1 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:11,499 [Music] 2 00:00:15,599 --> 00:00:20,480 uh our lock note presenter is kathy reed 3 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,240 kathy is a long time friend and former 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,640 president of linux australia and 5 00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:26,560 participant in lca's past 6 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,640 kathy works at the intersection of open 7 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,640 source emerging technologies and the 8 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,960 technical community communities who 9 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:35,040 shape and are shaped by them 10 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:37,360 kathy will be speaking about communities 11 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,520 are systems what can systems thinking 12 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:42,559 teach us about creating curating and 13 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:46,160 concluding communities 14 00:00:42,559 --> 00:00:46,160 i'll shall now hand over to kathy 15 00:00:51,039 --> 00:00:54,960 so as miles mentioned i'm currently a 16 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,800 phd candidate at the school of 17 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:59,680 cybernetics at the australian national 18 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:02,320 university where i'm investigating voice 19 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:04,239 data used in machine learning and its 20 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:06,560 implications for systems that use 21 00:01:04,239 --> 00:01:09,200 language technologies like voice 22 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:11,920 assistants and smart speakers so i have 23 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:14,720 a strong interest in computing systems 24 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:16,240 and the people who use them or are used 25 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,880 by them 26 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:20,479 and before i start the talk proper today 27 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,840 there are three things that i'd like to 28 00:01:20,479 --> 00:01:23,680 do 29 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:26,080 first i'd like to acknowledge that i'm 30 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:28,400 presenting today from the unseated lands 31 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:31,119 of the wadarang people of the kulin 32 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:33,840 nation here in geelong which itself is a 33 00:01:31,119 --> 00:01:36,159 guadalarang word and i pay my respects 34 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,479 to elders past and present and to 35 00:01:36,159 --> 00:01:40,479 leaders emerging 36 00:01:38,479 --> 00:01:43,040 secondly i'd like to acknowledge that 37 00:01:40,479 --> 00:01:45,680 linux confer u is a community produced 38 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:47,920 event and i'd like to recognize the 39 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:49,280 organizers and volunteers for their time 40 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,520 and their labor 41 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,600 without you this conference and the 42 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:56,079 benefits it yields like connections 43 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:58,640 across communities and the spread of new 44 00:01:56,079 --> 00:02:01,360 ideas and techniques wouldn't happen as 45 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:03,600 readily so thank you 46 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,439 finally i want to acknowledge the toll 47 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,640 that the last two years has taken on 48 00:02:05,439 --> 00:02:09,039 everyone 49 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:11,840 since i last saw many of you on the gold 50 00:02:09,039 --> 00:02:14,480 coast back in the before times of early 51 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:16,800 2020 many of us have been through 52 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:19,120 lengthy lockdowns and dealt with the 53 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:22,239 background anxiety of case numbers 54 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:24,959 testing shortages and upended economies 55 00:02:22,239 --> 00:02:27,120 labor markets and supply chains 56 00:02:24,959 --> 00:02:28,480 so i want to say thank you for choosing 57 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,319 to be here 58 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:32,800 at an online event 59 00:02:30,319 --> 00:02:34,560 delivered over video 60 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,800 and i'm really looking forward to the 61 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:40,080 time when we can all see each other 62 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:42,480 again alive well and in person 63 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:44,879 so thank you for locking down for 64 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:47,120 wearing masks for homeschooling for 65 00:02:44,879 --> 00:02:48,480 isolating for testing for getting 66 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,400 vaccinated 67 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:53,040 because those actions don't just help 68 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:55,200 keep us safe as individuals 69 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:57,040 they help safeguard us all as a 70 00:02:55,200 --> 00:03:01,040 community 71 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:03,120 and that takes me to the keynote proper 72 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,879 many of us work with systems in our 73 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,959 professional lives 74 00:03:04,879 --> 00:03:10,080 and when we think of systems we might 75 00:03:06,959 --> 00:03:12,319 think of some variant of these 76 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:14,720 this the this is the guidi supercomputer 77 00:03:12,319 --> 00:03:17,040 in canberra one of the top 500 78 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:20,640 supercomputers in the world 79 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:22,560 