Difference between revisions of "Main Page"
From Convivial Tools Database
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<font size="5">'''Convivial Tools Database'''</font><br> | <font size="5">'''Convivial Tools Database'''</font><br> | ||
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| − | This website is a database about people, projects, concepts and websites related to [[Convivial Tools]]. | + | This website is a database about people, projects, concepts and websites related to [[Convivial Tools]], a concept defined by [[Ivan Illich]] in his 1973 book [[Tools for Conviviality]]. This site is a work in progress, and some sections are more complete than others. |
| − | See the [[Site Map]] for the list of Main Categories, or go to [[:Category:Root]]. See also the companion website the<br> [http://conviviality.ouvaton.org Convivial Tools Encyclopedia | + | See the [[Site Map]] for the list of Main Categories, or go to [[:Category:Root]]. See also the companion website the<br> <br>[http://conviviality.ouvaton.org Convivial Tools Encyclopedia]. |
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==[[:Category:Historical Roots]] of Convivial Tools== | ==[[:Category:Historical Roots]] of Convivial Tools== | ||
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During and after the Second World War, emerging tendencies in scientific thought coalesced into a new field which [[Norbert Wiener]] called [[Cybernetics]], formed at the crossroads of computer science, electrical engineering, biology and social science. [[Post-War Cybernetics]] exercised a major influence on thinking about society, information, the environment and the use of computers. The concepts of [[Cybernetics]] were taken up by the [[Whole Earth]] movement, and the arrival of Internet spawned derivative terms such as [[Cyberspace]] and [[Cybernaut]]. | During and after the Second World War, emerging tendencies in scientific thought coalesced into a new field which [[Norbert Wiener]] called [[Cybernetics]], formed at the crossroads of computer science, electrical engineering, biology and social science. [[Post-War Cybernetics]] exercised a major influence on thinking about society, information, the environment and the use of computers. The concepts of [[Cybernetics]] were taken up by the [[Whole Earth]] movement, and the arrival of Internet spawned derivative terms such as [[Cyberspace]] and [[Cybernaut]]. | ||
| − | ==[[:Category:Whole Earth]] | + | ==[[:Category:Whole Earth]]== |
The [[Whole Earth]] movement began with the publication of the first [[Whole Earth Catalog]] by [[Stewart Brand]] in 1968. The [[Whole Earth Catalog]], which appeared regularly until 1972 and periodically thereafter, served as the center of an informal community of users and contributors. Due to their interest in [[Cybernetics]], the [[Whole Earth]] community spawned influential network-based spin-offs, such as the Internet community called the [[WELL]] and the cyber-magazine [[Wired]]. | The [[Whole Earth]] movement began with the publication of the first [[Whole Earth Catalog]] by [[Stewart Brand]] in 1968. The [[Whole Earth Catalog]], which appeared regularly until 1972 and periodically thereafter, served as the center of an informal community of users and contributors. Due to their interest in [[Cybernetics]], the [[Whole Earth]] community spawned influential network-based spin-offs, such as the Internet community called the [[WELL]] and the cyber-magazine [[Wired]]. | ||
==[[:Category:Appropriate Technology]]== | ==[[:Category:Appropriate Technology]]== | ||
[[Appropriate Technology]] was first introduced as [[Intermediate Technology]] in the mid-nineteen-sixties by [[E.F. Schumacher]], who is best-known for his book [[Small is Beautiful]]. | [[Appropriate Technology]] was first introduced as [[Intermediate Technology]] in the mid-nineteen-sixties by [[E.F. Schumacher]], who is best-known for his book [[Small is Beautiful]]. | ||
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| + | ==[[:Category:Convivial Tools]]== | ||
| + | [[Ivan Illich]] coined the term [[Convivial Tools]] in his 1973 book [[Tools for Conviviality]]. [[Convivial Tools]] can be defined as tools which allow the user to operate with independent efficiency. [[Convivial Tools]] are generally developed and maintained by a community of users, as for example an on-line community. | ||
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| + | In his earlier book [[Deschooling Society]], Illich proposed the development of computerized "learning webs," at a time before the Internet existed. His subsequent book [[Tools for Conviviality]] influenced members of the 1970s [[Hacker Generation]] who developed the first personal computer. One of these was inventor [[Lee Felsenstein]], who adopted Illich's vision of tools that would be developed and maintained by a community of users. This vision of community tool development is embodied in more recent movements such as [[Free and Open Source Software]], [[Wiki]]s, [[Open Design]] and the whole of [[Web 2.0]]. | ||
==[[:Category:Hacker Generation]]== | ==[[:Category:Hacker Generation]]== | ||
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[[Open Design]] is the application of the principles of [[Free and Open Source Software]] (FOSS) to the design of physical objects such as machines and computer hardware. Open Design is a general term covering a number of specific [[Open Source]] movements, such as the [[Open Source Hardware]] movement for Open Design of microcomputer chips, and the [[Open Source Tool Design]] movement which concerns primarily the Open Design of machines. | [[Open Design]] is the application of the principles of [[Free and Open Source Software]] (FOSS) to the design of physical objects such as machines and computer hardware. Open Design is a general term covering a number of specific [[Open Source]] movements, such as the [[Open Source Hardware]] movement for Open Design of microcomputer chips, and the [[Open Source Tool Design]] movement which concerns primarily the Open Design of machines. | ||
| − | ==[[:Category:Convivial Product]] | + | ==[[:Category:Convivial Product]]== |
The [[Convivial Product]] is a [[Convivial Tool]] offered for public use, either by sale or by gift (see [[Gift Economics]]). The basic characteristic of the [[Convivial Product]] is [[Usability]]. | The [[Convivial Product]] is a [[Convivial Tool]] offered for public use, either by sale or by gift (see [[Gift Economics]]). The basic characteristic of the [[Convivial Product]] is [[Usability]]. | ||
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==[[:Category:Web 3.0]]== | ==[[:Category:Web 3.0]]== | ||
| − | What is the web evolving towards? Some say that [[Web 3.0]] will be a [[Semantic Web]], providing machine-facilitated understanding of information to help users perform more productive [[Data Mining]] for their own personal | + | What is the web evolving towards? Some say that [[Web 3.0]] will be a [[Semantic Web]], providing machine-facilitated understanding of information to help users perform more productive [[Data Mining]] for their own personal profit. |
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| + | ==About This Website== | ||
| + | This website operates under [[MediaWiki]] software and thus has the potential to be a [[Wiki]]. However, to avoid continual hassles with spammers, the site is configured so that only WikiSysop can create new accounts, and no new accounts have been created. This website is thus the single-handed creation of one person. | ||
| − | + | For more information about the site itself, see [[About this Site]] and [[Road Maps]]. | |
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| − | + | See also the [[Convivial Tools Bloglist]]. | |
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