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Amy B

Website helps to make dreams come true - 0 views

www.abc.net.au/...s3180494.htm

ouaNet308-2011 Collaboration net308 tools resources education online activism crowd-sourcing crowd-funding

shared by Amy B on 17 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    ABC LATELINE Michael Atkin Byline: "Australian website Pozible is helping to connect generous donors with needy projects, but there are concerns about how the website operates." The article introduces crowd-funding as an 'innovation of the internet age', bringing together donors and projects in need of funding, using an environmental group called Green Way Up as an example project, and a website called Pozible as an example of a crowd-funding resource. As an introduction to crowd-funding it presents Green Way Up as being both environmentally and socially conscious, as well as a good example of a crowd-funded project worth attention: Bob Miles and Chuck Anderson want to travel around the world on bio-fuel converted from recycled fats and oils obtained, in one case, from the waste of a chicken shop. However, Green Way Up may not have had such a start toward achieving this venture if not for Pozible; a crowd-funding resource whose Co-founder, Rich Chen, created the site 'because he was sick of hearing about exciting projects which failed to go ahead because they lacked money' (Atkin, 2011). Though it presents a hopeful opportunity to projects and financial benefactors alike, the article turns critical of the website's operations, suggesting Pozible may be 'violating the Corporations Act by raising money and offering rewards without issuing a prospectus' (Atkin, 2011).
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    Jennifer McKay, Professor at the University of South Australia is also concerned that Pozible infringes upon consumer protection laws and security laws, but when asked by Lateline, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission said they were 'considering whether crowd-funding poses any regulatory concerns' (Atkin, 2011). Green Way Up is presented as an exception rather than a rule for projects seeking crowd-sourced funding; '[p]rojects only receive the money if they reach their funding target within 90 days and currently two-thirds fail' (Atkin, 2011). Built upon and relying heavily on trust, the article concludes there is potential risk for all involved. Atkin, M. (2011). Website helps to make dreams come true. Lateline. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2011/s3180494.htm.
  • Kellie Ramm on 28 Apr 11
     
    SETI@home and the various other projects that use BOINC rely on public contributions to achieve their computer processing goals. In a similar vein, the website Pozible.com.au also relies on public response to assist what would otherwise be unheard of projects. Pozible is a website that uses "crowd-funding" to get its donations. "Crowd-funding is an innovation of the internet age which links generous donors with needy projects" (ABC, 2011). In the example provided by this resource, the needy case is an environmental group called Green Way Up who want to fund an expedition to Norway using only bio-fuel. First shown on ABC's Lateline on the 1st April 2011, this interview discusses numerous aspects of Pozible. It talks through the set-up process, talks to a donator, and even questions the administration process from an ASIC/ACCC point of view. Not only does this website help otherwise unknown projects get up off the ground, it also helps connect them to "lounge-chair activists" looking to donate to causes they believe in. There are still a few problems with the donation process. Projects are required to generate 100% of their goal amount within 90 days to receive the money, meaning that currently only 1/3 of projects achieve this goal. There is also no formal follow-up process to ensure that the projects do what they have promised. On a positive note however, if a project fails to meet the requested total, no money changes hands. Donations work more on a pledge system, and even Pozible makes no profit from the projects, unless this total is met(Pozible.com, 2010). Projects like BOINC and Pozible are innovative ways of using current computer/internet usage to get public interest and participation in what could otherwise be undiscovered projects that could have positive implications in the future. ABC. (2011). Website Helps To Make Dreams Come True. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2011/s3180494.htm Pozible.com. (20
Amy B

GetUp! - 1 views

www.getup.org.au

online activism resources tools net308 ouaNet308-2011 Collaboration education crowd-sourcing crowd-funding

shared by Amy B on 17 Apr 11 - Cached
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    Action for Australia GetUp! is a not-for-profit 'independent, grass-roots community advocacy organisation giving everyday Australians opportunities to get involved and hold politicians accountable on important issues' (About GetUp, n.d.). Rather than users starting individual projects and promoting them for donations from supporters, GetUp! hosts movements for causes of specific interest to Australians, including financial support for advertising and other schemes, to gain attention from politicians and the government at large, such as collecting 27,000 signatures petitioning the repeal of undemocratic laws preventing thousands from voting in the 2007 elections. A few dollars each from tens of thousands of supporters has produced high-profile ad campaigns that have helped raise awareness for issues important to the Australian people. GetUp! campaigns rely on social media and word-of-mouth to get the community informed and involved, requesting recommendations for new campaigns from everyday Australians concerned about government policies. According to Belleflamme, Lambert, and Schwienbacher (2011) this community involvement constitutes crowd-sourcing, where ideas and suggestions are sourced from the 'crowd', along with volunteers and appeals for solutions. In the spirit of transparency the movement advocates, GetUp! provides access to its annual reports as well as a 'real-time snapshot' of the donations members are contributing to campaigns, updated half hourly. This snapshot includes unique actions, new members, number of donations, the total collected from donations, average donation, and how many are first-time donors.
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    Financial donations are not required to participate in GetUp! campaigns, but the necessary funds to produce a commercial for exposure on national television is sourced from contributions by supporters: crowd-funding for a community cause. Unlike crowd-funding for individual projects, such as those found on online crowd-funding tools such as Pozible, investors in community campaigns may have no expectation of reward. The GetUp! website clearly indicates its intentions, guiding visitors to campaigns to inform, raise awareness and make contributions toward improving the Australian community through policy and reform. GetUp. (n.d.) GetUp! Retrieved from http://www.getup.org.au. Belleflamme, P., Lambert, T., & Schwienbacher, A. (2011). Tapping the Right Crowd. Retrieved from http://ssrn.com/abstract=157817.
Amy B

