Better tools for a better worldBetter tools for a better world

Because we're worth it...Because we're worth it...

About meAbout me● Hopeless from the startHopeless from the start

● I blame Lego Technix!I blame Lego Technix!

● Bought a ZX 81 @ 11 yearsBought a ZX 81 @ 11 years

● Fell for the wrong crowdFell for the wrong crowd

● The perfect fusion of The perfect fusion of

science and art should be science and art should be

served in a Martini glass...served in a Martini glass...

Language, it is a virus...Language, it is a virus...

● non-profit vs NGOnon-profit vs NGO

● fluffy, yet feralfluffy, yet feral

● what the hack?what the hack?

● community & multitudecommunity & multitude

““In the beginning the Universe was created.In the beginning the Universe was created.

This has made a lot of people very angryThis has made a lot of people very angry

and has been widely regarded as a bad move.”and has been widely regarded as a bad move.”

The spell is brokenThe spell is broken

Remember the world ending in '82?Remember the world ending in '82?

Well, it didn't...Well, it didn't...

But it did create a spirit of DIY, But it did create a spirit of DIY,

and a healthy disregard for authority, and a healthy disregard for authority,

be it traditional or of the guru kind.be it traditional or of the guru kind.

Gimme my tech !Gimme my tech !

Rediscovering radioRediscovering radio

Modem, the bookpress of our ageModem, the bookpress of our age

Ooh, and we're in university now...Ooh, and we're in university now...

No Internet? Well, let's make some.No Internet? Well, let's make some.

Fast forward a decade or so...Fast forward a decade or so...

Gov: we can't measure noiseGov: we can't measure noise

People: oh yes we canPeople: oh yes we can

Gov: but the infrastructure is not thereGov: but the infrastructure is not there

People: uh, yeah, got itPeople: uh, yeah, got it

Gov: D'oh!Gov: D'oh!

GeluidsnetGeluidsnet

The hacker mindset: combining The hacker mindset: combining random bits of information...random bits of information...

● Tropical hardwood is expensive.Tropical hardwood is expensive.

● Beancounters like to tag expensive stuffBeancounters like to tag expensive stuff

● Barcode programmers are still programmersBarcode programmers are still programmers

● The country code for Birma is 95The country code for Birma is 95

Just add psychologyJust add psychology

Two options:Two options:

A: get a small spy cameraA: get a small spy camera

B: get a friggin' big tele lens and be very visibleB: get a friggin' big tele lens and be very visible

(yes, two weeks later they switched to RFID ;-)(yes, two weeks later they switched to RFID ;-)

““[The Ident-I-Eeze] encoded every single piece of information [The Ident-I-Eeze] encoded every single piece of information

about you, your body and your life into one all-purpose machine-about you, your body and your life into one all-purpose machine-

readable card that you could then carry around in your wallet, and readable card that you could then carry around in your wallet, and

it therefore represented technology's greatest triumph to date over it therefore represented technology's greatest triumph to date over

both itself and plain common sense.”both itself and plain common sense.”

Buzzword alertBuzzword alert

We're at a paradigm shiftWe're at a paradigm shift

Adapt or perishAdapt or perish

Open source is just the beginningOpen source is just the beginning

Oh, did I mention it's great fun?Oh, did I mention it's great fun?

Bovine excrement alertBovine excrement alert

Laws of physics are pretty stableLaws of physics are pretty stable

The laws of politics even more soThe laws of politics even more so

Mind the gapMind the gap

'Weak ties – strong ties''Weak ties – strong ties'

'The Four Powers' (Within, With, To, Over)'The Four Powers' (Within, With, To, Over)

That money thing...That money thing...

““This planet has — or rather had — a problem, which was this: This planet has — or rather had — a problem, which was this:

most of the people living on it were unhappy for most of the people living on it were unhappy for

pretty much all of the time. pretty much all of the time.

Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were

largely concerned with the movement of small green pieces of paper, largely concerned with the movement of small green pieces of paper,

which was odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of which was odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of

paper that were unhappy.”paper that were unhappy.”

A new currency ?A new currency ?

$$¥¥

฿฿£ £ €€

₫₫

៛៛

₢₢

₩₩ ₪ ₪

₭₭

₮₮

₱₱ ₴₴₸₸₹₹

The most important one is missing. The minute.The most important one is missing. The minute.

Yeah, time is money, quite literally.Yeah, time is money, quite literally.

Are you completely bonkers?Are you completely bonkers?

Of course, cold hard Of course, cold hard ka-chingka-ching still counts still counts

But tech is a great equalizerBut tech is a great equalizer

Make no mistake, net and mobile are Make no mistake, net and mobile are disruptivedisruptive

NGO funding is directly related to attentionNGO funding is directly related to attention

““The History of every major Galactic Civilization tends The History of every major Galactic Civilization tends

to pass through three distinct and recognizable phases, to pass through three distinct and recognizable phases,

those of Survival, Inquiry and Sophistication, those of Survival, Inquiry and Sophistication,

otherwise known as the How, Why and Where phases.otherwise known as the How, Why and Where phases.

For instance, the first phase is characterized by the question For instance, the first phase is characterized by the question

How can we eat?How can we eat? the second by the question the second by the question Why do we eat? Why do we eat?

and the third by the question and the third by the question Where shall we have lunch?Where shall we have lunch?””

We're no major Galactic CivilizationWe're no major Galactic Civilization

So, we're doing it all at once.So, we're doing it all at once.

Sort of.Sort of.

Let's try to get away from data and tech...Let's try to get away from data and tech...

Back to the cave...Back to the cave...

