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My work and interests from [http://zooid.org/~vid/io/short_history_of_io.html way back] have revolved around developing participatory systems. I'm a strong believer in government, but today's service oriented bureaucracy, with many gatekeepers and alpha-leaders, is just wrong. I want to help get people involved any way they can. So I focus on digital systems and literacy, trying to make Web based systems that are read-write, not brochures. Digital literacy goes well beyond filling in forms, people should be learning about hypertext, content policies, what's happening behind the scenes. Wikis have been a key tool; I used to develop low-level custom software (source code and database stuff) but now I find [http://semantic-mediawiki.org/ Semantic Mediawiki] has ways to do most of the things groups need, while preserving the ideals of wiki. Wiki is Hawaiian for quick, while wiki systems can be used for restricted Web publishing, their best application is to allow anyone to quickly edit, as well as follow the low level development of a site, and make activity and content transparent. Semantic Mediawiki adds in database features, which makes managing structured data easier, so a wiki can contain both free-form pages and reusable data like tables, events, map data, and so on. (see more thoughts [[SMW as Lego blocks|here]].) Add in a [http://www.creativecommons.org clear and fair content license] and it's a pretty good model for shared public data. | My work and interests from [http://zooid.org/~vid/io/short_history_of_io.html way back] have revolved around developing participatory systems. I'm a strong believer in government, but today's service oriented bureaucracy, with many gatekeepers and alpha-leaders, is just wrong. I want to help get people involved any way they can. So I focus on digital systems and literacy, trying to make Web based systems that are read-write, not brochures. Digital literacy goes well beyond filling in forms, people should be learning about hypertext, content policies, what's happening behind the scenes. Wikis have been a key tool; I used to develop low-level custom software (source code and database stuff) but now I find [http://semantic-mediawiki.org/ Semantic Mediawiki] has ways to do most of the things groups need, while preserving the ideals of wiki. Wiki is Hawaiian for quick, while wiki systems can be used for restricted Web publishing, their best application is to allow anyone to quickly edit, as well as follow the low level development of a site, and make activity and content transparent. It does get complicated, but a good wiki will have ways for anyone to quickly participate, supporting diverse roles and interests. Semantic Mediawiki adds in database features, which makes managing structured data easier, so a wiki can contain both free-form pages and reusable data like tables, events, map data, and so on. (see more thoughts [[SMW as Lego blocks|here]].) Add in a [http://www.creativecommons.org clear and fair content license] and it's a pretty good model for shared public data. | ||
I expect the long term results to be significant. As data becomes more linked, quality will increase, and like a puzzle missing pieces will become evident. With the ability to easily find out answers, useful participation will become something like playing video games, using Facebook, or stamp collecting; creating fun visualizations, adding data, asking simple questions, fulfilling our natural desires to organize in commonly useful ways. It will include young and old people. The only thing holding this revolution back is cynicism. | I expect the long term results to be significant. As data becomes more linked, quality will increase, and like a puzzle, missing pieces will become evident. With the ability to easily find out answers, useful participation will become something like playing video games, using Facebook, or stamp collecting; creating fun visualizations, adding data, asking simple questions, fulfilling our natural desires to organize in commonly useful ways, making our systems better organized and linked. It will include young and old people. The only thing holding this revolution back is cynicism. | ||
Among the many examples of participatory culture, http://www.openfile.ca is a standout. It's a geographically focused "newspaper" that follows up on community submitted stories, and encourages full community participation in their development. They don't wiki, but they use a Creative Commons license. The [http://data.gov.uk/wiki/RDF UK], led by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee Tim Berners-Lee] (a truly great man), also appears to be sincerely attacking publishing their data in re-usable formats in an open way. Along with many other government initiatives, open inquiry individual and citizen group efforts. Unfortunately, many businesses and non profits still take an opaque, silo approach. | Among the many examples of participatory culture, http://www.openfile.ca is a standout. It's a geographically focused "newspaper" that follows up on community submitted stories, and encourages full community participation in their development. They don't wiki, but they use a Creative Commons license. The [http://data.gov.uk/wiki/RDF UK], led by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee Tim Berners-Lee] (a truly great man), also appears to be sincerely attacking publishing their data in re-usable formats in an open way. Along with many other government initiatives, open inquiry individual and citizen group efforts. Unfortunately, many businesses and non profits still take an opaque, silo approach. | ||
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I am called a Fellow at the [http://www.innovationcell.com Health Innovation Cell]] in Toronto. The group analyzes technology and social innovation to make recommendations and implement interventions to make the health system more responsive and efficient. I'm quite happy with the web site, from it's [http://www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia-inspired] front page (great inspiration, [http://www.twitter.com/carlosrizo Carlos]), to use of wiki to manage content, to its potential as a linked data participant. Good projects are under development, and Innovation Cell has also been a strong promoter, in the health field, of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference Unconference], participant led conferences. | I am called a Fellow at the [http://www.innovationcell.com Health Innovation Cell]] in Toronto. The group analyzes technology and social innovation to make recommendations and implement interventions to make the health system more responsive and efficient. I'm quite happy with the web site, from it's [http://www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia-inspired] front page (great inspiration, [http://www.twitter.com/carlosrizo Carlos]), to use of wiki to manage content, to its potential as a linked data participant. Good projects are under development, and Innovation Cell has also been a strong promoter, in the health field, of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference Unconference], participant led conferences. | ||
Speaking of Unconference, I'm participating in [http://wwww.rococo2010.org Rococo 2010], a wiki and Open Spaces (very similar to unconference) event in Montréal June 25 - 27. Judging from a recent Open Sspaces event, it should be great. | |||
I'm also an associate of [http://www.equalit.ie Equalit.ie], a technical human rights support group, supporting the technical platform and helping to develop a wiki based publishing system. | I'm also an associate of [http://www.equalit.ie Equalit.ie], a technical human rights support group, supporting the technical platform and helping to develop a wiki based publishing system. | ||
I'm also helping bootstrap [http://www.asiancanadianwiki.org Asian Canadian Wiki], today it looks ugly but has some good content and eventually I expect a vital resource. | I'm also helping bootstrap [http://www.asiancanadianwiki.org Asian Canadian Wiki], today it looks ugly but has some good content and eventually I expect a vital resource. | ||