The next four stages of online networks - from tools and solutions to new structures and economic development
Open source is synonomous with software. Open source can also refer to the way people and resources are organised or structured to produce goods, services or another goal. Linux is the most prominent face of open source. Linux is software created by thousands of contributors in a “free software” spirit. Free software generally has no commercial elements and is focused on knowledge sharing. Open source structures extend a base of free knowledge built by online networks to include commercial elements and profit motives. Approximately two-thirds of the Linux kernel is contributed by companies and programmers that are being paid. Linux is a structure which has significant commercial contributions. This open source structure harnesses the unique contribution of each individual and aggregates them toward a common objectives.
The objectives of open source will change over time. As open source evolves and proves its capability, it will move beyond technology, beyond specific industries, to all other aspects of our society. This has been suggested in the past. However, existing organisations are not sufficiently motivated to apply advances in technology to promote development. Business, social and political entrepreneurs that establish online networks are likely to be the primary force for change.
The following paragraphs outline the first four stages of the development of online networks and the .Net boom. The objective of the online network in each stage is identified.
.Net 1.0 (tools)
The primary objective of online networks have been new tools. Tools can only be assembled by specialists to be useful. Linux and open source software are tools. Desktop linux is progressively making open source and free software accessible from the desktop (See Desktop Linux: a window to changing market ).
Hackers are able to craft solutions from open source. This changing very quickly to allow desktop users to create solutions with surprisingly little new skills.
.Net 2.0 (solutions)
The primary objective is the development of solutions. Getautomatix, Ubuntu, automation tools from Plesk and CPanel and 20,000+ freely downloable open source software allow the individual to build solutions. A social or business entrepreneur can begin with a Linux desktop and a US$40 per month web server. In 90 days, they could solve a problem. Within months, they could assemble a global audience.
Our global community is overwhelmingly information based. The opportunity for social and business entrepreneurs is unprecedented. However, the potential of collective innovation and open source to reshape our world needs to be demonstrated . Once the potential of open source has been demonstrated, open source style online networks will be rigorously pursued by business and social entrepreneurs. It will also probably be rigorously defended by organisations that will be significantly impacted.
Our global community will upgrade to .Net 2.0 (Solutions) over the next two years. The most visible part of this transition will be broader adoption of desktop Linux. We will also witness online networks that begin to reshape the community and significant resistance from the status quo.
.Net 3.0 (structures)
An online network will offer our community new industry, political and social structures. They simply recast society interactions using today’s technology. The structures created by social and business entrepreneurs are likely to try to harness the unique contribution of individuals toward a common objective. Some structures and ventures will succeed. Others will fail. Over time these new structures are likely to deliver significant economic benefits. Many may be based on the spirit of free software. Many will be based on the principles of open source. These new structures will deliver significant opportunities for social, economic and political development.
.Net 4.0 (economic development)
The primary objective of online networks will be economic development Online networks are likely to have an impact on efficiency. Individual contribution based on interest and passion are likely to produce better outcomes.Online networks may overcome labour shortages and integrate a global pool of talent. Organisations can also access a global pool of talent. However, greater efficiency is important to economic development, but it is not the greatest impact that will come from the evolution of open source. The greatest impact of open source will be to ensure our industrial, political and social organisations effectively service their customers. Online networks will make organisations, open transparent and accessible. Many organisations today are proprietary, not transparent or inaccessible. We will be able to watch our organisations in real-time, provide feedback for community review, change where we spend our time and money, and how we vote - all based upon collective knowledge, rather than individual perception.
Note: The sitemap of this web site lists many articles which provide support for the assertions above. These are listed by categories. The articles include some “how to” articles for social and business entrepreneurs.
[...] it demonstrates the power of one to make a significant contribution to the world by leveraging free and open source software. (See The potential of collective innovation and open source to reshape our world needs to be demonstrated and The next four stages of online networks - from tools and solutions to new structures and economic development ). [...]
[...] Open source communities have developed a critical mass of tools and are beginning to morph into the development of solutions (see The next four stages of online networks - from tools and solutions to new structures and economic development). Amazon’s elastic cloud is a critical building block that will support the next wave of economic development (see Build an ebusiness application on your desktop and drag and drop it onto Amazon’s elastic cloud to scale ) . Key events are happening concurrently. In isolation, they represent a rapid evolution in a specific area. In combination, they represent a paradigm shift which present new opportunities for economic development. This article is focussed on the potential combination of elastic clouds and open source communities.Amazon could morph into something else entirely, November 2006 (forum post) “I think the days where everybody spends time onmanaging their data, or hires IT administrators and buys servers and all theattendant headaches are going to be history in the next 10 years. Smallbusinesses, freelancers, consultants will particularly benefit fromthis paradigm change, and cut out all the middlemen and overhead.Online services and renting compute power on demand are absolutely thewave of the future.” “If someone at Amazon is farsighted enough to assemble a “virtualcompany template” which integrates a ticketing system, elastic computecloud, a CRM and customer database, version control, backup, standard “office” online applets storing documents into the S3 filesystem, standardcompany website template with an integrated product download andpayment system, and a tax/expenses template, there will be a worldwide exodus ofcubicle dwellers and programmers itching to create new products (Me and my friends included ). Amazon could wellemerge as the new universal infrastructure on which startups and future e-commerce/software companies are built, and Microsoft and its online services initiative will be leftfar behind. But the above requires execution and vision, and a lot luckin being at the right place and the right time. Time will tell.” [...]
[...] Related: Information can now be free to make humanity wealthier ; The next four stages of online networks ; The transition to online networks may take six months or 50 years The next phase of economic development will be driven by the freedom of information and innovation generated by enthusiastic open source communities. Microsoft is asserting its patent portfolio is being violated by open source community software. It seems determined to strike at the heart that may drive the next phase of economic development. That heart is information freedom and enthusiastic open source communities. The article below provides some information on Microsoft’s threat to open source. [...]
[...] Related articles: We need five online networks to solve the worlds problems by 2012 or we decline into conflict for generations ; Phase in online networks … Phase out intellectual property ; The next four stages of online networks - from tools and solutions to new structures and economic development ; What if Moore’s law rates of innovation could be applied to the world’s problems? ; The potential of collective innovation and open source to reshape our world needs to be demonstrated ; The rise of online political networks Richard Branson has also offered a $25m prize to promote research into climate change. “The Virgin Earth Challenge will award $25 million to the individual or group who are able to demonstrate a commercially viable design which will result in the net removal of anthropogenic, atmospheric greenhouse gases each year for at least ten years without countervailing harmful effects. This removal must have long term effects and contribute materially to the stability of the Earth’s climate.†[...]