Brokekid.net

(via unmediated.org)

Cairns appears to be literally a tool for finding and forming smartmobs, a research project by the looks of it, that uses visualization, social network analysis, collaborative filtering to enable you to find and form groups and tools to solve collective action problems. (Thanks, Ed!)

Short Description: Cairns is a web-based tool designed to connect people interested in finding collaborative and participatory ways of working.

What Problem Does It Solve?: It overcomes barriers to engaging in collective action.

How Does It Do That?: This open source too captures information about the way groups work together. Like a map, its unique visual interface allows participants to see what others are doing and to find and communicate with a community of practice. It also helps match those ‘doing collaboration’ to those studying and documenting participatory practices.

Why Is It Different?: Cairns is the first knowledge management tool to use visual interfaces to connect the community of collaborative practice.

Who Will Use It?: All groups engaged in collaborative or participatory ways of working and all those wishing to find people, methods, tools and groups working in collaborative and participatory ways.

Implementations: Pilot implementations include groups working in:

* Labor organizing

* Deliberation and dialogue

* Democratic and E-democratic organizing

* Citizen participation and consultation

* Political activism

Other Potential Uses: While Cairns is currently being implemented to build and connect those interested in collective action, the software is a visual knowledge management tool that can be re-purposed to connect any knowledge network.