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#diversitytech shares information about diversity as a source of technological innovation
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#diversitytechdiversity as a source of technological innovation
Jessica Faye CarterNew York City
August 12, 2009
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Overview
• Diversity and the spread of technology
• The world according to Twitter
• Open Source software
• Social networks
• How our lives are changing
• Q&A/Wrap-Up
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Diversity undergirds the spread of technology
• Technological expansion requires dialogue across cultures and communities
‣ Think about ideas/concepts that spread
trends
viruses
religion
‣ to remain viable, ideas/concepts engage in a give-and-take with different cultures
‣ this is how social media technologies have become entrenched in our society (“put down roots”)
The world according to
Twitter Karma
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
6 types of Twitter diversity
• Diversity-driven Twitter apps:
‣ aesthetic (e.g., Twistori, Twitpic)
‣ connective (e.g., Tweeto’clock, Twitter Karma, Twibes, wefollow)
‣ informative (e.g., Twitter search, Tweepsearch)
‣ metrical/influence (e.g., Twitalyzer, Twitterholic)
‣ utilitarian (e.g., Hootsuite, Seesmic Desktop, Tweetdeck, Splitweet)
‣ comedic (e.g., Billie Tweets, Lolquiz)
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Diverse perspectives
• Users
‣ interests, preferences, what’s trending, the “technoscenti”
• Developers
‣ entrepreneurial, interests, preferences, crowdsourcing, entrepreneurial
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Diversitweet
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Diversity as part of the technology value proposition
• For Twitter, diversity is a benefit and part of its value proposition
‣ Encourages “cross-boundary communication”
‣ Invites an increase in learning
‣ Supports innovation
‣ Helps disseminate a variety of information
#healthcare, #iranelection, #MichaelJackson, #Sotomayor, #skipgates
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Open Source Software
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Open Source software
• The Cathedral and the Bazaar (CatB)
‣ essay by Eric S. Raymond (1997)
‣ two methods of free software development
• Cathedral model
‣ similar to the feeling a cathedral would invoke
‣ hierarchical, rigid, less-flexible
‣ partially exclusive
‣ developers somewhat isolated; coming together at specified times
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Cathedral and Bazaar (ct’d)
• Bazaar model (widely accepted)
‣ Software development in the “public square”
‣ Everyone is involved
‣ Users are co-developers (give-and-take)
‣ Modularity in development/parallel development
‣ Dynamic decision making (decision-making process changes over time)
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Open Source Definition (selected elements)
• Deals with the intellectual property of the software (license)
• Economic diversity
‣ free redistribution
• Non-discrimination clauses
‣ against persons or groups, or fields of endeavor
• Non-restrictive clauses
‣ license cannot be specific to a product, not restrict other software, must be technology-neutral
Source: Open Source Institute
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Why open-source is so widespread
• Bazaar model draws on diversity
‣ draws on developers and users
‣ broad array of inputs (e.g., interests, preferences, values, goals)
‣ views discrimination as an impediment to progress (what if we looked at diversity as a way to overcome hindrances to productivity and innovation, instead of as merely a “good thing”)
‣ people work on what interests them simultaneously (draws on different passions)
‣ dialogue/give-and-take with public helps with the spread and viability of open-source
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Social Networks
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Social Networks
• Moving toward fragmentation
• Proliferation of niche social networks
‣ verticals - age (Gather.com), ethnic (MiGente.com), religious (MyChurch,org), dating (Shmooze.com)
‣ software to support niche networks: Ning, Social Engine, Buddypress, Elgg, etc.
‣ Data/relationship portability across networks
• Users have diversity of interests, identities, and comfort levels with technology—this is part of the catalyst for innovation in social networking
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
Social identities
• Social media reinforces previous identifications
‣ CitySaheli.com - social network for South Asian women
‣ BlackPlanet.com - social network for Black Americans
‣ Womenco.com - social network for women seeking jobs
• But also encourages new identifications
‣ Interest-based, instead of race, gender, etc.
careers, hobbies, geography
• Artmetal.com - social network for people interested in metal arts
• Meetup.com
Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.
How our lives are changing
• Broadening of communities/spheres of influence
• “No expert required”/more entrepreneurial
• Shift in self-identification
• “Flatter” world (in Friedmanian terms)
• Dynamic lifestyle/living in dialogue (give-and-take) with the larger society
Q&A/Wrap-Up
Question: since diversity undergirds some of the major philosophies upon which social media technologies are built, why do we continue to lack diversity at major technical conferences and events?
Thank You.
http://jessicafayecarter.com@jescarter