Crowdfunding: Tapping the Right Crowd - 1 views

ssrn.com/abstract=157817.

ouaNet308-2011 net308 tools resources education crowd-sourcing crowd-funding

shared by Amy B on 17 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    by Paul Belleflamme, Thomas Lambert, and Armin Schwienbacher, February 13, 2011. This academic, peer-reviewed article defines crowdfunding as belonging within the broader concept of crowdsourcing, in which a 'crowd' is used for gaining feedback, solutions, and ideas. The objective is to use the crowd to collect investment money in cases of financing individual projects (Pozible), or to raise social awareness in community-minded ventures (GetUp!). Belleflamme, Lamber, and Schwienbacher equates crowdfunding with pre-ordering, menu pricing, and price discrimination, and studies the circumstances under which crowdfunding is preferred to more traditional forms of acquiring funds. They describe crowdfunding as sharing a model with pre-ordering due to the expectation of investors receiving some form of reward for their contribution, in much the same way as pre-ordering a product, such as a game, entails some reward for investor support and interest, such as receiving a copy of the game early, and at a better price. Price discrimination is the disparity between the cost for the investor and the consumer (someone who waits for official release before purchasing). The article describes the advantages of enhanced user experience for investors and the allowance of price discrimination for 'a larger share of the consumer surplus', and the disadvantage of constraints in the amount of initial capital required (Belleflamme, et. al, 2011). The article continues with an empirical survey analysis, and key features from the perspective of industrial organisations, including sourcing information, building communities, and generating product interest, as well as the success of non-profit organisations using the crowdfunding model.
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    It is suggested (Glaeser & Shleifer; Ghatak & Mueller, cited in Belleflamme, et. al, 2011) that 'crowdfunders care about social reputation and/or enjoy private benefits from participating in the success of the initiative'; a vital asset for charities and entrepreneurs alike. The article concludes with the implications crowdfunding has for market research, and that it may be viewed more broadly than simply raising funds. Belleflamme, P., Lambert, T., & Schwienbacher, A. (2011). Tapping the Right Crowd. Retrieved from http://ssrn.com/abstract=157817.
Alan Beazley

CitizenMap - a South China Morning Post initiative - 3 views

citizenmap.scmp.com/main

Environmental CitizenMap Activism Collaboration

shared by Alan Beazley on 16 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Alan Beazley on 16 Apr 11
     
    CitizenMap - a South China Morning Post initiative is a web-based reporting tool which geo-maps news, community generated media and other local citizen reports throughout Hong Kong and the South China region. Its primary focus is environmental incidents including; the illegal dumping of waste, unauthorised construction and the removal of native plantation. Moving forward, CitizenMap will eventually branch out to include other topics in the future. CitizenMap utilises an array of online services such as; Google Maps, Twitter, Flickr and other Web 2.0 features like tagging, verifications and geo-mapping to encourage local participation and information sharing among the community. Although CitizenMap is not directly linked to the coordination of political demonstrations, it can still be a useful tool for environmental activists. The documented evidence contained within this web service can act as ammunition for protestors and further fuel their campaigns - especially once the report is official verified by the South China Morning Post. Example includes green groups challenging the HK Environment Bureau over a flawed policy which will allow a 5 hectare clearing to be used as landfill. Another incident involves journalism students providing photographic evidence that details the illegal dumping of waste in a Mong Tseng Wai pond (Reports, 2011). Encouraging the community to engage in citizen journalism surrounding environmental issues is an effective way to promote accountability, responsibility and the notion to 'think green' among the community. CitizenMap. (2011). Retrieved from: http://citizenmap.scmp.com/main Reports. (2011). CitizenMap. Retrieved April 15, 2011, from: http://citizenmap.scmp.com/reports/view/238
  • alio S on 17 Apr 11
     
    [Part 1] The CitizenMap, created by Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP), is a good example of a combination of crowd sourcing and crisis mapping. According to Blogger Jennifer Jett, the project's aim is to make up for the shortfall in staffing at Honk Kong's planning and lands departments. Jett wrote on her blog that "Almost 60 percent of government investigations into improper land use stem from citizen complaints, and the percentage rises to 90 percent for dumping". The SCMP mapping project's use of crowd sourcing to report illegal and polluting acts, therefore meets an identified need within the Hong Kong community. The South China Citizen's map uses an open source crowd-sourcing tool called Ushahidi to map environmental issues in Hong Kong. The Citizen Map site's tag line "For Hong Kong by Hong Kong" suggests ownership of both the project and the land itself by the people, it invites citizens to report instances of environmental destruction and disputed land use. As such it is a form of citizen surveillance. The map is interactive; sites of improper land use are pinpointed on a map by the placement of circles, the larger the circle, the larger the number of reports there are for a particular incident. Clicking a within a circle opens a dialogue box with brief details, clicking within that box opens an incident report page containing more comprehensive details including photographs and the option to append further details to the report. The act of digitally mapping and tagging environmental events provides the citizenry with a widely accessible forum for complaint, and the prospect of exerting some form of power over their environment.
  • alio S on 17 Apr 11
     
