Votorola is communication technology in support of public autonomy.
We develop the practices and tools to enable a radically free, self-determined
society, one in which plans of action are coordinated by discussion aimed at mutual
understanding and consensus.
| Project: |
Mailing list,
Freenode IRC,
Contributors
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| Software: |
Architecture,
Licence,
Download,
Manual
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| Source: |
Files,
Repository,
Java API,
Build instructions
|
| Wanted: |
Manager,
Practice leader,
Joint development
|
We are currently tooling up for alpha trials of the practice. More information
will be provided shortly. Meantime, the best way to understand the technology is
to read the practice documentation below. It is still sketchy and incomplete, but
it describes the practice as we currently foresee it. We also have a theory document that is somewhat outdated by recent
changes to the practice. Finally, we have software. Part of the user interface
is running at the top of this page. The software is not entirely easy to use, but
most people will be able to participate without using it much, because the formal
practice is designed to support informal discussion. The aim is to extend that
discussion to everyday people as such.
Solution sketching
Think of a social problem or goal that people can work together to
solve or achieve. Sketch a solution in a form that is actionable.
Planting
How to get started, bearing in mind that the tools and practices are
still in early development.
| Not yet drafted. |
Validity seeking
Ensuring that while proposed bills, plans and other norms move toward
action, they also move toward legitimacy and validity.
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Position space rationalization
Accomodating and integrating the complexity of real world solutions
through recombinant genetics, while simultaneously building up the
resources necessary for action.
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Patch relaying
How to efficiently communicate a draft amendment to a large population
of other drafters, despite numerous differences among their texts.
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Containment
The use of container pipes in the tree, which serve as elements for
navigating complex designs, and as gene-like components of variation.
Variation
The use of variant nodes in the tree, which encode alternative designs
that are being developed for possible recombination via patch relay.
Atomic variation
The rule of a single, irreducible difference between a voter and
candidate draft, which allows for efficient recombination of complex
variations throughout the population of draft texts.
Abstraction
Deliberately leaving parts of a solution undefined (abstract
hotspots), as a strategy to bridge differences and signal for
troubleshooting resources.
Account sinking
Attaching a resource account to a patch that requires resources for
action, thus sinking it into the branch that applies the patch.
Branch shifting
Moving a lot of resources in a single, coordinated vote shift.
Free flying
Never being pinned down, never being captured. Always moving freely
among the leaves and across an open patchwork of forums, languages and
voting facilities.
| Not yet drafted. |
Multi-winner assembly election
Open electoral primaries for continental European style, proportional
assemblies (multi-winner). How we locate our most qualified
legislative drafters, then elect them to the assembly, where they
continue to work in public with us, their un-elected peers.
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Power structuring
The structuring of executive power. How a powerful organization such
as a government is restructured through the guidance of primary
electors. How the electors accomplish this by voting for people they
personally know or trust.
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Legislative action
How primary drafters, primary electors and elected assembly members
work together to make legitimate laws.
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Budgeting
How any number of participants may arrive at a primary consensus
on a complex budget by wielding a single vote apiece.
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Immediate action
Ad hoc action coordinated by people who share their own, personal
resources.
Administrative action
How primary drafters, electors and local leaders work together with
elected executives and appointed officials to execute plans and
policies.
| Not yet drafted. |
