<html>
At 03:49 PM 8/17/00 +0800, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite cite>I have been trying to think of ways of adding
to the "Technology" side of<br>
Open Space.</blockquote><br>
********************************<br>
What you propose sounds fascinating and I am sure we can all learn a lot.
So share if you Care!!! As of course you will. Anyhow -- computers
and other technology have been a part of the Open Space World since the
beginning. Along the way, I think we have learned a few things which may
be useful to your explorations. Stated as principles the learnings are:
a) Never use technology for something the people can do as well or better
by themselves. b) Whatever technology you use, keep it light and as
transparent as possible.<br>
<br>
For understandable reasons, my techie friends are always looking for new
bells and whistles, which in themselves are wonderful, but tend to add an
un-needed level of complexity -- so a certain friendly restraint is
always in order.<br>
<br>
I guess the core issue here is the need to care for the space. As long as
technology enhances the quality of the space - great. But if it clutters
the space or impedes the process, then I would be very careful. The whole
business with laptops is a case in point. Many people have suggested and
a number have tried using laptops in the actual sessions under the notion
that folks could then capture the discussion in real time and not
waste time transcribing from newsprint at a later moment. Sounds great --
but my experience is a little different. First of all laptops can
be dropped. They also go on "walk-about." But the real
problem is that when folks record discussion in real time, it tends to be
a raw data dump with little reflection and organization. On the other
hand, when they have to look at a large pile of newsprint, there is a
strong motivation for some useful editing and organization.<br>
<br>
At a subtler level, I find that something else (of value) is lost -- the
community that builds around The NewsRoom. So data entry (writing the
reports becomes more than a mechanical task -- it actually seems to
enrich the over all experience.<br>
<br>
Anyhow -- Press onwards. I think it should be fun. And while you are at
it -- you might think about a software package that would handle the
whole event -- soup to nuts. Registration, report entry, prioritization
-- with a direct connection to the InterNet for follow-on and follow
through. I'll bet you would have a number of interested folks.<br>
<br>
Lastly -- Poor old "technology" as in Open Space
<i>Technology</i>... The word got there mostly by way of a joke --
perhaps a bad one (Ralph :-) -- but in truth it is a technology in the
precise definition of the term... <i>A specific procedure for the
achievement of particular results.</i> I have never fought it too much --
first because I didn't think I could -- but mostly because I have had the
hope that perhaps our collective notion of technology would expand to be
more what I think it should be. Not just widgets etc -- but a rich part
of the total human journey. I guess folks talk about "humanizing
technology." For me it's always been human, we have just
been too narrow in our definition. There was a time (perhaps not to be
repeated) when a few of us used to talk about Advanced Human
Technologies. Open Space was one of those, and we might add things like
NLP, various esoteric practices (forms of meditation) etc. Oh well,
all that was pretty weird. Or was it? <br>
<br>
Harrison<br>
<br>
<br>
<div align="center">
Harrison Owen<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-469-9269<br>
fax 301-983-9314<br>
Summer Phone 207-763-3261<br>
Summer Address<br>
189 Beaucaire Ave.<br>
Camden, ME 04843<br>
website
<a href="http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh" eudora="autourl">www.mindspring.com/~owenhh</a><br>
Open Space Institute website
<a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
</div>
</html>