Mike’s Digital Laboratory

The  lens of change

What is the lens of change? The “lens of change” is all of us, who choose to shape the way change happens, how we see our collective reality and what we choose to do while in it. We have a golden opportunity this year to be a part of this lens. For me it seems that his year more than ever we have the opportunity to increase the “resolution” of the incoming image of change.

So I shall attempt to enumerate my wish list for the new year, a list of things we can all work on together for a better world. As an experiment I will use the newly developed Liberating Voices Pattern Language for my foundation. As you read my list you can follow the links to each individual pattern.

Smart lens, old images.

Just for a moment I’ll continue the metaphor of the lens. So what of this lens? Primarily I believe the the lens should be smart, and I am optimistic that we are growing increasingly smarter by the second as a species. A smart lens implies some form of social intelligence and this can work to our advantage.  Our combined civic intelligence can be a new source of power for change. But we also have old power systems in place that provide both stability and stupidity at a species level. If we want the “good life”, we need to replace some of the old antiquated systems of civic control and development.

Changing these old systems carefully and intelligently is important. Care needs to be taken, some of these old systems are like timbers holding up an old house and if we just yank them out things get problematic quickly. Yet like old timbers in a house the clock is ticking and If we don’t replace them they will eventfully collapse anyway. In contrast some of those old beams are just fine and we need to avoid doing stupid things that erode well planned structures. I think with the current economic situation many will know what I mean by this. Smart planning and action coordinated by governments, companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and “ordinary” people together in harmony to improve the commons is the solution I like.

This cooperation I am suggesting is self organizing. We sometimes feel helpless as individuals, but I (and I hope others) would like to embrace the idea of global citizenship. Our Earth’s vital signs are in the red and we have work to do. Here are 9 more patterns of organizing principles I’d like to see flourish in our new year.

• Social Dominance Atttenuation
• Social Responsibility
• Collective Decision Making
• Fair Trade
• Sustainable Design
• Media Literacy
• Citzen Science
• Cyberpower
• Opportunity Spaces

Smart images, Smart Actions

Systems of human behavior are required to bring about change. Global citizenship might therefore suggest the need for World Citizen Parliament. Human energy is diluted when economic systems channel our actions into non-functional and often destructive systems, therefore economic conversion to the production of goods and services that will further and/or improve the many aspects of the human condition is greatly needed in these troubled times. Here are 5 more patterns for enabling systems I would like to see more frequently in our new year.

• Strengthening International Law
• Design Stance
• Citizen Access to Simulations
• Truth and Reconciliation Commissions
• Peace Education

Smart Questions, Smart Policy

We will never truly see until we allow that which can be seen to be seen. Transparency in how the policies of our society are developed at the local, national, and global level are crucial if we are to change for the better. This is my number one wish for the new year when it comes to policy. For too long the decisions of my state and country have been made behind closed doors in proverbial smoke filled rooms. Free and Fair Elections are essential but once elected, our officials need to keep an honest, open, dialogue with the people that put them in power. Here are 5 more policy patterns I would like to see in use more frequently in this new year.

• Privacy
• Media Diversity
• Ethics of Community Informatics Research and Practice
• Positive Health Information
• Grassroots Public Policy Development

OK, All Together Now

We can do it, We can do it together. Collaboration is key and I know from experience that when people collaborate on line and in person things happen. Here are 5 collaboration patterns that I would like to see more of this year.

• Wholesome Design for Wicked Problems
• Design for Unintended Use
• Future Design
• Citizen Journalism
• Community Building Journalism

It’s Ongoing

There are many more wonderful patterns of change to explore in the liberating voices pattern language, I hope you take the time to look at these and perhaps bring them into your thinking communities or discuss them next time you are at some great good place. Or perhaps, like myself during this new year break, simply spend some time in quiet retreat and reflection.

Last night I found myself at anther  Innovation Session at RIT This one was particularly wonderful.  Imagine getting to spend relaxing quality time with the next generation of inventors before they’re famous…

Last night’s Innovation Session in the Idea Factory was really perfect. We all paired up and brainstormed on wishes for the new year some pictured above. Then used our mobile phones to tag and upload our favorite wishes in to a flickr photo pool. We think this way of creating collective knowledge pools has mucho potential for all kinds of applications.

My dream project for the new year was “Tag Everything”.  and I mean everything, sheer madness but I think I know how to do this… If only I had more chewing gum and duct tape… hmmm..

I was also parteculrily taken with Jason Sauers prototype for a new adjustable table. Absolutely brilliant.  I want one.  It’ll go right next to the folding bed. (See the link in this post for picutres.)  Also not to miss is Dan Lampies wind turbine project.  Dan shared a very insightful tale of what happens when you try to put one of these up on a college campus.   Words of wisdom “don’t upset the aesthetics comittee.”