Totally. And the biggest innovation that this Coworking group/movement/etc. is providing is a small pieces, loosely joined support network (starfish organization) of people interested in creating coworking spaces themselves.
For me, that's the story of Coworking...like Chris said, the idea of people coming together to share collaborative workspaces has been around for ages, but to me, that coworking map and the discussions here and the content of the blog are what make it really special. Everyone who is part of this list should be super proud of what we've built. :) That's what I haven't really seen alot of elsewhere for physical spaces. BarCamp, Alcoholics Anonymous, etc. are great examples of events/self-organization temporarily that is loosely joined through principles and executed on the edges...anyone know of other examples? Tara On Dec 30, 2007 5:37 PM, Chris Messina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > 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 > > > > -- tara 'miss rogue' hunt coFounder Citizen Agency (www.citizenagency.com) blog: www.horsepigcow.com phone: 415-694-1951 fax: 415-727-5335 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. 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