    [Part 2] References: Citizen Map (2010). Retrieved from: http://citizenmap.scmp.com/main Jett, J. (2010) SCMP uses citizen reporting to map environmental destruction. Retrieved from: http://jennjettkw.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/scmp-uses-citizen-reporting-to-map-environmental-destruction/ Ushahidi (2010). Retrieved from: http://www.ushahidi.com/
Amy B

Hi. Meet Pozible. - 0 views

www.pozible.com.au

ouaNet308-2011 Collaboration net308 tools resources crowd-sourcing crowd-funding

shared by Amy B on 17 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    Crowdfunding creative projects and ideas Australia's 1st crowdfunding platform developed for creative individuals, groups and organisations. Pozible declares itself a new platform for crowd-funding community and creative projects; 'developed for artists, musicians, filmmakes, journalists, designers, entrepreneurs, inventors, event organises, software developers and all creative minded people to raise funds, realise their aspirations and make great things possible' (About Pozible, n.d.). As a design, the website is clean, clear, and dynamic, articulating its purpose and guiding visitors easily to content. However the most interesting content is concealed away upon first load and only exposed when a visitor 'uncovers' it, presenting a slideshow of success stories detailing the amount earned by each project from how many supporters, ranging from over $175k from 1145 supporters for an independent journalism project to $786 from 13 supporters for a short film production. The site instead displays by default the current, on-going projects in need of funding, including the amount raised so far, the percentage of the overall goal that amount equates, and how many days remain for the project to achieve their projects goal. A section below the featured projects displays the weeks Top Supporters, providing a reward for generous supporters through public recognition. On the first page visitors can find evidence of success stories, creative projects in need of their support, and see the acknowledgement afforded to supporters.
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    The 'Intro Video' does not give greater detail, but the website claims to have been featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, ABC, CREATIVE, and mybusiness. No direct links to these articles are included. Delving deeper into the site following the main menu links reveals more information and articles about crowd-funding, more projects and options to arrange and search, as well as guidelines, tips, and FAQs. 'Got a project. Need funding?' Follow the banner to get an invitation. You will need to apply for an invitation. Pozible. (n.d.) Hi. Meet Pozible. Retrieved from http://www.pozible.com.au.
alio S

Project: Carousel! » How to organise a successful student protest using onlin... - 1 views

www.projectcarousel.org/...ent-protest-using-online-tools

net308 protests student 'online tools'

shared by alio S on 13 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • alio S on 13 Apr 11
     
    Project: Carousel! » How to organise a successful student protest using online tools The author of this article is Pontus Westerberg is a member of the Project Carousel! Team, "a student-led online community working under the auspices of the Centre for Media and Film Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London". This brief article advises student protesters which online tools may be useful for organising protests and keeping protesters informed. The recommended tools include Twitter, blogs, video, plus online mapping tools. The article also recommends creating a central node, such as a website to tie all these disparate elements together, and as an example links to the UCL occupation page (http://www.ucloccupation.com/), which shows an example of this being done. Westerberg gives an overview on the use of Twitter hashtags to organise protest conversations, making them easier to keep track of, citing examples of these such as the #demo2010 that was used to organise conversations around the student protest that took place on the 24th October 2010. The 140 character limitation imposed by Twitter, also makes Blogs an attractive online tool for protest, offering a forum where ideas and issues can be disseminated and discussed in a lengthier format. Westerberg also provides examples showing the effectiveness of images and video in getting a message across, and indicates that there are benefits in utilising humour and encouraging user generated content. Overall the article provides basic information, but links to quite a few interesting examples of sites and tools that are being used by the student protest movement in the United Kingdom. References: Westerberg, P. (2010). How to organise a successful student protest using online tools. Retrieved from: http://www.projectcarousel.org/2010/11/how-to-organise-a-successful-s
  • ...1 more comment...
  • Jocelyn Peucker on 14 Apr 11
     
    Thanks for sharing this article Alio. It is very interesting to learn of yet another different culture group where people have taken to using social networking for the purpose of people power and creating protests. This is along the same lines of the organisation I have chosen; however, on a different scale. You stated in your above comment, "The recommended tools include Twitter, blogs, video, plus online mapping tools. The article also recommends creating a central node, such as a website to tie all these disparate elements together" (Alio S, 2011). How true is that? The main site for Avaaz (2011), also acts as a central node with its main branches being Email, Twitter and Facebook. The author of your chosen article, Pontus Westerberg seems to be very interested in "interested in how the web can be used for social good, the 'death' (or not) of journalism and ICT for development" (Westerberg, n.d.), and has written a number of articles pertaining to social media, activism and more. When I began researching for this project, I did attempt to find out how to set up a protest, but I obviously was not searching with the write keywords. I have found this article to be useful for not just understanding a protest, but also aids in how to create one. References: Alio S. (2011). How to organise a successful student protest using online tools. Project: Carousel. Diigo - oua_net308_2011 group. Retrieved from http://groups.diigo.com/group/oua_net308_2011 Avaaz.org. (2011).The World in Action. Retrieved from http://www.avaaz.org/en Westerberg, P. (n.d.). Articles by Pontus Westerberg. Project: Carousel. Retrieved from http://www.projectcarousel.org/author/pontus/ Westerberg, P. (2010). How to organise a successful st
  • Josh van de Scheur on 14 Apr 11
     
