Meet Up "Let's use the Internet to get people off the Internet"

Meet Up is an online social networking tool which helps users to find or create group meetings in their area. The concept differs to traditional social networking somewhat in that it encourages users to use their system in order be able to facilitate social networking offline, in real life.

It is currently the world's largest network of local groups. There are currently 5.7 million members using the service that make up 58,936 local groups in 11,506 different cities. The service address the issue as to whether the internet has added value to our lives. For example while the internet has made us given us social networking, where we can communicate instantly with people from all over the world, has it made us more or less social in the real world.

Are we becoming more accustomed to communicating through new media than face to face and is it starting to detract from the idea of community and conversation? This is why I think that this service is so important. It encourages people to get off of social networking and socialise in specific interest groups locally, keeping the art of conversation alive and well.

Meetup has the following manifesto which it encourages users to sign up to via its website:

Meetup manifesto

Let's exercise our human right of assembly. Let's exploit it big-time.

Let's use the Internet to get people off the Internet.

Let's bring back the handshake. The verbal debate.

The smile. You know, some good ol' face-to-face, eye-to-eye contact.

When people get together amazing things happen.

They advocate, argue, learn, laugh and share.

Let's be a group. Let's be a real group.

Groups have a history of making history. People unite, motivate, activate and mobilize.

Groups give us the power to face a health crisis, start a political movement, pursue a passion, launch a business, and turn strangers into friends. To be bigger than ourselves.

Let's step away from our screens for a moment.

Do without the PC, the TV and the phone. People are more powerful than pixels. A real group can beat up a virtual group any day of the week.

Let's find the others. The ones that want the same thing.

Let's meet in real time, in real places, and make a real difference.

Let's Meetup

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Meetup understand how the internet is such an important tool in bringing people together and utilises this, however they feel even more can be achieved by meeting face to face. It therefore creates something that combines these two ideas and also brings in the idea of specialist meeting groups.

Rather than just have meetings based on location, Meetup allows you to find groups in your that area that meet based on topics that interest you. For example if I wanted to improve my photography skills I would search for photography interest groups and enter my postcode, which actually gave me around 20 groups within five miles.



I think that this is a great idea because although social networking can bring us closer to one another, it rarely does and our relationships with one another stay at that level. This encourages sociability and offers a wide range of opportunities to people all over the world. In terms of expanding the idea into different countries this is definitely something with the potential to work.

There are already 11,506 cities participating and if it is a success there then why couldn't it be somewhere else? All that is required is an internet connection, so for countries where a high proportion of the population have internet access there is an opportunity to get involved. This is an idea that has continued to grow since the concept was created in 2001 and I am hoping that it will continue to do so.

Take Back Your Time Day

In the USA October 24th is recognised as the national take back your time day. October 24th falls 9 weeks before the end of the year, which represents the amount of time Americans would have off it they lived in Wester Europe. The idea of the day is to raise awareness of the importance of time of time off in our lives and to promote the ideas of the organisations 'time to care' public policy agenda.

The agenda includes the following policies:

- Guaranteeing paid leave for all parents for the birth or adoption of a child. Today, only 40% of Americans are able to take advantage of the 12 weeks of unpaid leave provided by the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

- Guaranteeing at least one week of paid sick leave for all workers. Many Americans work while sick, lowering productivity and endangering other workers.

- Guaranteeing at least three weeks of paid annual vacation leave for all workers. Studies show that 28% of all female employees and 37% of women earning less than $40,000 a year receive no paid vacation at all.

- Placing a limit on the amount of compulsory overtime work that an employer can impose, with our goal being to give employees the right to accept or refuse overtime work.

- Making Election Day a holiday, with the understanding that Americans need time for civic and political participation.

- Making it easier for Americans to choose part-time work. Hourly wage parity and protection of promotions and pro-rated benefits for part-time workers.

Their belief is, "these broad policy ideas -- all taken for granted in other countries -- really speak to the needs for time poverty relief that millions of Americans share. They are not political bills -- we encourage legislators to take these ideas and design specific legislation around them -- but they are ideas for action, a comprehensive program to win more free time for Americans."

Having read Carl Honore's book In Praise Of Slow last Summer as part of a research project, I have become interested in the links between working hours, leisure and productivity. I feel that it is clear that we often work harder than we need to because of government guidelines, rules and regulations which actually limit our productivity and creativity.

OECD figures show that Americans works 125 hours (5 Days) a year on average more than the UK and 468 hours (19.5 days) more than the Netherlands. It is for this reason that the American people are trying to raise awareness of how more relaxed working hours could improve not just their productivity, but their health and happiness too.



