Also, re: The definition of coworking, when we last discussed it I had left off with a question:
How does a decentralized organization such as this one collectively make a decision on something like the definition of the word "coworking"? On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 11:02 AM, Alex Hillman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > I couldn't agree more about the basic education/evangelism. Tony and I have > spoken at this at length (on this list and elsewhere). The wiki landing page > has really weak definition language that, at one point, worked. But as the > concept has evolved, the definition has not. > > I'd love to see some simple coworking "brochureware". Functionality little > less than a "find the nearest coworking community to you", but high focus on > messaging and the "who, what, and why". A focused description on the diverse > styles of coworking makes sense for this, as well. > > -Alex > > -- > ----- > -- > ----- > Alex Hillman > im always developing something > digital: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > visual: www.dangerouslyawesome.com > local: www.indyhall.org > > > > On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 7:50 AM, JGarrido <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
