Social Computing as Social Computation

Thomas Erickson, [email protected] http://www.visi.com/~snowfall/ Research Directions in Social Computing, Group 2007

Social Computing as

Social Computation

Thomas Erickson

Social Computing Group

IBM T. J. Watson Research Center

Research Directions in Social Computing Workshop

Sanibel Island, FL, November 4, 2007

Group 2007


A Definition

Social Computing refers to systems that support• the gathering, re-presentation, processing, use and dissemination

of information that is distributed across social collectivities such as teams, communities, organizations and markets.

• Moreover the “information” is not ‘anonymous,’ but is significant precisely because it is linked to people, who are in turn linked to other people

The Short Form• Social computing involves the processing of information

distributed across social collectivities


A Few Comments on the Definition

Notice that• the definition doesn’t require computers

• the issue of “identity” is central: information is significant because it “is linked to people, who are in turn linked to other people”


An Example of Social Computing

The Situation• A group of 30 people who had written chapters for a book

• A 3-day off-site in which small groups read each others’ chapter drafts and critiqued them... but no one had read them all

• A collective effort to come up with an organization for the book



The Setting• Everyone is in a room,

each author with one copy of their chapter

• Tentative section names have been written on pieces of paper and those have been placed far apart on the floor

Design

Systems

Education Essays



The Rules• Authors may place their chapter wherever they wish

• Anyone can move any chapter

• Anyone can edit the text of a section name, and move, add or remove a section

Design

Systems

Education Essays



The Process, #1• Some clustering occurs around “Design” and “Systems”

Rationales discussed: People near one another converse about the rationales for sections, why various chapters fit or belong elsewhere, and what might be better section names

Design

Systems

Education Essays



The Process, #2• Some authors place their chapters and go elsewhere,

others hover protectively near their chapters

• An unaffiliated cluster of authors considers creating a new section

Authors are freed up: As chapters are ‘placed,’ their authors are freed up to move other chapters around, to discuss organization, or to help those who are still undecided

Design

Systems

Contexts Essays



The Process, #3• The unaffiliated cluster of authors creates “Explorations” section

Rationale is exchanged and disseminated: When ever someone moves a ‘placed’ chapter,they explain their rationale to those in the vicinity: the result, whether the chapter is moved or not, is more shared knowledge about the rationale for that section and that chapter

Design

Systems

Contexts Sermons

Explorations



The Process, #4• The system settled into a stable state…

Design

Systems

Contexts Sermons

Explorations



The Process, #5• ...and everyone went to lunch

Design

Systems

Contexts Sermons

Explorations



The Result• It worked: a coherent result was achieved in about 30 minutes,

even though no single person possessed all the necessary knowledge

• It was ‘fair’, at least in the sense that everyone had input

• It was fun

Design

Systems

Contexts Sermons

Explorations


Comments on the Example

How the setting supported the social computation• It showed the dynamic state of the process

• ‘solidified’ sections, ‘orphans’, contested sections




• It supported modulated awareness amongst users• participants could see/hear those nearby, but not far away; people felt accountable




• It supported modulated awareness amongst users

• It created foci for activity by making (pending) state changes visible• proposed moves would be discussed by those near (i.e. committed to) a section





• It created foci for activity by making (pending) state changes visible

• It partitioned activity (by virtue of physical constraints)• not enough space for everyone to gather around a single section






• It partitioned activity (by virtue of physical constraints)

• It encouraged specialization (by virtue of physical constraints)• no one could dominate: people had to focus on a particular level of granularity






• It partitioned activity (by virtue of physical constraints)

• It encouraged specialization (by virtue of physical constraints)

• It provided opportunities to strengthen/repair relationships• talk; lunch


More Generally

Although this example was unusual, social computation is not• Auctions are way of ‘computing’ the prices of goods

• Markets are a way of both valuing and predicting the performance of companies and other entities

• Elections (and election campaigns) can also be seen as computations


More Generally

Over the last decade, digital technology, and the way in which its been taken up by the population, has progressed to a point where it can enable new forms of social computation

• Wikipedia

• The ESP Game (AKA Google Image Labeler)

• SlashDot

• Mechanical Turk

• FixMyStreet (or FillThatHole or SeeClickFix)

For more on this topic, see “Designing Systems that Support Social Behavior,” and http://www.visi.com/~snowfall/


Towards a Framework

Given the increasing number of examples of social computation, and their great potential, it would be useful to have a framework for thinking about the topic

• The remainder of this presentation lays out some grist for a discussion at this workshop


Towards a Framework

Levels• Identity networks

• Partitioned awareness

• Action and Interaction

• Permanent and emergent structure


Towards a Framework

Levels• Identity networks

• Partitioned awareness

• Action and Interaction

• Permanent and emergent structure

Mechanisms that span levels• Processor enlistment and release

• Management of multiple foci

• Mode transitions

• Might the parallel computing literature have useful constructs?


Summary

Definition of social computing

Social computing doesn’t need to involve a digital substrate

Levels: Identity, Awareness, (Inter)Action, Structure

Mechanisms: Systems that span these levels

Social Computing as Social Computation

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