Decentralized networks: Difference between revisions

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(New page: For a long time the idea is floating around to have independent and decentralized networks as an alternative to the existing centralized (= one user database, one management) hospitality n...)
 
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For a long time the idea is floating around to have independent and decentralized networks as an alternative to the existing centralized (= one user database, one management) hospitality networks.
For a long time the idea has been floating around to have independent and '''decentralized networks''' as an alternative to the existing centralized (= one user database, one management) [[hospitality]] networks.


The idea is interesting, but has some difficult aspects, that can be discussed on this page.
The idea is interesting, but has some difficult aspects, that can be discussed on this page.


== Why? ==
== Why? ==
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The great benefit of decentralized networks is that they allow to experiment with different technology, different styles of moderation, different safety and trust features, different search features, different looks, different peer groups.
The great benefit of decentralized networks is that they allow to experiment with different technology, different styles of moderation, different safety and trust features, different search features, different looks, different peer groups.


== How this can work ==
== How this can work ==
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This can only work if there is a way to prove that your friend link does in fact come from profile A in network X, and not from somewhere else. This is similar to the messages.
This can only work if there is a way to prove that your friend link does in fact come from profile A in network X, and not from somewhere else. This is similar to the messages.


=== Trust links between networks ===
=== [[Trust]] links between networks ===
Just like there can be a trust network of people, there can also be a trust network of networks..
Just like there can be a trust network of people, there can also be a trust network of networks..


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== Examples ==
== Examples ==


Crash at Mine (?)
* Crash at Mine (?)
* Noserub

Revision as of 02:34, 13 October 2009

For a long time the idea has been floating around to have independent and decentralized networks as an alternative to the existing centralized (= one user database, one management) hospitality networks.

The idea is interesting, but has some difficult aspects, that can be discussed on this page.


Why?

Is decentralized always better?

Always? Probably not. But that should not stop anyone from exploring!

The great benefit of decentralized networks is that they allow to experiment with different technology, different styles of moderation, different safety and trust features, different search features, different looks, different peer groups.


How this can work

User accounts

The idea would mean that there is not one big network where you create a user account, but instead you would choose one or more networks where you want to create an account and have the information you define stored in the database.

Problems:

  • Multi-accounts: Duplicate search results, and redundant information to update in different places.
  • Agony of choice: How to choose my favorite network?

Solutions:

  • Tools for import, export and profile migration
  • Auto-update a profile on site X with information from site Y.

Searching member profiles

To make member search useful, it has to be cross-network. This means, a search request either has to request information from all connected networks, or you need some kind of search engine that crawls member profiles on different networks and caches the information.

Problems:

  • Privacy: Information that is shared between an arbitrary number of networks is practically public information.

Solutions:

Messages from one user to another

You go to someone's profile on network X, click "send message", type the message, submit. You leave a link to your own profile on network Y.

Problems:

  • You need to type in the link to your own profile manually, which is inconvenient, and you can make typos.
  • You can type in a fake link to someone else's profile.

Solutions:

Trust links between members

Just like the references or friend links in couchsurfing, you could create a trust link from profile A in network X to profile B in network Y.

This can only work if there is a way to prove that your friend link does in fact come from profile A in network X, and not from somewhere else. This is similar to the messages.

Trust links between networks

Just like there can be a trust network of people, there can also be a trust network of networks..


Examples

  • Crash at Mine (?)
  • Noserub