I'd also add that there's not a whole lot that's really new about coworking except the context in which we find ourselves in where internet connectivity is both (ironically) driving people to work from home, and then on the flip side, driving them to want to be together! Of course these are the opposite ends of the corporate/financial-social/relationship spectrum, but it's still worth pointing out.
To put it another way, the economics now favor distributing the work force (at least knowledge workers) and so since that fate has been thrust upon many, whether they desire it or not, it's now up to us — independents, folks who work from home or cafes, students, and many many other types of folks — to figure out what the ideal conditions for work and personal growth are to be. From the beginning, coworking has been really about one thing: getting people who are pursuing their passions, often independently, to come together in a shared, collaborative space. That kernel of an idea has many wide and varied applications, and as far as I'm concerned, would love to see it flourish beyond the typically tech-related sectors, and especially since it has already been proven to work well in creative professions for generations. Chris On Dec 30, 2007 5:11 PM, Tara Hunt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I really love the techshop example...although they've been around for FAR > longer than coworking and they do cooler things, like break and make stuff! > ;) It's a pretty awesome thing they have going. Of course coworking can work > outside of office environments: artist and writer collectives have existed > for eons in a similar fashion to how we structure coworking. > > We got much of our early inspiration from writer/artist collectives rather > than shared office spaces... > > T > > > > > On Dec 30, 2007 12:04 PM, David Doolin < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Steve, > > > > From what I have observed, coworking as discussed on this > > list has two equally important aspects: > > 1. Cultural: if the people don't fit, it won't work. > > 2. Economic: the numbers have to make sense. > > > > -dave d > > > > On Dec 30, 2007 11:45 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > Hi: > > > > > > My name is Steve King and I do research on small business and small > > > business trends. We're starting to see "coworking like" facilitities > > > cropping up outside of traditional office space environments. Two > > > examples are: > > > > > > 1. Techshop ( http://techshop.ws) which provides workshops and > > > equipment for (from their website) "inventors, "makers", hackers, > > > tinkerers, artists, roboteers, families, entrepreneurs, youth groups, > > > FIRST robotic teams, arts and crafts enthusiasts, and anyone else who > > > wants to be able to make things that they dream up but don't have the > > > tools, space or skills." > > > > > > 2. The National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (http:// > > > www.nnin.org) which provides access to university nanotechnology labs > > > primarily to small businesses and start-ups, although big businesses > > > can also rent space. > > > > > > There are other examples, but these two are pretty representative. My > > > question to the group is do you see this happening?? Also, do you > > > think coworking concepts can be successful outside of office spaces?? > > > > > > Please let me know what you think. > > > > > > Steve > > > www.smallbizlabs.com > > > > > > > > > > > Citizen Agency (www.citizenagency.com) > > blog: www.horsepigcow.com > > phone: 415-694-1951 > > fax: 415-727-5335 > > > > > > > > > -- Chris Messina Citizen-Participant & Open Source Advocate-at-Large Work: http://citizenagency.com Blog: http://factoryjoe.com/blog Cell: 412.225.1051 IM: factoryjoe This email is: [ ] bloggable [X] ask first [ ] private --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
