Yes, admin technology is definitely required, as I'm realizing I'm needing POS (point-of-sale) capabilities. Darren Silver and Amit Gupta (yes, same founder of Jelly!) should have something in beta in a few weeks for JellyDesk.
Jerome ______________ BLANKSPACES "work wide open" www.blankspaces.com 5405 Wilshire Blvd (2 blocks west of La Brea) Los Angeles, CA 90036 323.330.9505 (office) On Oct 2, 2008, at 4:50 AM, JGarrido wrote: > > So there's an apparent need for a widely-known, and comprehensive > directory service for co-working spaces globally (which has been the > main topic of this thread), in addition – I believe – to more > evangelism and basic education on the topic of co-working itself (I'm > quite sure none of my prior fellow cube-dwellers have even *heard* of > the concept). > > What I'm curious to know is if there is any software or technology > currently lacking which is needed to help facilitate or administrate > co-working locations? I think this is what needs to be defined. > > - JG > > > On Oct 1, 10:31 am, Todd Sundsted <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Great thread, everyone! >> >> I've talked to many of you independently, so I'm going to briefly >> brain dump here. >> >> After a very intimate year in this space, and after many >> conversations >> with both coworkers, independents, entrepreneurs, as well as people >> in >> corporate HR and real estate, there's definitely a new ecology of >> work/ >> workspace developing here. This probably isn't news to most of you. >> >> This ecology is currently composed largely of independents, >> independent entrepreneurs, and a small handful of corporate >> outworkers; it is also composed of a growing cadre of coworking >> spaces >> and local Jelly groups. People and places. To be fair, the ecology >> also includes coffee shops and executive suites, and the people that >> work there, even though these differ ideologically. But there are >> several missing pieces. >> >> In areas like New York City, but elsewhere as well, there's a real >> estate component that can't be avoided. Many current spaces started >> because "we got a good deal" on space somewhere, or because a forward >> thinking small business owner was willing to let others utilize >> unused >> office space. I realize I'm generalizing here, but please bear with >> me. This model isn't scalable. I'm not even sure it's desirable >> because living in borrowed space isn't sustainable over the long >> term, >> and I'm not sure coworking owner/operators are really prepared to be >> in the landlord business, which is what they are in the minute they >> start charging money for space and services. >> >> To the point of this thread, the necessary technology infrastructure >> is missing, as well. This hasn't been a problem, because we are all >> early adopters, and can get buy on our wits and our network of >> friends >> in coworking. However, at some point this movement is going to take >> off. Office space is the #2 cost in most businesses (after people, >> which are #1). I can guarantee that every Fortune 1000 company in >> the >> United States is looking for ways to reduce cost #2 (and #1) given >> our >> immediate economic situation. So, take off may be sooner than we >> think. >> >> My feeling is that it's time to compare notes, to look at the >> infrastructure, and to make sure that it evolves in a way that >> benefits and serves the community. Forget about the tags >> "coworking", >> "Jelly", etc. for a moment, and consider the near future in which >> work >> and workplace is increasingly defined as a network of intentional >> local spaces, and as communities of working peers with something in >> common beyond the accidental fact they work for the same company. >> Good technology will make it easier to open/operate spaces like those >> we've come to love. >> >> Thanks, >> Todd >> >> On Sep 30, 6:58 pm, "Derek Neighbors" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> Sent from wrong address. :) >> >>> Todd, >> >>>> On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 7:25 AM, Todd Sundsted <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>> wrote: >> >>>>> There has been talk in the past about open source membership >>>>> management software, etc. With coworking visas now in play, the >>>>> challenge of contacting an owner/manager when you're in town, >>>>> finding >>>>> a space in the first place, finding/reserving a desk, managing >>>>> payment, etc. there's an opportunity for the right tool to >>>>> simplify >>>>> the process of setting up and managing a space. With New Work >>>>> City in >>>>> the wings here in NYC, I'm being reminded of all of these issues >>>>> again. >> >>>>> So I'm gauging interest in this project. There are enough hot >>>>> shots >>>>> at work in coworking spaces, and enough great technologies out >>>>> there >>>>> (OpenID, etc.) that we could build and sustain an open source >>>>> project >>>>> like this. >> >>>> We have some interesting concepts in this area. We offer all our >>>> space for >>>> free so we haven't much focused on the business of collecting >>>> payment. >>>> However, we very much are interested in allowing co-workers to >>>> identify >>>> themselves and the space(s) they regularly frequent. We have >>>> another >>>> project for our hacknights (http://hacknight.gangplankhq.com/) >>>> that we >>>> might refactor and tie into the wurkspaces directory. Anyhoo... >>>> We are >>>> certainly open for ideas and willing to help. >> >>>> -- >>>> Derek Neighbors >>>> Integrum Technologies > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to coworking@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
