Hey Kids, Let’s Build a Trustworthy, Decentralized, User-Focused Web Ecosystem!

“Hey Kids, Let’s Build a Trustworthy, Decentralized, User-Focused Web Ecosystem!”

Wednesday 8G

Convener: Richard Whitt

Notes-taker(s): Richard Whitt

Tags for the session - technology discussed/ideas considered:

Discussion notes, key understandings, outstanding questions, observations, and, if appropriate to this discussion: action items, next steps:

Building an ecosystem that incorporates SSI and other user-empowering technology concepts

The session revolved around GLIAnet, a project (www.glia.net) being run by Richard Whitt in his capacity as fellow at the Mozilla Foundation.  The premise of the project is that the current Web ecosystem is plagued by deficits of trust, accountability, and user control, and nothing short of a new cross-functional, cross-sectoral organizing approach is necessary.  The GLIAnet ecosystem was discussed, centering on a modified version of the OSI stack as inspired by software engineer Evi Nemeth: Layers 1-7 (Code, or tech), Layers 8 (Players, or money), Layer 9 (Rules, or politics) and Layer 10 (Humanity, or all of us).  In each of those Code/Players/Rules/Humanity layers, concerted action is both possible and necessary to drive real societal change.

Discussion focused on the seven proposed technology layers of the GLIAnet ecosystem: data "lifestreams," personal AI "avatars," self-sovereign identity "personas," localized "cloudlets," decentralized "dApps," modular owned devices "MODs," and personal "MyAccess."  

The participants voiced general agreement with the diagnosis, and the proposed remedies, while providing useful input on the feasibility of various options.  Several noted that the ME2B movement, and the digi.me online platform, are two examples of particularly good fits to the "big tent" approach being proposed for GLIAnet.

The whiteboard diagramming output used during the session is attached.