Basically, we're still huddled round the fireBasically, we're still huddled round the fire

listening to storieslistening to stories

singing songssinging songs

teaching the new generation teaching the new generation

Gathering our wordsGathering our words

Crowdsourcing: even ants do itCrowdsourcing: even ants do it

Sourcing a crowdSourcing a crowd is key is key

Up against vampires: get stakeholders!Up against vampires: get stakeholders!

Location, location, location...Location, location, location...

Mobiles outnumber toothbrushes...Mobiles outnumber toothbrushes...

Tech check #1: Tech check #1:

● Keep the lines and the tools openKeep the lines and the tools open

● Walled gardens: a nicer prison?Walled gardens: a nicer prison?

● Make tech personal. And communal.Make tech personal. And communal.

● Design for simplicity. Practitioners first.Design for simplicity. Practitioners first.

● Security, that double-edged sword...Security, that double-edged sword...

““A common mistake people make when trying to A common mistake people make when trying to

design something completely foolproof is to design something completely foolproof is to

underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools..”underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools..”

A story is born...A story is born...

Sifting and sorting: it takes a villageSifting and sorting: it takes a village

Organize many eyes AND many mouthsOrganize many eyes AND many mouths

Avoid tunnel view. Upset your experts.Avoid tunnel view. Upset your experts.

Tradition: stupidity, repeated.Tradition: stupidity, repeated.

Tech check #2:Tech check #2:

● Build flexibleBuild flexible

● Don't blind with 'science'Don't blind with 'science'

● Your design can hide alternativesYour design can hide alternatives

● Collaboration is messy. Cope with that.Collaboration is messy. Cope with that.

● Yet, we have some unique experiences to offer.Yet, we have some unique experiences to offer.

● Don't stay in your safe tech hideout !Don't stay in your safe tech hideout !

Minstrels and prophets...Minstrels and prophets...

““Human beings, who are almost unique in having Human beings, who are almost unique in having

the ability to learn from the experience of others, the ability to learn from the experience of others,

are also remarkable for their are also remarkable for their

apparent disinclination to do so.”apparent disinclination to do so.”

We're definitely at the We're definitely at the “where to have lunch” stage here...“where to have lunch” stage here...

Facts: necessary, by no means sufficientFacts: necessary, by no means sufficientRemember that attention economy?Remember that attention economy?

You better work, supermodel!You better work, supermodel!(timing, beauty, urgency, relevancy, catchy...)(timing, beauty, urgency, relevancy, catchy...)

having a villain always helps...having a villain always helps...

““Nothing travels faster than the speed of lightNothing travels faster than the speed of light

with the possible exception of bad news,with the possible exception of bad news,

which obeys its own special laws.”which obeys its own special laws.”

Tech check #3:Tech check #3:““The best way to get value from data is to give it away.”The best way to get value from data is to give it away.”

Neelie Smit-KroesNeelie Smit-Kroes

● Presentation is NOT optional.Presentation is NOT optional.

● You're part of an entire orchestra.You're part of an entire orchestra.

● We not only build instruments, but play them.We not only build instruments, but play them.

● Yes, that means dealing with humans. Lots of 'em.Yes, that means dealing with humans. Lots of 'em.

““In order to fly, all one must do isIn order to fly, all one must do is

simply miss the ground.” simply miss the ground.”

OuchOuch

● The Camel & the GnuThe Camel & the Gnu

● Structurally sound?Structurally sound?

● Open-washingOpen-washing

Recap: for nonprofits and eduRecap: for nonprofits and edu

● Tech is strategic. Not an expense.Tech is strategic. Not an expense.

● Discussions are n-way conversations...Discussions are n-way conversations...

● Practice what you preach.Practice what you preach.

● Relax, your chances have improved massively since Relax, your chances have improved massively since

beating each other up in the sandbox ;-) beating each other up in the sandbox ;-)

● Learn some new lingo. Seriously. It's 2012.Learn some new lingo. Seriously. It's 2012.

● Tech needs you as well. Tech needs you as well.

Recap: for techiesRecap: for techies

● Don't build websites. Build an œuvre.Don't build websites. Build an œuvre.

● Think instruments, not tools.Think instruments, not tools.

● Delivering to specs is delivering the next legacyware.Delivering to specs is delivering the next legacyware.

● Open source, data, channels. We need 3 out of 3.Open source, data, channels. We need 3 out of 3.

● Not including mobiles? You're elitist.Not including mobiles? You're elitist.

● Get out more. We have stuff to tell. Get out more. We have stuff to tell.

And still a lot to learn... And still a lot to learn...

““We have normality. I repeat, we have normality. We have normality. I repeat, we have normality.

Anything you still can't cope with is Anything you still can't cope with is

therefore your own problem.”therefore your own problem.”

Catch meCatch me● IRC: polyesterIRC: polyester

● twitter: polyestertwitter: polyester

● paul@cleanclothes.orgpaul@cleanclothes.org

(all quotes: Douglas Adams. (all quotes: Douglas Adams.

Subliminal message: Towel day is May 25th) Subliminal message: Towel day is May 25th)

Some further readingSome further readinghttp://openforchange.infohttp://openforchange.info

http://selection.datavisualization.chhttp://selection.datavisualization.ch

http://www.kobotoolbox.orghttp://www.kobotoolbox.org

http://www.akvo.org/blog/?cat=4http://www.akvo.org/blog/?cat=4

http://irevolution.nethttp://irevolution.net

http://ushahidi.comhttp://ushahidi.com

http://fairsay.com/eventshttp://fairsay.com/events

http://tacticaltech.orghttp://tacticaltech.org

““Gazing up at a god's crotch can do wondersGazing up at a god's crotch can do wonders

for a person's lack of low self-esteem.”for a person's lack of low self-esteem.”