Thinking about corporate internet platforms, their politics, and the commons
7th May 2011
This is an interview I had forgotten about, but I believe explains quite well the contradictions at work within corporate platforms.
This is a good background for the Platform Politics conference taking place May 11 to 13 in Cambridge.
May 8th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
As you know I’ve been doing what I can to advance an important mechanism and model rooted in understanding of the relationship between transaction and decision. Pragmatic solution requires liquefying certain transactions in particular. (i.e. the unburdening and facilitation of networked… financial transaction.)
These ideas having arisen out of a long-standing interest in the origins of human interaction and the landscapes within which it occurred, I initially focussed on what I feel are neglected needs in pre-commercial, Commons-focussed transactions. And even by itself that is significant. So up to now I’ve been looking at this model as a “Commons-dedicated Account” and associated network.
Leaving aside issues concerning the vital importance of such a network(s)’ ownership, governance and neutrality, solution to that problem required an Internet-based paysystem with monetization outside the transaction especially… as well as mechanisms allowing a viable micro-transaction and user-networking.
It seems the method and model may have broader utility as a direct PayPal competitor but with extra capabilities and lower cost.
By lowering transaction costs, increasing capability and broadening supply chain participation (payees, payers and those wishing to reach them) this becomes a better general utility Internet pay system… with vitally important emergent properties if properly developed. (and which conversely can be lost with haphazard or perverse corporatist implementation).
By the nature of its design it becomes more than an intermediate Internet pay system…
It becomes a User-owned, self-sustaining PLATFORM which then opens up opportunities for additional utility to its Users.
The Patent (US)
Chagora Assumptions
(model is now expanding as is monetization potential but I believe elements in this remain at its root)