or we might think of something like this 80 00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:24,640 that's a photo by jamie schmidt at the 81 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:27,519 dingo car from the open hardware mini 82 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:29,440 comfort lca 2020 83 00:03:27,519 --> 00:03:31,760 or when we think of systems we might 84 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:34,640 think of something like this 85 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:36,799 that's a slide of the arpanet topology 86 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:39,680 the predecessor to today's internet 87 00:03:36,799 --> 00:03:42,480 circa about 1976 88 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:45,360 probably fewer nodes than uh some of us 89 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:47,440 have on our home networks today 90 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,519 so when we think of systems we tend to 91 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,680 think of computing systems 92 00:03:49,519 --> 00:03:53,680 cyberphysical systems 93 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:56,480 they can be as simple and as small as a 94 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,879 single led with a power source or at the 95 00:03:56,480 --> 00:04:01,519 other extreme of scale have millions of 96 00:03:58,879 --> 00:04:02,879 intangible and physical components 97 00:04:01,519 --> 00:04:04,720 interconnected through different 98 00:04:02,879 --> 00:04:07,120 networking protocols 99 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:09,360 running myriad pieces of intertwined and 100 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:10,640 interdependent software all across the 101 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:13,040 globe 102 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:15,040 these systems can be orchestrated 103 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,239 deliberately and carefully planned and 104 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,239 designed 105 00:04:16,239 --> 00:04:20,479 or as we all know they can grow 106 00:04:18,239 --> 00:04:23,280 organically as box after box is 107 00:04:20,479 --> 00:04:25,840 provisioned for some prototype or pilot 108 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:28,160 project that never seems to be entirely 109 00:04:25,840 --> 00:04:29,759 decommissioned 110 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,040 time these systems can grow in 111 00:04:29,759 --> 00:04:34,000 complexity 112 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:37,199 intertangled intertwined until no one 113 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:39,199 person can really know the whole picture 114 00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:40,479 they can exist for a brief period of 115 00:04:39,199 --> 00:04:42,400 time 116 00:04:40,479 --> 00:04:43,919 how many containers have you spun up and 117 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,919 down today 118 00:04:43,919 --> 00:04:47,919 or for much longer 119 00:04:45,919 --> 00:04:49,600 do we have any cobol programmers in the 120 00:04:47,919 --> 00:04:51,280 house 121 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,919 then at their end of life they are 122 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:55,360 disassembled disaggregated and 123 00:04:53,919 --> 00:04:57,840 decommissioned 124 00:04:55,360 --> 00:05:00,479 and hopefully recycled 125 00:04:57,840 --> 00:05:02,720 so many of us are conversant and 126 00:05:00,479 --> 00:05:04,639 comfortable thinking about computing and 127 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:07,759 networking infrastructure 128 00:05:04,639 --> 00:05:09,840 as systems and systems of systems that 129 00:05:07,759 --> 00:05:12,720 have life cycles and connections and 130 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:14,960 components and characteristics 131 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:17,840 but at their most fundamental 132 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:20,639 systems are simply defined as a set of 133 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:22,560 elements in mutual interaction 134 00:05:20,639 --> 00:05:24,960 and we can apply systems thinking to 135 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:27,199 many different fields 136 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:30,639 in his groundbreaking work on general 137 00:05:27,199 --> 00:05:33,680 systems theory published in 1968 this 138 00:05:30,639 --> 00:05:35,840 chap ludwig von burton landfi set up 139 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:38,960 principles for systems that apply to 140 00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:41,360 fields as diverse as biology chemistry 141 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:42,800 ecology and sociology 142 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,639 you might have heard of some of these 143 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:48,639 principles before 144 00:05:44,639 --> 00:05:50,880 hierarchy entropy complexity 145 00:05:48,639 --> 00:05:53,680 von burton landfi held the view that the 146 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:56,000 world itself was an organization 147 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:58,800 comprised of many different systems 148 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,639 interacting and influencing each other 149 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,520 and he held the view that by thinking 150 00:06:00,639 --> 00:06:06,880 about systems we would have better tools 151 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:08,560 to explore explain and predict various 152 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:11,120 phenomena 153 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:12,720 so systems and systems thinking is 154 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:16,560 widely applicable 155 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:19,600 and in fact communities like these 156 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:21,120 the excellent volunteers at lca 2016 in 157 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,199 geelong 158 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,600 communities like these 159 00:06:23,199 --> 00:06:28,319 the incredible volunteer team at lca 160 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:31,280 2012 in ballarat 161 00:06:28,319 --> 00:06:33,919 communities