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Armistral .
Dec 26, 2011, 11:53:18 PM12/26/11
to community...@lists.mozilla.org
Problem 0
I do not think it is an understatement to say that there are a great many
problems facing the human race. As we have grown in numbers and
intelligence we are still learning of all the things that could potentially
wipe our species from planet earth permanently. We seem to create or at
least uncover problems as fast as we solve them and even especially when we
solve them.
So many problems seem impervious to solutions and so few solutions are
tried for want of the money, the talent to attempt it that it can feel like
an overwhelming tide that will suck you under if you let it.
There are many people who do not know where to find help with a problem
facing them personally much less how do they help solve the hardest
problems of war, poverty, slavery, oppression, disease, disaster, pollution
and others that face us all. Add to this all the people who would love
nothing more than contribute their lives toward making the world a better
place who have only limited local outlets or resources and maybe not even
those.
A problem which came up recently and got a lot of attention was “how do we
stop an oil well kilometers under the ocean from leaking millions of liters
of oil?” The solution to that problem turned out not to come from the
experts, not from the oil industry, not from the government but from a
plumber who preferred to remain anonymous. Through a tidal wave of (by at
least one estimate which I believe is low) over 300,000 submissions to
newspapers, news programs, government offices (federal and local), to BP,
to anyone that might listen regardless of whether or not they would or did,
this plumber was was able to contact someone who reviewed his solution and
was able to pass it on to someone who could implement it. They did and It
worked.
The designated experts were at a loss, the designated channels for
communication and information were overwhelmed. Imagine how much faster we
could solve problems if we were able to employ the talents, abilities,
ideas and resources of everyone instead of just a designated few.
Given these kinds of emergencies and so many staggering, intractable issues
to deal with on a global and personal level the question becomes, “How do
we harness the collective abilities of humanity towards solving the
problems that plague us?” I call this problem zero.
Solution 0
I have been interested for some time in the wisdom of crowds, emergent
intelligence and how communities of all types are created and maintained
online but how the ongoing spill was solved is what inspired me to define
problem 0 and come up with a solution. That solution is WeSolver.
WeSolver is a way to allow and encourage anyone to:
submit problems, solutions and discuss them
start projects to implement solutions
contribute their talents, abilities, time, energy and resources toward
solving problems
Hopefully people will find new connections and relationships between
seemingly different problems and solutions inspiring experimentation and
innovative solutions.
There will be many ways to participate in the site itself from creating,
reading, promoting, linking, sharing and policing content. WeSolver will
be open and transparent to everyone while respecting any individuals wish
to remain anonymous should they so choose.
How can we possibly solve the many problems that face us as a species
without using every available asset to do so? How can we leave this work
in the hands of experts or governments or any other organization to solve
on their own? It would be foolish to ignore the potential solutions which
come when everyone is invited to participate.
The Future is Now, the WeSolver public beta is here!
WeSolver has been created in the same spirit as its intended usage. The
software open source (mediawiki) so that anyone can contribute to improving
and refining it.
Administratively it will be funded by donations rather than ad revenue as
well as being staffed by the fewest people required to ensure it continues
to exist and evolve over time. This will keep WeSolver focused on its
purpose. It will be up to the people to keep it going if they find it
worthwhile.
I do not think it is an understatement to say that there are a great many
problems facing the human race. As we have grown in numbers and
intelligence we are still learning of all the things that could potentially
wipe our species from planet earth permanently. We seem to create or at
least uncover problems as fast as we solve them and even especially when we
solve them.
So many problems seem impervious to solutions and so few solutions are
tried for want of the money, the talent to attempt it that it can feel like
an overwhelming tide that will suck you under if you let it.
There are many people who do not know where to find help with a problem
facing them personally much less how do they help solve the hardest
problems of war, poverty, slavery, oppression, disease, disaster, pollution
and others that face us all. Add to this all the people who would love
nothing more than contribute their lives toward making the world a better
place who have only limited local outlets or resources and maybe not even
those.
A problem which came up recently and got a lot of attention was “how do we
stop an oil well kilometers under the ocean from leaking millions of liters
of oil?” The solution to that problem turned out not to come from the
experts, not from the oil industry, not from the government but from a
plumber who preferred to remain anonymous. Through a tidal wave of (by at
least one estimate which I believe is low) over 300,000 submissions to
newspapers, news programs, government offices (federal and local), to BP,
to anyone that might listen regardless of whether or not they would or did,
this plumber was was able to contact someone who reviewed his solution and
was able to pass it on to someone who could implement it. They did and It
worked.
The designated experts were at a loss, the designated channels for
communication and information were overwhelmed. Imagine how much faster we
could solve problems if we were able to employ the talents, abilities,
ideas and resources of everyone instead of just a designated few.
Given these kinds of emergencies and so many staggering, intractable issues
to deal with on a global and personal level the question becomes, “How do
we harness the collective abilities of humanity towards solving the
problems that plague us?” I call this problem zero.
Solution 0
I have been interested for some time in the wisdom of crowds, emergent
intelligence and how communities of all types are created and maintained
online but how the ongoing spill was solved is what inspired me to define
problem 0 and come up with a solution. That solution is WeSolver.
WeSolver is a way to allow and encourage anyone to:
submit problems, solutions and discuss them
start projects to implement solutions
contribute their talents, abilities, time, energy and resources toward
solving problems
Hopefully people will find new connections and relationships between
seemingly different problems and solutions inspiring experimentation and
innovative solutions.
There will be many ways to participate in the site itself from creating,
reading, promoting, linking, sharing and policing content. WeSolver will
be open and transparent to everyone while respecting any individuals wish
to remain anonymous should they so choose.
How can we possibly solve the many problems that face us as a species
without using every available asset to do so? How can we leave this work
in the hands of experts or governments or any other organization to solve
on their own? It would be foolish to ignore the potential solutions which
come when everyone is invited to participate.
The Future is Now, the WeSolver public beta is here!
WeSolver has been created in the same spirit as its intended usage. The
software open source (mediawiki) so that anyone can contribute to improving
and refining it.
Administratively it will be funded by donations rather than ad revenue as
well as being staffed by the fewest people required to ensure it continues
to exist and evolve over time. This will keep WeSolver focused on its
purpose. It will be up to the people to keep it going if they find it
worthwhile.
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