Open Everything

Open Everything: Ann Arbor is a one-night ‘unconference’ bringing together people interested or involved in applying the principles of openness, transparency, and collaboration to the businesses, organizations, and networks we are a part of.

Notes from the event:

Session #1 – Open Content / Open Publishing
Down with $150 textbooks. How can we produce high-quality textbooks for $10?
Will need to change the requirement to publish a book for tenure
CIC universities can collaborate on textbooks and charge less
Books need to be sustainable – dynamic, updating content, tech tie-in

Session #2 Open Governance
Some were advocating direct democracy. But others argued that it skews towards the edges. The loud ones get to push their agenda while the ones in the middle remain apathetic. People tend to be active only when the issue is close to them.
What would be the motivation to be involved?
AI filtration of media (ex. RSS feeds, recommendation systems, social networks) doesn’t expose people to diverse/opposing views.
Why is it that gambling machines are more regulated that voting machines. Open source voting systems.
A vote is different from an informed vote. What if people were required to take a quiz on basic information before they were allowed to vote? But couldn’t you write the quiz in a way that it filters out the people you don’t want?

Session #3 Open Management
(I posted this topic!)
In traditional companies, leadership is so far removed from the front line staff that they don’t know what’s really going on. Staff don’t understand the leadership vision. How to flatten a large organization?
What about direct democracy in the workplace? Mondragon in Spain is one of the largest worker-owned companies in the world. Employs almost 100,000 people.
Holly Bielawa describes the Menlo workplace. Working in pairs reduces conflict.

Session #4 Open Service
How can we help the unemployed white collar people? Provide workshops on entrepreneurship. Database of people and skills for freelance work.
Infographics on United Way call data. What is the most pressing need? Who is addressing those needs? What needs help?
Streetwise magazine. Working opportunity for homeless. They publish and sell a magazine on street life.
Time bank – Exchanging services for credits in a community.
Crowdsourcing city repairs. City in UK where the residents post locations of potholes, broken light, etc.

General thoughts:
The world of information professionals in Ann Arbor is so closely networked. I found myself connected to everyone else by two degrees at most!
Unconferences are an easy way to share ideas. You provide the framework, the participants bring the content.