Platform roadmap

The Platform is a proposed technology to be used by individuals and community-scale organisations for the purposes of sharing knowledge and coordinating projects, to engage in trade with each other and to enable self-governance.

Platforms are to be set up using packaged free software and easy to follow instructions, they also allow direct connections between all the people using them, allowing a tightly-knit network to form. People who are members of this network can connect with other members for purposes of communication, work or trade. Their common interests can organically give rise to numerous projects, products and services.

As more platforms are set up and more people join the network, a wide range of projects can gain critical mass and economy of scale, allowing a growing number of services and products to be created within this network. Therefore all members will be interested in helping others discover and use this technology.

We currently have a functional system that we've been using for our own organisation and project management. It still has some critical elements from the above list missing, and it's currently based on a MediaWiki framework (which is why we are calling it Wiki organisation) which has been useful for us to develop and refine a prototype within which contains the initial content and structure of the Platform. Ideally we'd prefer the system to lean more strongly toward Javascript for the interface than it does now, and to be using robust Internet-independent P2P network layer rather than the current web-oriented way.

We are working to package the Wiki organisation technology we have developed this way to allow the setting up of platforms. The foundation exists, but further work is required to document the system and to make it more user friendly, easier to customise and technically efficient and robust.

Values

Underlying the Platform technology is a set of values that have guided its development and continued evolution. The platform is defined as technology actively supporting the expression of the following values:

Freedom and Privacy

We believe use of technology should progressively empower and free people and ensure privacy. In practice this means having full knowledge and control over who accesses personal data and the routine application of strong encryption to ensure privacy. Freedom means being able to choose what the technology looks like and how you use it without having to compromise on functionality or connectivity.

• Free Software Definition - This page clearly defines what freedom means in the context of software
• Privacy - portal by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) on privacy for more information

Openness and Transparency

If systems are open then they are able to improve scientifically through peer-review of clear analysis and objective reporting, thus minimizing inefficiency and corruption. Note that the concepts of transparency and of privacy can appear contradictory, but each has its place; people have a right to real privacy in their personal and financial affairs, but systems must be transparent to all who are affected by its operation and decision-making. A concrete way to pursue this approach is to implement open standards where possible.

• Open Organisation - article on P2P foundation site defining open organisation in more detail
• EFF transparency portal - the Electronic Frontier Foundation

Independence (Bottom-up, Peer to peer)

All platforms are able to operate independently of their connectivity with other platforms, but when that connectivity is available it's fully utilised. Independence also implies the principle that every platform should have the ability to fully replicate other platforms. The package comes with all the documentation and tools to create bootable USB sticks or CD's for other people to create their own platforms with.

In an effort to prevent centralisation and monopolisation, we ensure that the latest state of our technology is available in easy-to-use form without restrictions to anyone, and that it can be used to connect directly and privately with any other person or group using the technology to communicate, trade and govern.

• Peer-to-peer - peer-to-peer article on Wikipedia

Organisation and Accountability

We submit that the widespread adoption of decentralised forms of organisation can help empowered citizens work together to solve problems and take responsibility for those aspects of civic life that are currently regarded as poorly administrated or managed. Technology should support the collaborative and democratic management of matters both trivial and profound. Policy decisions should be traceable to a point of origin and people in positions of responsibility should be directly accountable to all affected stakeholders. The learning organisation as proposed by systems thinker Peter Senge is one form that such a system of bottom up organisation could take.

Vision

We know that solutions to most of the world's problems have been found. We also know that there are countless groups and individuals working to empower themselves and others. What if there was a way to connect all of the solutions and all of the people with shared goals and visions? And what if access to all this combined know-how and creativity was available to anyone in the form of free and well-documented software applications and turn-key businesses? This is the vision Platform seeks to fulfil.

Goals

list of definite targets e.g. platforms in key countries, critical mass of members, diversity of trades etc

The Platform technology needs to integrate all of the following:

• A turn-key organisation based on continually updated, proven best practices for personal organisation and setting up businesses. What this means in practice: Fill in an electronic form to set up your personal and business goals, projects and manage resources.
• A suite of free, customisable software applications that can run on any computer in any language. What this means in practise: Download a software package or burn a DVD ROM that can install on any computer, which includes continually-updated operating system, email, office and collaboration software.
• A portal to a network of people to communicate, do business and debate matters of governance with. What this means in practice: Being able to select a legal and financial framework in alignment with your values, to pursue your goals within, with the ability to question and change any aspect and to connect with peers who abide by the same governance.

Technical Structure

re-write to incorporate a list of the following areas to be covered: Peer-to-peer network, Interface, IT infrastructure, CMS, Turnkey Organisational System, Financial and legal structure.

Platforms consist of the following core aspects:

• Content management system
• Documentation including procedures and best practices
• Research & Education material such as Wikipedia, legal glossary and documentaries
• Record administration for managing projects, resources, contacts, accounts and other information
• Linux distro for managing IT infrastructure
• Legal framework for setting up independently of the system
• Financial framework of trading together and funding projects

Financial & Business Structure

We need to create a good default (and eventually a set of defaults) business structure which is optimised for minimal tax legally. This could involve something along the lines of following a procedure that results in members setting up an global business entity as a "non-territorial out-post" of the network. Members then perform work for their instance of the global organisation, their travel and expenses are paid. Members can then apply group discussion and decision-making methods to allocating any surplus funds to members, resources and work.

From a financial perspective, a platform would consist of one or more "international non-profit organisations" covering multiple nationalities, and would exhibit the following attributes:

• generates profit to allocate funds to the tasks required to carry on with its purpose
  • sells merchandise through an online shop
  • sells affiliate products such as books and subscriptions
  • offers monthly subscriptions for server administration and support services
• purchases services and assets which are useful for the organisation
• only ever holds a moderate balance for cash-flow purposes
• resides in a jurisdiction where offshore income is non-taxable (and makes near-zero net profit)
• pays for moderate travel, accommodation and consumables costs for volunteer workers (members)
• pays contractors and businesses to do work that can't be handled by the volunteers
• pays rent on local club-houses where members can work and socialise
• grant members access to the organisation's assets and other resources

Current state as of April 2010 - prototype phase

We currently have a functional system that we've been using for our own organisation and project management. It still has some critical elements from the above list missing, and it's currently based built within a MediaWiki framework which is very good for us as a kind prototype which allows us to develop and refine the content and structure of the environment. Ideally we'd prefer the system to lean more strongly toward Javascript for the interface than it does now, and to be using robust Internet-independent P2P network layer rather than the current web-oriented way.

Related projects

Some organisations and projects involved in similar work:

• THE BUSINESS CLASS.NET