Community Mobilization

Ze Frank and Context

There have been a number of debates about he Validity of Social networks and their true value. danah boyd is one of my favorite reads and she has a consistent habit of repeating the need for people to examine the SNS issue with context in mind. Context is what we use to define a relationship in real life and I am sure that she would love to see context somehow worked in to the online version. So would I.

From a business point of view it allows the users to more effectively leverage relationships for prosperous ends. How can everyone be your friend? Ze Frank made an absolutely hilarious short based on his SNS gripes. He brings up numerous valid points interwoven with his own brand of satire comedy.

So in a nutshell context can be immensely valuable in community building. If you are able to see how people know each other and why they are connected it can allow members to effectively communicate and remove the awkward burden of asking a total stranger for a favor through a relatively unknown acquaintance.

A Second Look at Second Life

Here is a second look at Second Life because I think that it is important to look at the economic implication of the program. Participants pay $10.00 usd per month, and that provides them access to the system as well as a monthly stipend. In Second Life the Linden dollar is the official currency and it has a 250 to 1 exchange rate to the US dollar. This is a real economy where people can make money through property speculation, jewelry creation and sales, and automobile customizations and other ventures. The individuals are able to create value by using their creativity and computer skills. At the same time the community institutes a property tax on those who own land in the digital world. As the population grown this could become a viable income source for gifted coder and I look forward to following up with Linden Labs on the exchanges that occur in the digital community.

Second Life

Over the weekend I spent some time at the Association of Professional Futurist meeting in Las Vegas. The group spent the majority of Friday reviewing and discussing Second Life with Phillip Rosedale, the CEO and creator of the program.

With regards to community there were a number of amazing insights that the futurists observed. I particularly think it would be amazing as a model building tool, using the site to establish real world scenarios and let them play out in the digital environment. Beyond that, the community building aspects of the system are unique, an environment where you can wander the digital landscape and comfortable introduce your self to anyone else. There are other economic insights that will follow, but for now I am content to ponder how this ‘Second life’ could become a first life, where the digital truly become enmeshed in the physical.