A Pattern Language for Living Communication

1. A Pattern Language for Living Communication An international collaborative project (This talk presented by Andy Dearden, Sheffield Hallam University)

2. Patterns • Pattern • Developed in Architecture “a three-part rule, which expresses a relation between a certain context, a problem and a solution” • Pattern Language • organised collection of patterns • shared by a community • developed and improved over time • open for discussion, debate, and interpretation

3. A Pattern Language for Living Communication • Project supported by CPSR • led by Doug Schuler • An on-line resource for activists • Sharing experience • of enabling ‘equitable and effective use of information and communication technology’ • trying to identify common solutions - ‘what works’ • Presented in ‘usable’ chunks (patterns) • Organised to aid finding relevant chunks (pattern language)

4. Current state of the project • Workshops • Seattle spring 2002 • Malmo, Sweden, 2002 • Milano, Italy, 2003 • Active mailing list • https://ssl.cpsr.org/mailman/listinfo/pattern-language • On-line library of (draft) patterns • http://www.cpsr.org/program/sphere/patterns/

5. What have we learned? • That the biggest challenge is maintaining the engagement of the team • That we work best when we each identify specific tasks and commit to them • That that there is free technology out there to do some of the things we want

6. What are our current challenges • Establishing working subgroups • Raising funds to pay to get people to meetings • Handling sensitivities about ownership of material

7. What do I hope to get out of today? • A better understanding of what is already happening • A network of people addressing similar questions • Find out if there is a perceived need for the pattern language • Find people who might engage in the patterns project (& other like activities)

8. Some draft patterns • Civic Intelligence • http://diac.cpsr.org/cgi-bin/diac02/pattern.cgi/public?pattern_id=1 • Social Source Software • http://diac.cpsr.org/cgi-bin/diac02/pattern.cgi/public?pattern_id=18 • Community-based IT Workforce Development • http://diac.cpsr.org/cgi-bin/diac02/pattern.cgi/public?pattern_id=40 • Online movement in anti-poverty communities • http://diac.cpsr.org/cgi-bin/diac02/pattern.cgi/public?pattern_id=126 • Public Health Information • http://diac.cpsr.org/cgi-bin/diac02/pattern.cgi/public?pattern_id=311 • Mutual help medical websites • http://diac.cpsr.org/cgi-bin/diac02/pattern.cgi/public?pattern_id=135 • Human networks bridge the digital divide in rural Nigeria • http://diac.cpsr.org/cgi-bin/diac02/pattern.cgi/public?pattern_id=52

9. Reflections on the project • Incentives for involvement • writing patterns takes time and effort • Understanding the format • pattern format may not be natural means of communication for some • Developing a shared review process • pattern writing is a collective peer-reviewed process, how are reviews circulated / discussed • Recruiting the expertise • many contributors are needed, how do we engage?

10. Questions