Synopsis: The humble button is very under appreciated.  We don’t even know who invented it.  Most of the interaction conventions we use today were developed in the 70s, and even before.  These conventions affect how we think.  We’re transitioning to surface interaction (think iPhone touch screen)  – a shift that will also affect how we think.

Technology is shaped by us, but also shapes how we think.  For example, railroads compressed our sense of time – could move around faster.  Telegraph compressed distance – communication from afar (Chimeran war was first to be coordinated from a distance).  The radio (world wide web of its time) brought the outside world into your home.

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