this is a fascinating interview.

I do think that AA is correct in his suggestion that ‘a new media system is coming”. My own view is that it will appear in the form of a social network that combines all the stuff you’d want to find on the Facebook, with all the stuff you’d expect to find in a bank, with all the stuff you’d expect to find in a marketplace.

The key common denominator – and that which will drive status (I think anyway) – will be contribution to the common good. Contribution will be measured in time and converted into digital points that will serve as a kind of “CV of Good” and which i think possess the potential to become a universal virtual currency.

Businesses with spare capacity or excess stock that they wish to get rid of at reduced prices, will be willing to accept these points in lieu of a discount thus enhancing their brand value since the amount of the discount to face value is disguised by the price which links an individual’s entitlement to the individual’s contribution.

An ethical Amazon-cum-e-bay-cum-facebook-cum-virtual currency, i think, isn’t that far off.

What will drive it, i think at least, will be the rise of personal data stores. the reason for this is that big businesses are driven by machines and machines need data to operate. When i say data, i mean YOUR data. Your personal data.

Once you have the tools to own your own data, and are “paid by the hour” to keep it up to date and fresh so that it’s value is maximised for the sake of the common good, then i think we will see an emergent new business model that is designed specifically to generate revenues for members of its community.

We shall see i suppose, but i think the publishing of this book is mega-timely.

All power to the people!!!

@mikeriddell62