The approach you're suggesting is referred to as "crowdsourcing", not "swarm intelligence".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarm_intelligence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowdsourcing We have been using a form of crowdsourcing to drive the development of DXLab for the last 9 years. It works well. 73, Dave, AA6YQ -----Original Message----- From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:digitalra...@yahoogroups.com]on Behalf Of David Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:21 AM To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Subject: [digitalradio] The next big thing - Using Swarm Intelligence Excuse the newbie's lack of knowledge, but... Rapid expansion followed by slow consolidation. This is the way of business and technology. What we have been seeing over the last decade or so is the rapid expansion (diversity) of digital communications schemas. Eventually, market forces will prune the tree and only a few major branches will be left. Some minor branches will survive as museum pieces used by a small "collector-antique" community. Alternatively, a new digital mode that will either be superior to all others, or will dominate others, as to create a barrir to entry in the market. For example, when Windows and MAC took over the personal computer OS market. Where am I going with this? Why do we have to wait for someone to invent the better mouse trap? We can design it as a community. Perhaps its time for us as a community to develop the specifications for this "next big thing." and send it out to the ether for programmers and technologist to build. Specifications: 1. Simple and easy to hook-up for the average computer user. Ideally only requires software, cables, and the Ham's existing transceiver. 2. Inexpensive 3. Open source code and documentation 4. Excellent documentation within source code and within manuals 5. Able scan beacon's and make suggestions for the best mode of operation given the users frequency. 6. Consists of a set of communications protocals and methods to enable it to determine the best format to use given bandwidth, power, band noise, information density, etc. 7. Uses low-bandwidth low baud rates for initial contact and then quickly shifts through machine-to-machine communication to establish the best connection using the best communications schema given the conditions. 8. Can repair bits. 9. Uses standardized tokens to send and recieve often used letters, words, or phrases between machines. 10. Can send any combination of text, images, and speech within the same transmission given enough bandwidth. 11. Can enable the connection of many different Hams in one call working at the same time. 12. Can interface with standard logging software. Well here are the first dozen from an inexperienced newbie that believes in Swarm Intelligence. Perhaps if we all write a solid Specifications document we could next pool money and create a prize to the group that can create the first robust solution for us. Well enough of my soapboxing. 73