    This article from the Project Carousel website is a step by step guide describing how to organize "a successful protest using online tools" (Westerberg, P. 2010). It was created specifically for student activists however it would be adaptable to many forms of online collaboration since it shows efficient strategies for creating independent networks using free web services and social networking tools. This is similar to a guide describing how to create localized 'cell' based networks from 'Tools to help the Revolutions Part II - Online resistance cell organization', an article that I have posted to Diigo. Both of these guides explain practical methods for creating and working across decentralized networks, focusing on free online resources and web services. They also identify the primary need for a central point of contact (or node) which is connected to multiple communication and content sharing websites (as satellite services). These methods of collaboration describe "local cells that keep in touch through their decentralized networks" (anon, 2011), yet they are also effective ways to organize, manage and create widely accessible and secure channels for global communications. Both articles show techniques that allow a group to form strong and flexible networks with like minded people from across world. Refeences anon. (2011) 'Tools to help the Revolutions Part II - Online resistance cell organization'. Anonymous Hamburg. 23rd of February 2011. Available from: http://hamburger-anon.blogspot.com/2011/02/tools-to-help-revolutions-part-ii.html Westerberg, P. (2010). How to organise a successful student protest using online tools. Available from: http://www.projectcarousel.org/2010/11/how-to-organise-a-successful-student-protest-using-online-tools/
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    Project Carousel is a 'student-led online community based at the Centre for Media and Film Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London' (Project Carousel, n.d.). The article was written Pontus Westerberg in 2010, during the student protests regarding student fees. It was written as a how-to guide to help would-be protesters make the most of social media to add their voices to the campaign in an open, transparent way. Westerberg is less informational and more instructional in his advice to establish a profile using popular social media tools like Twitter, with hashtags, creating a blog and making videos, making a particular point to be humorous at the expense of authority. 'Do something funny', suggesting that positive attention may be garnered through fun and humour. Unlike the Anonymous movement, Project Carousel appears to endorse, if not outright encourage, transparent participation with user-generated content and boldly putting faces and names toward the campaign. The points made in the article may seem obvious, but new inductees to the social media mechanism, eager to participate, would find these easy-to-follow steps a clear guide to joining the protests and being heard. Though not a crowd-funding or crowd-sourcing tool, it does provide a useful guide to generating interest from 'the crowd', be it a personal project or a community-conscious endeavour.. Westerberg, P. (2010). How to organise a successful student protest using online tools. Project: Carousel!. Retrieved from http://www.projectcarousel.org/2010/11/how-to-organise-a-successful-student-protest-using-online-tools/.
Tessa Gutierrez

Nye, J. (2010). Global Power Shifts - 0 views

www.ted.com/...ye_on_global_power_shifts.html

OUANET308 NYE Global Power Shifts soft power collaboration organizations networks Flash Mobs

shared by Tessa Gutierrez on 06 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Tessa Gutierrez on 06 Apr 11
     
    [Please note: This comment is in two parts due to Diigo restrictions on length] The global climate is experiencing both a "power transition," and a "power diffusion." This TED Talk is useful to studies of flash mobs because it shows that individuals and organizations no longer need vast amounts of money to network and collaborate globally with others. Additionally, Nye highlights the fact that traditional patterns of leadership will not work effectively today and that in order for an organization to progress and be proactive, a mix of traditional strength and power infused with "soft power" is required. The rise of the Internet and mobile computer-generated communication has assisted the average person to gain the same potential power that was once the exclusive domain of large corporations and wealthy individuals. "Computing and communication costs have fallen a thousandfold between 1970 and the beginning of this century." This power diffusion is within reach for all of us but people are still not thinking of these tools in very innovative ways. People are still focusing on the rise and fall of great powers, which really only tell us about psychology and not reality. Traditional projections such as the Goldman-Sachs index are linear and one-dimensional. However the progress of the world has never been linear, and has always been comprised of many diverse facets or factors. So these simplified projections are not telling the truth about the way the economy is progressing. The area of narrative is what needs to be adjusted, using what Nye calls "soft power" or the ability to organize networks and elicit co-operation, which are important factors when organizing the delivery of Flash Mobs. [Please navigate to the comment uploaded on April 11, 2011]
  • Keith Law on 07 Apr 11
     
    The Impact of TED on Collaboration and Innovation. http://www.ted.com/talks/chris_anderson_how_web_video_powers_global_innovation.html A great source of serious and diverse material on a wide range of topics is the website TED - Ideas worth Spreading. The first step in collaboration is to create a wide ranging appreciation of the subject matter. Before people can commit to task they need to have an information source that establishes the underlying ideas. In this talk TED's Chris Anderson says the rise of web video is driving a worldwide phenomenon he calls Crowd Accelerated Innovation -- a self-fueling cycle of learning that could be as significant as the invention of print. One of the points that reverberate with most people is Chris' statement that: "Face-to-face communication has been fine-tuned by millions of years of evolution. That's what's made it into this mysterious, powerful thing it is. Someone speaks, there's resonance in all these receiving brains, the whole group acts together." Chris concludes that thousands of people are figuring out new ways to collaborate with increasing knowledge and he describes what the next stage of TED's evolution has to be. He says that TED Talks can't be a one-way process, one-to-many. The future is many-to-many. They are looking at ways to make it easier for the global TED community, to respond to speakers, to contribute ideas, and maybe even their own TED Talks. It is this spreading of Ideas that underlay the age of Internet collaboration. This is the source of power diffusion that Nye talks about. "I'm an idealist. I really think people can change the world" Ted Curator Chris Anderson http://www.ted.com/speakers/chris_anderson_ted.html Works Cited Anderson, C. (2010, Septemebr). How web video powers global innovation. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from TED: http://www.ted.com/talks/chris_anderson_how_web_video_powers_global_innovation.html
  • Tessa Gutierrez on 11 Apr 11
     
