<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">I would hope that even when technology is available, it is not the driver of the design decisions.<div>I'd hope that design - just like any facilitation design - starts with overarching objectives, desired outcomes, assessment and analysis of time, physical space, issues and numbers of participants, and that choice of tool(s) (including whether it's Open Space or another dialogic process -and- what sorts of tech tools may be useful) grow directly from the specifics of human dynamics, ways brains / people think, impact on or extension of a desired element - all parts of anything you're introducing into the full system (from design adjustments to tools) being thought about as they interrelate to the whole and to the objectives.</div><div><br></div><div>My best learning on this was in a workshop given by the wonderful Eugene Kim on collaboration using tech tools - two thirds of the workshop was first spent on what are the feelings / elements of / ways to foster group collaboration, experiencing some of those ways to fully integrate and understand the nature of collaboration, and *then* a brief look at if there are any tech tools that improve upon what people can do with their bodies and minds in the physical space.</div><div><br></div><div>So for example, sure, it would save time for folks to electronically scan their handwritten notes - however this would remove the opportunity for people to think while they are transcribing about how to adjust the framing for the outside reader (the one who couldn't be in the physical discussion at the time). So each gain is a ... well not a loss, but an impact, that I'm hoping is thoughtfully considered. The other interesting thing that happens when people transcribe is the conversations that happen at the Newsroom - which is also *the work* just as much as in the discussion circles. Not that a physical Newsroom is required - just one of the reasons sometimes a physical Newsroom is intentionally designed into the process. It also is gives a visible, tangible sense of shared responsibility.</div><div><br></div><div>Folks can take notes on their laptops, and / however the impact is that it is written in 'quick-speak' / 'quick-think' (my own words) which communicates what happens very differently (if at all) to many outside readers (the others in the event who did not get to that conversation). Notes can be sent to a wiki, however the impact can often be that less notes get in, only those whose culture or ways of absorbing info includes going to webspaces access the notes, or other elements that should be considered. Many tech tools fit with 'instant responder' learners or those already adept at the tools, so it might do well to consider the full group's access to learning or practice about/with those tools so all have equal access. Tech tools can sometimes lead to public posting of notes, and shifts in ability to keep discussions confidential if they need to be - so thoughts about whether those notes are posted for the public or in some way just for the members is something to be considered. All good - all to be considered.</div><div><br></div><div>Folks can write notes on paper flip chart pads, for that matter - and photos can be taken of those pages. However it is often the case that those in the group find it perfect documentation of their experience, and those who were in other groups cannot quite tell (though they can feel a bit of) what was discussed. Again: not a negative, just something to consider. Sometimes facilitators choose to write notes out on a flipchart pad both for others to see -and- to slow down the thinking so that all types of thinkers can access that information and 'read between the lines' as well. A design choice for the ways people think.</div><div><br></div><div>Many of you have much more experience in doing Open Space with enhanced technology than I - I'm not saying tech is bad - I'm saying I hope that all tools are considered for their enhancement-versus-impact rather than what may first appear as helping things get done quicker and more smoothly.</div><div><br></div><div>Gabriel and Christine and the gang modeled an amazing thoughtfulness in design (introducing tech tools into the human system of an 11,000 person conference in a way that raised individual capacity to use such tools, enhanced community, enhanced discussion and interchange and offered data back to the conference, in last October's Girl Scout convention - they considered not just the tools but the visuals connecting people to such tools, the handling of the tools, the learning curves for the tools, the ripple effect of the introduction of each tool during the conference and so many more thoughtful amazing elements to use of tools to enhance and deepen everything from discussion to data collection to in-person co-learning...). I am in awe. I was quite an experience.</div><div><br></div><div>Just some thoughts to throw into the mix. I know that some of you great folks are stretching our learning and your own practice in the fields of OS and technology...</div><div><br></div><div>And a bow right now to the fabulous Gabriela Ender for a very early tech tool on the OS horizon, introduced some years ago and still going strong: OpenSpace-Online... </div><div><br></div><div>Lisa</div><div><br><div apple-content-edited="true"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">Lisa Heft</font></b></span></font></div><div>Consultant, Facilitator, Educator</div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">Opening Space</font></b></span></font></div><div><a href="mailto:lisaheft@openingspace.net">lisaheft@openingspace.net</a></div><div><a href="http://www.openingspace.net">www.openingspace.net</a></div><div><br></div></div></div></span></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> </div><br><div><div>On Jun 3, 2009, at 11:54 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div>I have less concern about the tech-break (always possible, but you survive)<br>and more that the technology may get in the way of the people. Erik mentions<br>that a "transcriber" could handle the task of posting -- true -- but at the<br>cost of "direct control of the board." My objective is always to have<br>nothing (at least little) in the way of the people and their task. Over the<br>years multiple techies have come up with all sorts of truly great stuff, but<br>more often than not I found it to be a technology in search of an<br>application as opposed to a transparent assist to folks in Open Space. The<br>more we do for the people, the less they do for themselves. The antidote is<br>to just get out of the way. Being totally present and absolutely invisible.<br>Definitely works with facilitators and I think the same should apply to<br>technology.<br><br>Harrison <br><br><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">*<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"> </blockquote></div></blockquote></div></div></body></html>*
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