When Peer Production Succeeds (Mako)
Date and Time
Wednesday, May 01, 2013 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location
Akamai CRCThe Akamai office is a short walk from the Kendall Square T stop and other public transportation. Metered parking is normally available near the location.
Summary
When Peer Production Succeeds; presented by Benjamin Mako Hill
Abstract
Why do some free software and free culture projects succeed where others fail? Hear Benjamin Mako Hill speak on a topic he has researched extensively. If you are involved in a free software, "open source," or free culture project, or simply want to know how they succeed (and why they sometimes don't), this is an amazing presentation you won't want to miss. Hill will refer to research on free software and free culture communities and suggest that the ideal of peer production is only rarely realized. He will show how free software, and free culture, only very rarely look like their poster children: the Linux kernels and the Wikipedias. Hill will present some of his research comparing failed free culture projects to successes to both suggest a methodology, and a potential set of answers, in order to answer the question: Why do peer production projects like Wikipedia work? Hill will suggest, and try to show, that by learning from our failures, instead of ignoring or sweeping them under the rug, we can make both free culture advocacy and free culture practice more effective. Why do some free software and free culture projects succeed where others fail?