    [Part 2 of comment from April 6, 2011] Topic of Study: Flash Mobs. As we prepare for the future, the ability to co-operate, collaborate, and organize networks is going to be of prime importance. This does not mean that "hard power" or military strength and keeping a balance is not important, but that the concept of power needs to be incorporated with new and innovative ways of power diffusion. Therefore the ability to use all available tools and coordinate input from globally networked areas will be vital for businesses and organizations to keep abreast of trends and capture market attention. For example, spontaneous acts of people-powered crowd activity such as those of Flash Mobs (that rely on social media use and Internet enabled technology) if used for advertising purposes, will enable subtle and more overt messages to be broadcast in unusual ways and possibly capturing more market attention for the product or service than more traditional methods. REFERENCES Nye, J. (2010). Global Power Shifts. TED Talks. Filmed July 2010. Posted October 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2011 from: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/joseph_nye_on_global_power_shifts.html
alio S

Sukey apps built to help protesters avoid police kettles (Wired UK) - 3 views

www.wired.co.uk/...sukey-protest-app

net308 resistance mobile kettling sukey

shared by alio S on 14 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • alio S on 14 Apr 11
     
    "Sukey apps help protesters avoid police kettles" Sukey is a recently developed online tool for protesters. It is made up of a suite of applications that allow protesters to either submit or access information about police presence on roads or junctions during protests. Sukey can be accessed and updated online from any connected computer and also via mobile phones, meaning that protesters potentially have access to relevant information no matter where they are. There are two flavours of Sukey for mobiles, smart phones with GPS and Internet browsers can use the "Roar" version of Sukey which includes helpful graphics like a compass and an interactive google map (Doctrow 2011). The "Growl" version of the application is suitable for older mobile phones and is basically an SMS update service. Information is gathered by people on site at protests, from specially tagged Twitter comments, from news broadcast footage and geotagged photos from Flickr. Location information can also be submitted via Google Latitude or by SMS. This crowd-sourced information is intended to allow protesters to make informed decisions and hopefully avoid kettling. Kettling is a practice used by police whereby protesters are surrounded and confined, sometimes for hours on end without access to food, shelter or toilet facilities. At present the platform is only available in London, but the developers have plans to release national and international versions. References: Doctrow, C. (2011). Sukey: an anti-kettling app for student demonstrators in London. Retrieved from: http://boingboing.net/2011/01/28/sukey-an-anti-kettli.html Geere, D. (2011). Sukey apps help protesters avoid police kettles. Retrieved from: http
  • Alan Beazley on 15 Apr 11
     
    Thank you for sharing Alio. This is the first I have heard of Sukey and after reading Geere's blog post, I can really appreciate its usefulness throughout political demonstrations, in particularly the recent protests in Egypt. After some further research it appears Sukey emerged on January 27, 2011, two days after the initial January 25th 2011, Egypt demonstrations; however, there appears to be no connection between the two. The purpose of Sukey is to improve communications during protests and to counter the act of kettling, a crowd management tactic used by police that involves cornering protestors in a confined space with only one possible - normally guarded - exit (Kingsley, 2011). Sukey facilitates this through the amalgamation of information sources such as; Google Latitude, Geo tagged Flickr photos, Twitter and television news, feeding the content to web enabled phones or for a small fee traditional SMS. Throughout the Egypt uprising, there were many instances of kettling captured on video and submitted to YouTube - as per the below links. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXbRdumboZ0&feature=related. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xWiBCIxjIk&feature=related If available at the time Sukey may have been an advantageous asset to Egyptian activists. It can be argued that the police clashes - which resulted in numerous injuries and 125 deaths - could have been minimized if protestors had access to real-time information indicating police strategies. It is worth mentioning that Sukey would have been effective up to the point the Internet and mobile networks were shut down by Egyptian authorities. Provided there is robust communication infrastructure is in place, Sukey proves to be a powerful participatory tool that has the potential to reduce injuries and fatalities throughout demonstrations. Geere, D. (January 31, 2011). Sukey apps help protesters avoid police kettles: Wired [Blog Post]. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from, http://www.wired.co.uk/
Josh van de Scheur

Anonymous Hamburg: Tools to help the Revolutions Part II - Online resistance cell organ... - 1 views

hamburger-anon.blogspot.com/...-help-revolutions-part-ii.html

ouaNet308-2011 anonymous collaboration tools resources network localized cell

shared by Josh van de Scheur on 06 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Josh van de Scheur on 06 Apr 11
     