Some of the suggested activities that take place on Time Day include,

"Close your office for the afternoon or the day.
Meet friends at a local café to talk about overwork, time poverty, and the environment.
Sleep in.
Buy stew vegetables from your local farmer’s market, cook and eat slowly with your family, taking time to enjoy the food and company.
Plant a native tree in your backyard.
Instead of watching TV, write to your senator about an issue important to you.
Play with your children or visit elderly relatives.
Cancel something.
Go for a walk in a place threatened by or saved from development.
Put up Time Day posters around your neighborhood.
Plan a rally or hold a press conference.
Hold a party where everyone brings one thing they bought and never used. Tell stories about them and trade.
Ask your pastor, rabbi, etc., to speak on work/life balance issues at the next service."

I think that this day is a worthwhile cause. There are many countries, possibly including the UK that could achieve much more as a nation if they took more leisure time. The expansion in terms of taking the idea to different countries is one that is dependent on the nature of individual governments.

More liberal governments are likely to be interested in the idea of improving health happiness and productivity of its people because it would save time and money for them. Expansion would be dependent on individual countries adopting some of these policies and deciding whether they would work successfully. If they were a success then there is no reason that the restructuring of working hours could not be considered on a global level.

Beem: Mobile money

Beem is new UK service which enables users to transer money to each other or to pay for goods and services using their mobile phone. Beem allows you to create an account tied to your mobile phone. You can transfer money into it from your regular bank account, then make payments by text.

Beem describe the simplicity of their service on their website, "If you have a bank account you can download and upload money via your debit card, if you don't use a bank you can still use Beem because friends and family can Beem cash to you. Right now, you can Beem mobile money or send prepay top ups to friends and family on any network and handset in the UK from anywhere in the world.

We are continually signing up businesses and other organisations who want to Beem on a regional, national or international basis. In certain regions you can also pay for a pint, pizza, cab or club membership with the organisations accepting Beem. All mobile phones are suitable, and it doesn't matter which network you are on or which bank you are with."

One of the main advantages of beem is that it makes transferring money from one bank account to another almost as simple as handing someone a tend pound note. I can see it working at its best in social situations. For example borrowing cash from a friend and paying them back immediately by text. Alternatively another transaction made all the simpler is ordering good online or over the phone. The idea is that this can all be done in a simple text message because Beem already has a record of your bank details. All of this can be achieved at the cost of a standard text message.




While I think Beem is a great innovation, I do not think it will be replacing cash or credit card payments anytime soon. For one it has only recruited a handful of stores that will accept their text message as a form of payment.

Its expansion in terms of other countries is dependent on the popularity of mobile phones. However it is something that I could see taking off in more developed countries. At the moment it is being marketed more specifically at young people but this is a service that in time I could see a lot more people making use of. A mobile phone is increasingly becoming something that we cannot live without in Western Culture and the simplicity of making transactions using the service is a reason I could see this taking off.

Bikeworks Community Cycle Centre

Bikeworks is a resourceful bicycle shop based in Tower Hamlets East London that has been trading since 2007. Their aim is to use bicycles to tackle "environmental, social & economic challenges in London." One of the reasons I particularly like Bikeworks is their bicycle recycling scheme where they accept old bicycles for recycling, repair them using as few new parts as possible and sell them at prices at low as £40. Producing good quality bicycles at such low prices gives access to everyone to be able to cycle in London, where transport is so expensive and levels of congestion are so high.

They are more than just a recycled bicycle shop however. Bike Works operates as a Social Enterprise and is legally recognised as a Community Interest Company and a not for profit Company Limited by Guarantee. Their website describes, "Bikeworks CIC is a social enterprise based in East London and began actively trading in March 2007. Bikeworks uses bikes to tackle environmental, social & economic challenges in London. Bikeworks creates local solutions to global issues through the promotion of sustainable urban transport through cycling. Bikeworks geographical focus is on areas of social deprivation in east London.

Creation of employment and training opportunities for marginalised individuals is integrated into the heart of the enterprise.
Specific activities include: recycling & refurbishing second hand bikes in London, provide dedicated (free to the public) training to get more people cycling on the road and doing so safely & affordably, creating training and employment opportunities for disadvantaged communities in a booming cycling industry."

This is such a simple but effective scheme that I feel would have a purpose in many other countries. Not only do they cater for current cyclists but also potential cyclists by offering a wide range of low cost bicycles. In inner cities this is something that I could really see taking off around the world. More people on bicycles would of course need to be catered for by governments but it would really cut down on emissions in the cities and help to keep people active. They also do particularly good work in enabling disabled to people to be able to have specialist bicycles catering for their needs and helping them with their cycling skills.

Bikeworks endorse this idea with their recycling scheme adding, "We recycle & refurbish used and abandoned bikes so that they can be re used or when this isn't possible materials (steel, aluminium) are put into the recycling system. Refurbished bikes are used in Bikeworks community programmes, given away to community groups & some sold on at affordable prices to the community. Regular Saturday sales of recycled bikes to the public will be starting from April 2008. Contact us for details.



