Submissions/Economic Augmentation of Mass Collaboration mothered by Wikipedia or Wikimedia

This is a rejected submission for Wikimania 2012.

Submission no.

13

Title of the submission

Economic Augmentation of Mass Collaboration mothered by Wikipedia or Wikimedia

Type of submission (workshop, tutorial, panel, presentation)

Presentation

Author of the submission

Avijit Bakshi

E-mail address

bakshiavijit@gmail.com

Username

Oneblueplanet

Country of origin

USA, India

Affiliation, if any (organization, company etc.)

Brandeis University, MA, USA.

Personal homepage or blog

https://sites.google.com/site/forhumanityfund/home (Website presenting the title in detail)

Abstract (at least 300 words to describe your proposal)

A proposal to raise a Global Fund through Mass Collaboration (inspired by Wikipedia)

The Concern/Curiosity: Economic Viability of Mass Collaboration

1. Wikipedia avoids ads and donations from profit oriented companies for the convenience of users and relies on user donations. Is this forever viable?

2. Can Wikipedia's success be replicated for any other mass collaborative project? How can such projects raise their funding?

The Vision:

Que: What could exist? >> Can a fund be raised that is managed by mass collaboration? What may be the purpose of such a fund? Who manages the investments of such a globally owned fund?

Ans: Say mass collaboration raises a global fund - The forHumanity Fund (and Account) which economically stimulates, supports and sustains developmental/ mass collaborative projects. Wikipedia becomes a great example of a candidate project that could be supported by the Fund (https://sites.google.com/site/forhumanityfund/home). The investments of such a fund are managed by all users through a collaborative budgeting mechanism (see details : https://sites.google.com/site/forhumanityfund/fund-projects-budget-review).

Que: How to make it happen? >> How will it generate revenue? How to plant the seeds for such a fund?

Ans: Create a platform – the forHumanity Shopping and Checkout System to generate revenue (https://sites.google.com/site/forhumanityfund/shopping-checkout). Wikipedia can mother forHumanity (https://sites.google.com/site/forhumanityfund/wikipedia-mothering-forhumanity).

Track

WikiCulture and Community; Research, Analysis, and Education

Technology and Infrastructure

Length of presentation/talk

25 Minutes

Will you attend Wikimania if your submission is not accepted?

Yes, but acceptance enhances the odds

Slides or further information (optional)

File:Wikipedia-mothering-forHumanity.jpg File:Wikipedia-forHumanity block-diagram.jpg File:ForHumanity Account.jpg

Special request as to time of presentations

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