    This article presents tools and strategies for setting up collaborative networks in the form of localized resistance 'cells'. Anonymous use this system of local and semi-independent networks as storage points for resources and to maintain its global communications beyond larger web services. It is these "autonomously acting local cells" that allow Anonymous to keep "resources, videos, pictures, and most important (their) protest and resistance organization online"(anon, 2011). While these strategies have resulted from challenging oppressive political regimes and fighting to maintain freedom of information, the ideas can be adapted to working in more general and everyday online environments. Anonymous see small local groups acting as autonomous and self-reliant parts of a larger network, to make the entire structure stronger and more resilient as a whole. Their tactics have grown "organically in cyberspace rather than reflecting the cyber version of existing real world phenomena" (Keane, B, 2011) and show how local sub-groups can effectively create strong, flexible networks when collaborating on a global scale. Some of the major advantages of working in a localized cell are identified as being "Local organization only needs a local focus" (anon, 2011), hinting at the benefits of a simpler organizational structure; "You can continue the fight as a team even if cut of from all the other protesters/activists"(anon, 2011), which if adapted to collaboration in general suggests more resilient and efficient networks; and "you can gather resources there, videos pics, voice files, flyers and re-upload it from there if you lose resources to deletion or block"(anon, 2011), showing the benefits of decentralized networks as both data protection and archiving tools. References anon. (2011) 'Tools to help the Revolutions Part II - Online resistance cell organization'. Anonymous Hamburg. 23rd of February 2011. Available from: http://hamburger-anon.blog
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    Anonymous, being a decentralised network, relies upon the interest of tech savvy individuals to contribute to their campaigns. When challenged by legal representatives of the targets of their attacks, such as the 'Cult of Scientology' (Anonymous, 2011), their efforts to disseminate information through mainstream channels may be thwarted by take-down notices. In the case presented in this article hosted by Blogspot, they admit to having been frustrated by such interference with distributing videoes, pictures, and other resources online (Anonymous, 2011). The blog entry continues with offering alternatives and suggestions for anyone interested in contributing to Anonymous' on-going campaigns, providing advice and recommendations for useful tools and techniques. It outlines the advantages to contributing in the online movement, such as 'continue the fight as a team even if cut off from all the other protesters/activists' (Anonymous, 2011), suggesting a reward through participation, which is a prime motivator for other online crowd-sourcing initiatives (Belleflamme, Lambert, & Schwienbacher, 2011). The article proceeds to then explain how a user can participate by listing potential resources the assist without danger of being identified, and caught, suggesting such websites as wall.fm, noting that the service probably has a server farm that won't suffer in the event of a Distributed Denial of Service attack. It also explains how to create a social network, including links to free domain registration services, and free webhosting, to facilitate the potential new member of the Anonymous network into building an online resistance cell. Anonymous Hamburg. (2011). We do what we must, because we can. Retrieved from http://hamburger-anon.blogspot.com/2011/02/tools-to-help-revolutions-part-ii.html. Belleflamme, P., Lambert, T., & Schwienbacher, A. (2011). Tapping the Right Crowd. Retrieved from http://ssrn.com/abstract=157817.
Jocelyn Peucker

Avaaz - The World in Action - 3 views

www.avaaz.org/index.php

online activism new media publishing Avaaz tools collaboration organisation smart mobs petitions funding people power politics net308

shared by Jocelyn Peucker on 11 Apr 11 - Cached
  • Jocelyn Peucker on 11 Apr 11
     
    "Avaaz is a global web movement to bring people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere" (Avaaz.org, 2011). Avaaz means voice, in "... several European, Middle Eastern and Asian languages" (Avaaz.org, 2011a). This is not a website where you need to prove your credentials or log in to be a member. However, it is one of the most powerful and influential organisations in the world. The Avaaz community "... empowers millions of people from all walks of life to take action on pressing global, regional and national issues, from corruption and poverty to conflict and climate change" (Avaaz.org, 2011a). Their online platform "... allows thousands of individual efforts, however small, to be rapidly combined into a powerful collective force" (Avaaz.org, 2011a). The Avaaz community supports campaigns in 14 languages, has a core team on 4 continents, includes thousands of volunteers. Overall, the community helps organise the signing of petitions, funding media campaigns and direct actions, contact through emailing, calling and lobbying governments, and organizing "offline" protests and events. They do this to "... ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform the decisions that affect us all" (Avaaz, 2011a). Two very good examples of the strength of the community include: * Stand With Anna Hazare (Avaaz.org, 2011b) shows of a petition where over 624,876 people have signed since the campaign launched on the 7th April, 2011. Before the goal of one million signatures was reached, a victory has been announced. * Blackout-proof the protests (Avaaz.org, 2011c) is a current petition to "...secure satellite modems and phones, tiny video cameras, and portable radio transmitters, plus expert support teams on the ground -- to enable
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  • Jocelyn Peucker on 11 Apr 11
     
    activists to broadcast live video feeds even during internet and phone blackouts" (Avaaz.org, 2011c). This is a campaign to raise monies through 30,000 donors. Many more of their success stories can be viewed on the highlights page of the Avaaz website, success stories from the Avaaz movement worldwide (Avaaz.org, 2011d). References: Avaaz.org. (2011a).The World in Action Retrieved from http://www.avaaz.org/en/about.php Avaaz.org. (2011b). Stand With Anna Hazare [Petition]. Retrieved from http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_anna_hazare/ Avaaz.org. (2011c). Blackout-proof the protests [Fund-raising]. Retrieved from https://secure.avaaz.org/en/blackout_proof_the_protests/?vc Avaaz.org. (2011d). Success stories from the Avaaz movement worldwide. Retrieved from http://www.avaaz.org/en/highlights.php
  • Hans Dusink on 14 Apr 11
     