Our environmental policy means that we aim to buy in very few spares, and the ones that we do buy are ones that we are unable to source from recycled spares, items such as brake blocks and ball bearings, if replaced will be new, otherwise all of the spares and bicycles that we use are refurbished." While this is a non profit scheme I think it could save money and bring positive change for many countries where there is a demand for cycling and the community work that is done by organisations like Bikeworks is something that more local councils should look at allocating funding to.


A video illustrating the different kinds of community work Bikeworks do

A BBC article and video on Bikeworks work with disabled people in the local community: http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/03/21/bikeworks_video_feature.shtml

http://www.bikeworks.org.uk/

Internet Voting in Estonia

In 2007 Estonia successfully held a parliamentary election that incorporated the internet as a voting method. The idea to use the internet as part of their voting system was first conceived by the Estonian government in 2001. As the idea developed they included it in the October 2005 general elections and once successful it was used in the parliamentary elections.

One of the reasons that internet voting or e-voting was so effective in Estonia was the fact that the country utilises an I.D card system. These I.D cards were incorporated into the voting system to ensure security, which was one of the initial concerns of the system when initially conceived. As of March 2007 over 1.04 million cards have been issued out of a population of about 1.32 million, which makes internet voting accessible to the vast majority of the country.

While internet voting is an idea that makes voting more accessible only 30,000 votes were done online, which is one in thirty voters. This however succeeded exceeded government expectations. BBC News reports, "those running the Estonian e-voting project hope that 20% of votes cast in future elections will be registered in this way

This, the largest-scale e-voting scheme run by any EU country, is being keenly watched across Europe. Online voting has been promoted as a quicker, cheaper way of collecting and counting ballots. Those concerned about falling turnout in elections hope that the convenience of not having to go to a polling station will encourage more people to take part.

But there are worries about security. In Switzerland, where it is already an established part of local referendums, voters get their passwords to access the ballot through the post. The Estonians say their system avoids such problems because people already have their micro-chipped ID cards and know the PIN codes to use them. But there are still fears that an online ballot makes it far easier to influence elections.

To tackle that problem, the Estonian election allows multiple online votes to be cast, with each subsequent vote cancelling out the previous one.And the system still gives supremacy to paper ballots, so anyone who voted online can also go to a polling station on Sunday and vote in the traditional way, cancelling out the vote they cast online."

While there are some doubts about internet voting I think that with developments in security this is an idea that eventually will be exported on a global scale. Now that we can order goods at the click of a button and book doctors appointments by a simple text message it seems that politics must move forward in a similar way to stay relevant to younger generations.

Another key advantage of internet voting is its improved accessibility. Actually going to a voting station on a given day can be demanding. It can mean and early rise or a detour on the way home from work in a society that is working increasingly longer hours. Doing a postal vote can be an even more long winded process to so giving people access to vote from home, at work or abroad is a key innovation that I believe can improve voter turnout and is a system that represents a new generation of people.


An Estonian advert for internet voting

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6407269.stm

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/22/technology/22iht-evote.4691301.html

http://www.vvk.ee/index.php?id=11178

Spotify: Volume Sensitive advertising

Spotify is an online music streaming service that gives its users access to its catalogue of music with no buffering or delays. The concept is a way to provide people with music without them having to take ownership of the tracks. Instead the users are given access to the company's library of music, however they also have to listen to adverts in between songs, in a way similar to radio advertising. For a fee of £0.99 per day or £9.99 a month users can listen free of advertising.

Advertising is a big part of Spotify's revenue so it is important for them to be able to ensure that advertising on the site reaches their users as effectively as possible. Until recently when adverts were streamed between songs on Spotify it was possible to turn down the volume, to avoid listening to the advert. However after using the service recently I noticed that this has changed.

Now the advertising is sensitive to the volume of your computer. For example as seen below if I turned down the volume to just one bar the advert would automatically pause and I would not be able to listen to any more music until I have continued to listen to the advert.





One way to beat the volume sensitive advertising is if you listen to music through speakers, you can turn them off and turn up the volume on your computer. However if you were to simply use a lap top or the built in speakers in a computer then this method of ensuring advertising is consumed would be highly effective.

Methods such as these to ensure that advertising is consumed by internet users perhaps demonstrates how modern technology has changed our attitudes towards advertising, especially invasive advertising such as this and represents a consumer desire to avoid advertising. While Spotify is only available in six countries currently, this technology could obviously work all around the world where there is internet access.

I have seen examples of placing advertising before content that has to be consumer in order to reach the content in television steaming websites such as 4OD, but the idea of making advertising volume sensitive opens up lots of possibilities. Could this idea be expanded to radio and even television, becoming more and more invasive in our lives? Whether this would be effective is debatable but it would ensure the consumption of adverts which is something advertisers would be likely to be pleased by. This is an interesting innovation in the way we deliver advertising and it would be interested to see if it will be exported into other countries soon as well as other mediums.

http://www.spotify.com