Tech guru Howard Rheingold recently spoke with Robert D. Hof, BusinessWeek’s Silicon Valley bureau chief…
Q: Where do you see the social revolution you’ve been talking about going next?
A: It’s too early to say. The question is: What does it point toward? Some kind of collective action…in which the individuals aren’t consciously cooperating. A market is a great example as a mechanism for determining price based on demand. People aren’t saying, “I’m contributing to the market,” [they say they’re] just selling something. But it adds up.Q: Can you give me some specific examples of what you mean, beyond the market?
A: Google is based on the emergent choices of people who link. Nobody is really thinking, “I’m now contributing to Google’s page rank.” What they’re thinking is, “This link is something my readers would really be interested in.” They’re making an individual judgment that, in the aggregate, turns out to be a pretty good indicator of what’s the best source.…more at OhmyNews
As markets are at the center of the Open Space Technology and Inviting Organization stories I’ve been telling for some time now, I’m looking for Rheingold’s Smart Mobs.