    The opening statement to this web site reads " Avaaz is a global movement to bring people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere" (Avaaz.org, 2011) Immediately the reader is in no doubt that this is an organisation that is able to bring together large numbers of people to influence governments worldwide. Like other commentators I had not been aware of this organisation and spent some time researching. Unlike flash mobs and Anonymous, it appears that Avaaz has a formal structure and employs staff. As their website points out the staff write email alerts to the community and work with experts to develop campaign strategies (Avaaz.org, 2011). But it is the Avaaz community that decide where and how to campaign. This is very reminiscent of the Australian Democrats, where all policies are decided by a poll of members (Australian Democrats, 2011). Flash mobs occur in local communities, but the global nature of Avaaz means that this can be magnified to call attention to new issues on a worldwide or country-by-country basis if needed. The key to Avaaz, flash mobs and Anonymous is the use of Internet communication Technology. As the Avaaz website points out in "previous times each group would need to build up a constituency to reach a scale that could make a difference….Today thanks to new technology and ….. global interdependence this constraint no longer applies" (Avaaz.org, 2011). Australian Democrats.(2011). Structure of the Australian Democrats. Retrieved from http://www.democrats.org.au/about/structure.htm Avaaz.org.(2011). The World in Action. Retrieved from http://www.avaaz.org/en/about.php
  • Josh van de Scheur on 16 Apr 11
     
    Avaaz's systems of collaboration allow decentralized networks to form around community and global projects, " ...(taking) action on pressing global, regional and national issues, from corruption and poverty to conflict and climate change" (Avaaz 2011). The Avaaz community, like Anonymous, are examples of how decentralized networks of like-minded individuals are capable of achieving common goals. The influences and successes that these groups are currently having regarding the sharing of global resources and fighting for basic human rights and freedoms of information show how powerful these network structures can be. The strength and flexibility of collective intelligence networks such as Avaaz and Anonymous is found in the diversity of their participants. For example, Avaaz uses methods that "allows thousands of individual efforts, however small, to be rapidly combined into a powerful collective force" (Avaaz 2011). Similarly, Anonymous is "a loose network of people with shared values and varying skill sets" (Anonymous, 2011). Like all collective intelligence networks, every member of these groups is acknowledged as having valuable skills that can benefit the community - so a method of harnessing this is input has been developed. However Avaaz and Anonymous use different techniques regarding how they attempt to achieve their goals. Avaaz use socially and politically transparent methods of traditional protest such as "signing petitions, funding media campaigns and direct actions, emailing, calling and lobbying governments, and organizing "offline" protests and events". In contrast, Anonymous are notorious for their use of "distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks" using software such as 'Low Orbit Ion Cannon'; or 'LOIC' (see, Arthur, C. 2010). These different ways of collaborating online show that while "the social, political and technological environment has developed, some have already begun to explore new options, seizing new chances
  • Amy B on 17 Apr 11
     
    Avaaz addresses global issues to generate global interest in improved conditions - globally. The world in action (Avaaz.org). Available in fourteen different language, it encourages borderless interest in issues relevant locally and internationally, promoting campaigns to 'close the gap between the world we have and the world most people everywhere want' (About Avaaz, n.d.). Avaaz is to the world what GetUp! is doing for Australia, including its policy on transparency, evidenced in the availability of financial reports, member statistics, and its member-funded, crowd-sourced model. Rather than a distributed, region-dependent staff and budget, Avaaz has a 'single, global team with a mandate to work on any issue of public concern' (Avaaz.org, n.d.). It is Avaaz members who decide where to direct resources The website projects a sense of global community, as much in being available in so many languages as in movements presented on every page heralding from many different countries representing the plights of many and varied communities. Avaaz is a global example of social awareness instigating social movements, easily promoted through the connectivity of the internet and the tools for social networking, to create a better world. Websites and movements for campaigns such as Avaaz and GetUp! Australia are helping to raise awareness and reclaim power for the people. Avaaz.org.(2011). The World in Action. Retrieved from http://www.avaaz.org. GetUp. (n.d.) GetUp! Retrieved from http://www.getup.org.au.
  • Kellie Ramm on 30 Apr 11
     
    As yet another online resource for the "lounge chair activist" Avaaz.org seems to cover it all. Whether you're interested in saving the whales, climate change, gay rights or donating to flood victims, there is a cause available for you. Avaaz, started in 2007 with the mission to "organise citizens of all nations to close the gap between the world we have and the world most people everywhere want" (Avaaz.org, 2011). So far they seem to be achieving this goal. With over 8 million members worldwide, who have so far taken over 38 "actions" this is a website that seems to be doing what it's promised. To ensure that there is no underlying bias, no political voice hiding behind the curtains, Avaaz ensures there is "democratic accountability" by being 100% member-funded. It is mainly staffed by volunteers, who email actions to members in way that registers interest in the project and nothing more. These actions are also normally put forward by Avaaz members themselves, rather than outside parties. Avaaz, like BOINC, relies on word-of-mouth to spread the word. Also using social network sites to keep up the interest between members. Their hope is that once someone joins through a campaign for one specific issue, that they will then continue to support other actions. To prove their success, after "China's violent crackdown on the March '08' protests and riots in Tibet"(Avaaz, 2011) Avaaz was able to build the most successful global position to date. They were able to achieve 1.5 million signatures in just three weeks calling for dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama. Whether you just sign a petition or donate money, having so many available voices ensures that Avaaz will make it count. As stated by Zainab Bangura, the foreign minister of Sierra Leone "Avaaz is an ally, and a rallying place, for disadvantaged people everywhere to help create real change"(Avaaz, 2011). Avaaz.org. (2011). Avaaz.org: The World in Action. R
Helen Pidoulas

