Tomorrow's information and communication infrastructure is being shaped today
But by whom and to what ends?
IF you believe that our current communication systems aren't meeting community and civic needs you're not alone! Millions of people from around the world are asking these questions
Will communication systems meet the needs of ALL people?
Will they help people address current and future issues?
Will they promote democracy, social justice, a healthy environment?
Will appropriate research be conducted?
Will equitable policies be enacted?
Millions of people throughout the world are working to create systems which meet humankind's crucial needs.
We are extending TWO invitations to those who are interested in this work.
Invitation ONE
Join 500 researchers, practitioners, activists, jounalists, educators, artists, policy-makers and citizens from around the world in Seattle May 16-19, 2002 at CPSR's eighth biannual "Directions and Implications of Advanced Computing" (DIAC) symposium to address these critical questions and develop action plans.
A variety of events are planned ranging from invited speakers, panel discussions, and pattern presentations to informal working sessions -- both planned and spontaneous. Symposium topics include the digital divide, human rights and privacy, cyberspace and economic development, open content research, pattern language development, community networks, wireless community networking, developing a civil society charter for the UN Summit on the Network Society, virtual communities and online activism, cross-border collaborations, and MORE! And, as with previous DIAC symposia, we'll do our best to bring in some surprises as well...
Please join us in Seattle (and beyond) for this exciting and important event! Don't miss it!
Shaping the Network Society:
Patterns for Participation, Action, and Change
DIAC-02 in Seattle, May 16-19, 2002.
http://www.cpsr.org/conferences/diac02
Sponsored by:
Public Sphere Project of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR)
National Communication Association Task Force on the Digital Divide
Invitation TWO
Browse the "patterns" we've received so far and submit your own!
Based on the insights of architect Christopher Alexander, we are soliciting "patterns" that people use to create communication and information technology that affirms human values. We will use these patterns to craft a "pattern language" - a useful and compelling "knowledge structure" based on the collective wisdom of our community. Ideally our pattern language will help articulate -- and promote interest in -- engaged and effective research and activism.
Our pattern system (http://diac.cpsr.org/cgi-bin/diac02/pattern.cgi) includes the 150+ patterns that we've collected. It also includes facilities for entering and editing additional patterns. All of the patterns entered so far and those entered before the May 1st deadline will be reviewed at the symposium for possible inclusion in the final pattern language.
We encourage you to submit a pattern -- or, better, several patterns!
This pattern language will only be as good as the patterns that you submit!
We are "casting a wide net" for patterns from all relevant domains and situations.
We especially encourage topics on:
health
activism
libraries
open source
human rights
collaborations
civil liberties
roll your own media
developing countries
alternative technologies
environmental informatics
gender, ethnicity, age
cultural expression
war and militarism
culture jamming
media critique
cross-border
organizing
education
language
policy
labor
Please contact symposium and pattern language coordinator, Doug Schuler, douglas@scn.org, if you have any questions on either of these invitations.
Don't hate the media. Become the media.
Jello Biafra
