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NetSquared is an initiative ofTechSoup
NetSquared enables social benefit organizations to leverage the tools of the social web.
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freeFormed
Voting Summary (Elevator Pitch):
Use your phone, document your life, don't make friends, make circles.
Supporting organization:
New York University, Freeformed of New York, LLC
URL:
http://www.freeformed.net/
City:
New York
State/Region:
New York
Country:
United States of America
Project Vision Statement & Potential Social Impact:
Social networking has the potential to nourish communities and dialogue around topics rather than focus on pages of personal profiles. As well, community action online can be available to the global population by avoiding as many technological barriers as possible.
We at freeFormed took notice of the trends of online social networking and media sharing and felt that there were significant problems, not only in the structure and architecture of many of the more popular sites, but in the aspects of social networking communities that place importance on the quantity of connections, rather than significance of relationships. We also took note of trends in mobile development and noticed a gap between technological advances and their function within the online community.
FreeFormed is bridges this gap by encouraging the use of mobile phones to participate in online circles of conversation, emphasizing media as the point of connection rather then arbitrary definitions of identity. Encouraged by the success of current social sites, we see new and exciting ways to facilitate connectivity and a sense of community online that have the potential to expand social networking to social activism.
Utilizing the traditional use of the phone (voice) and recent mobile phone technologies (text and media messaging), freeFormed organizes multiple forms of media (voice, pictures and video) around circles. We are expanding on the social circles that form in the physical world around topics of interest, inviting multiple perspectives in one topic. Additionally, freeFormed links a user’s common interests throughout the site, creating a new form of the personal profile that is generated by what users do (i.e. what circle they participate in), rather than a description entered on a profile page.
Sustainability (financial) model:
Financially, there are two main components that are critical to the life of freeFormed. Media storage on freeFormed.net and VoIP purchased through Junction Networks that will allow user participation through nontraditional web integration of the familiar act of voice messaging.
The telephone number costs $4 per month and 2.9 cents per incoming call. Host and domain ownership costs approximately $30 per month. We are currently utilizing 1.1% of available storage, at 20 registers users.
The ability to split these costs between the five current members of freeFormed has kept the overhead of project funding reasonable so far. We are all equal standing members of Freeformed of New York, LLC, with the focus of outsourcing our skills in the fields of mobile and internet technology for supplemental funding. For example, in the fall of 2006 we were hired to implement mobile functionality and site design for Witness.org’s Video Hub , a nonprofit human rights organization based in Brooklyn, NY. Work of this nature is something we will be pursuing further.
Although the costs are currently low, we will need supplemental funding as the site grows. We are interested in attaining relationships with organizations that have a like-minded approach to the social affects and possibilities of the web, and would not like to simply attain advertising in the sidebar of the site. We would thrive from a partnership that would not only be a financial support, but would help the site grow. We are excited to work with and build upon the specific goals of any organization we work with.
Potential obstacles:
The bulk of functionality for freeformed.net is in working order and open source. Our main concern and therefore obstacle is privacy and security. Because of our motivation of access to all, we understand and are concerned by the potential for sensitive material being placed on the site, as are many sites that encourage user-generated content. Due the technical ease of the site as well as the underlying motivation of grassroots documentation, we need to tread carefully and realize the responsibility that comes with the access we are creating. All users will retain the full rights to their media and the formation of the LLC offers some protection legally, but morally we are determining the best and most practical way to keep track of what is on the site. We are only five people, so the ideal hope is that the community on the site will self regulate.
Resource Needs:
FreeFormed.net would benefit most from user growth. The life of the project will thrive as more people use it and its many applications are revealed. We are looking for those that are interested not only in contributing financial investment, but community involvement. For example, in late March and early April we began work with New Orleans Xavier University through a grant attained by New York University. Although the collaboration did not gain freeFormed any financial assistance, we were able to see the use of freeFormed to document a very specific social, economic and geographical situation through the eyes of college students and nonprofit organizations in New Orleans, LA, post Katrina. This experience is as valuable as any funding the project obtains to.
Key Milestones:
The second and largest user test will happen within the month of April. Key milestones technically over the next 90 days will include, allowing members to instantly send media from phone to phone, release of downloadable mobile application for easier upload, capability for Sprint costumers to upload media, and the continuous development of a cohesive user interface.
Project Summary:
Focusing on the mobile phone as a rapidly improving and increasingly accessible documentation tool, freeformed.net lets it's members create conversations in circles of media that shape their identity by their actions, not by who they say they are or how many friends they have.
Comments
AMAZING IDEA!!
THE PATH OF TECHNOLOGY HAS MET MY WONDERFUL AND AMAZING MEGAN. THIS IS A WONDERFUL IDEA AND SEEMS MUCH MORE REASONABLE THAN YOUR AVERAGE CELL PHONE. BEST OF LUCK!!