Flash Mobs: The Feel Good Phenomenon of the 21st Century : CharValiant - 0 views

www.cvnewspaper.com/...phenomenon-of-the-21st-century

flashmob.tv the show

shared by Helen Pidoulas on 23 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • Helen Pidoulas on 23 Apr 11
     
    Flash mobs have been around since 2003, the full power of their reach has not really been felt until a mix of social media like Facebook and Twitter came into effect to help to coordinate events and spread the word. A mix of this and viral video tools like Youtube help to spread the story worldwide in a very short time frame. The organisation of early flash mob performances used to rely on text messages to spread the message. However, these days the internet and social media have made the coordination and the spreading of the message much quicker and it allows for many more networking opportunities. Costs of performances and production are kept to a minimum, with no need to buy air time. An interesting side-effect of viral videos these days is that the video will most often be displayed on television for free anyway, doing away with the need to pay for advertising air time, and has given rise to television programs dedicated to flash mob tv in places like Germany (Flashmob.tv, 2011). Flashmob.tv, (2011). The Show. Retrieved from http://www.flashmob.tv/en/the_show.php
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  • Helen Pidoulas on 23 Apr 11
     
    Flash mobs have been around since 2003, the full power of their reach has not really been felt until a mix of social media like Facebook and Twitter came into effect to help to coordinate events and spread the word. A mix of this and viral video tools like Youtube help to spread the story worldwide in a very short time frame. The organisation of early flash mob performances used to rely on text messages to spread the message. However, these days the internet and social media have made the coordination and the spreading of the message much quicker and it allows for many more networking opportunities. Costs of performances and production are kept to a minimum, with no need to buy air time. An interesting side-effect of viral videos these days is that the video will most often be displayed on television for free anyway, doing away with the need to pay for advertising air time, and has given rise to television programs dedicated to flash mob tv in places like Germany (Flashmob.tv, 2011). Flashmob.tv, (2011). The Show. Retrieved from http://www.flashmob.tv/en/the_show.php
  • Kellie Ramm on 27 Apr 11
     
    This resource, found in the Char Valiant School Newspaper, discusses flash mobs. Flash mobs, a more recent occurrence, are a group of people who meet at a predetermined public location to do a spontaneous performance (often something of a theatrical nature like a song or dance), and then disperse into the crowd at the end. Flash mobs are usually instigated online, using various forms of online media to organise and coordinate the event. This can include mobile phones, email, and social networking sites. Although these "events started out as a way for these groups to mock the conformity of the general population", they have "instead become a symbol of spontaneity and fun around the world"(CharValiant, 2011). Flash Mobs have also become a form of advertising. T-Mobile has used this form of theatrics to their advantage, using them in several of their advertisements. Carolyn Thomas (2010) talks in her article about how T-Mobile is becoming synonymous with flash mobs, showing that the marketing campaign is working as people are instantly remembering the company name and linking it with the campaign. Australia is also getting on the flash mob advertising bandwagon, with the latest "Australian Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea" launch at Brisbane's Queen Street Mall on the 18th April, 2011 (Cancerqld, 2011) and the viral Sydney Mardi Gras campaign filmed on Bondi Beach (RockYourBox, 2009). Although the link between public resource computing and flash mobs is tenuous at best, as another current form of online collaboration it is still well worth a mention. As public resource computing relies heavily on word-of-mouth advertising to increase its member numbers by using things like social-networking sites, so too does flash mob advertising rely on "going viral" through similar word-of-mouth usage.
  • Kellie Ramm on 27 Apr 11
     
    Written by Caci Murphy, a Senior at Chartiers Valley High School(CharValiant, 2011), this resource is not necessarily as reliable a source as perhaps other more researched papers. Although well written, and factually accurate, a high school senior would be lacking both the technological knowledge and life experience to give an accurate view point to make this an authoritative resource. Cancerqld. (2011). Australia's Biggest Morning Tea Flash Mob. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w07Nq2h55Xo CharValiant. (2011). The CharValiant Staff. Retrieved from http://www.cvnewspaper.com/staff/ CharValiant. (2011). Flash Mobs: The Feel Good Phenomenon of the 21st Century. Retrieved from http://www.cvnewspaper.com/news/2011/03/14/flash-mobs-the-feel-good-phenomenon-of-the-21st-century/ RockYourBox. (2009). Say Cheese! Flash Mob On Bondi Beach [OFFICIAL]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao4DkbGbxl0 Thomas, C. (2010). T-Mobile and the flash mob marketing phenomenon. Retrieved from http://ethicalnag.org/2010/11/04/flash-mob/
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