[okfn-discuss] Research project: "Histories of open knowledge"

Thu Apr 5 10:52:58 UTC 2012

I fear this is the other side of a “paywall”, but opening up of crowd-funding could be good news. See wefunder.com also

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21328585.700-crowdfunding-successes-show-value-of-small-donations.html

Crowdfunding successes show value of small donations 

*	04 April 2012 by  <http://www.newscientist.com/search?rbauthors=Niall+Firth> Niall Firth 
*	Magazine issue 2858 <http://www.newscientist.com/issue/2858> .  <http://subscribe.newscientist.com/bundles.aspx> Subscribe and save
*	For similar stories, visit the  <http://www.newscientist.com/topic/finance-economics> Finance and Economics Topic Guide 

A proposed change in US legislation would allow everyone to invest in start-ups

FANCY investing in the next Twitter? Or putting some money behind the new Facebook? More people might soon get the chance.

On crowdfunding website Kickstarter, more than 87,000 people donated a total of over $3 million in February and March to help create the video game  <http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/66710809/double-fine-adventure> Double Fine Adventure (pictured). This is good news for gaming fans, but it also highlights the limits of the burgeoning crowdfunding movement in the US. People who gave on Kickstarter are viewed as philanthropists, not investors. Their reward for a $15 pledge is a copy of the game - those who contributed more will get additional treats - but if Double Fine Adventure turns into a blockbuster, they won't see a penny of the profits.

.

The Crowdfund Act, which passed the Senate last week as an amendment to the larger Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, would let anyone invest up to 5 per cent of their annual income, or $2000, in a project or firm that is listed on a crowdfunding website.

.

David Hirst

!-!?!-Hirst Solutions Limited

Mobile:  +44 7831 405443

From: okfn-discuss-bounces at lists.okfn.org [mailto:okfn-discuss-bounces at lists.okfn.org] On Behalf Of Laura James
Sent: 05 April 2012 11:31
To: Open Knowledge Foundation discussion list
Subject: Re: [okfn-discuss] Research project: "Histories of open knowledge"

Antti,

That sounds like a project which could be crowd-funded, with interested people committing small sums upfront and maybe getting a copy of the work at the end.  Kickstarter is the well known platform in this space, but doesn't support projects based outside the US. You could look at SPonsume or IndieGoGo. This would give you the funds upfront if there was real community interest in the project. 

Print on demand platforms such as Lulu.com might be easier than a traditional publisher, too...

Good luck,

Laura

-- 

Dr Laura James
Foundation Coordinator, Open Knowledge Foundation 

http://okfn.org

On 4 April 2012 14:04, Antti Halonen <antti.halonen at finnish-institute.org.uk> wrote:

Dear all,

I have been planning to start a research project on the history of open data and open knowledge movements (i've only recently finished a report on the contemporary open data policies - http://finnish-institute.org.uk/images/stories/pdf2012/being%20open%20about%20data.pdf). 

Sam Leon from OKF encouraged me to post a rough draft proposal to this list for feedback and possible ideas. In a nutshell the idea is to write a communal history of open knowledge movement, that is a narrative of how community members themselves perceive the conceptual development of open knowledge and its significance for the society.

I think the most urgent issues are the overall feasibility of the project and also identifying potential funding sources.

Please find the draft attached below. I'd be very glad for all the comments and ideas and am happy to tell more.

Best wishes,

Antti

Project proposal

Title: 

Histories of open knowledge

Project coordinator: 

Antti Halonen

Contact email: 

antti.halonen.10 at ucl.ac.uk

Project description: 

Purpose of the project is to write a history of the open knowledge movement, as perceived by the open knowledge community itself. Now that open knowledge movement has increasingly started to gain leverage and the principles of transparency are being introduced in both governmental and civil-society levels, it is time to compile a narrative of how open knowledge has emerged as a global movement.

According to one widely accepted view of historiography history is necessarily a combination of many different histories and several recollections of the past (for instance, Kalela 2012). Therefore this project aims at presenting a history of open knowledge like the members of the global open knowledge community perceive it. Community members are encouraged to take part in research circles and provide their recollections on the past. A young historian (project coordinator) will facilitate the project and conduct the final editing process. The outcome of the project will be a communal narrative of the conceptual development of open knowledge.  

Methodology of the project will be based on the idea of history as a joint communal project. The sole authority of a historian is questioned and instead, the community itself will be given a voice on about what is relevant and how the subject should be reviewed. Effectively, participants will be asked to “write their own histories” What kind of issues have influenced their own thoughts and opinions? Why have they decided to take part in the open knowledge movement? What events have influenced their own thought and ideas about the society and the open knowledge movement?

Timeline:

Phase 1:

Project coordinator conducts a literature review on the emergence of open knowledge as a concept and drafts a methodology on how to study the history of open knowledge in an open manner.  (May – June 2012)

Phase 2:

Open knowledge community members are asked to provide their own recollections on how they got involved in the movement and what are their perceptions of the open knowledge concept. (June – September 2012)

Phase 3:

During Open Knowledge Festival the project coordinator will lead a history workshop where the community recollections and perceptions are discussed and compiled into a draft version of the history. Before the workshop a renowned professor of history (for instance Jorma Kalela) will give a keynote speech on history as a joint communal project. (September 2012)

Phase 4:

Project coordinator edits the draft and conducts the final narrative. Final work is approved by the community and published under open access regulations. (September – October 2012)

What is needed:

Financial support to enable six months’ part-time work (50%, May-October 2012) of the project coordinator (€8.000)

Space for the history workshop at OKFest (two days)

Publisher for the final report

-- 
Antti Halonen
Fellow
The Finnish Institute in London
35-36 Eagle Street
WC1R 4AQ
London

@ajhalo

+447748950741 <tel:%2B447748950741> 

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