like these 162 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:36,160 i believe that's the unpdns in perth in 163 00:06:33,919 --> 00:06:38,080 2014 164 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,800 communities like these 165 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:43,120 that's the 20 000 that's the 2008 166 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,880 melbourne penguin dinner at the bazaar 167 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:47,759 the night market 168 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:51,520 and communities like these our fabulous 169 00:06:47,759 --> 00:06:53,599 lca christchurch 2019 volunteers 170 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:55,520 all of these communities 171 00:06:53,599 --> 00:06:57,440 and the community that you're a part of 172 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,639 today by attending this conference 173 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:01,680 online 174 00:06:58,639 --> 00:07:04,319 can be considered as systems too 175 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:07,280 so the key tenet of my talk today 176 00:07:04,319 --> 00:07:10,479 is deceptively simple 177 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:13,199 communities are systems 178 00:07:10,479 --> 00:07:15,120 communities are systems and the concepts 179 00:07:13,199 --> 00:07:17,680 we use for thinking about computing 180 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:20,319 systems can also be used for thinking 181 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:22,400 about the communities who develop use 182 00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:24,560 and are affected by them 183 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:27,039 that is by approaching the concept of 184 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:30,240 community through the lens of systems 185 00:07:27,039 --> 00:07:32,479 thinking we have a different toolbox a 186 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,440 set of concepts and ways that help us to 187 00:07:32,479 --> 00:07:34,560 create 188 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:37,199 care for 189 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:38,880 and conclude communities 190 00:07:37,199 --> 00:07:41,759 and i don't think i need to make this 191 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:43,840 argument to this audience about how 192 00:07:41,759 --> 00:07:46,479 vitally important communities are to 193 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:48,800 computing and to software systems 194 00:07:46,479 --> 00:07:51,039 this entire conference is centered 195 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:53,759 around a set of software designed 196 00:07:51,039 --> 00:07:56,000 developed distributed adopted 197 00:07:53,759 --> 00:07:57,520 by a community of millions around the 198 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,919 world 199 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:02,000 that software and its world-changing 200 00:07:59,919 --> 00:08:03,520 impact wouldn't exist without 201 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:07,280 communities 202 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:09,520 so i'll take that argument as assumed 203 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:11,759 however one more nuanced point that i 204 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:13,280 want to make that perhaps isn't so 205 00:08:11,759 --> 00:08:15,680 readily evident 206 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,960 is that computing systems and community 207 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,720 systems 208 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:21,599 are closely coupled 209 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:23,919 they influence each other 210 00:08:21,599 --> 00:08:26,879 sometimes when we design computing and 211 00:08:23,919 --> 00:08:29,599 cyber physical systems we view people 212 00:08:26,879 --> 00:08:32,080 and communities as distinct or separate 213 00:08:29,599 --> 00:08:34,479 elements of those systems 214 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:36,080 in this view people or the community 215 00:08:34,479 --> 00:08:38,399 provide inputs 216 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:41,760 such as instructions data code 217 00:08:38,399 --> 00:08:43,599 contributions configurations programs 218 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,720 and the computing system provides 219 00:08:43,599 --> 00:08:47,600 outputs 220 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:49,519 reports calculations predictions waves 221 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,680 hands 222 00:08:49,519 --> 00:08:54,720 this type of interaction can be thought 223 00:08:51,680 --> 00:08:56,800 of as primarily transactional 224 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,720 inputs go in the computer process the 225 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:02,640 computer system doesn't processing or 226 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:04,880 computation and outputs come out 227 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:06,720 another view for anyone who's done soft 228 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:09,680 systems methodology 229 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:11,760 sees communities as a key integral part 230 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:14,240 of an overall system 231 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:16,560 as one of many interconnected components 232 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:19,200 that make up a technology system 233 00:09:16,560 --> 00:09:22,240 such as hardware software documentation 234 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:23,680 business models user experience and so 235 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,680 on 236 00:09:23,680 --> 00:09:27,920 this component view based view is 237 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:30,640 primarily transactional again 238 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:33,120 the community is a part a component that 239 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:34,959 provides services or functionality to 240 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:37,519 other parts of the system 241 00:09:34,959 --> 00:09:40,240 and in return receives benefits such as 242 00:09:37,519 --> 00:09:42,240 easier to use products peer support and 243 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:44,240 so on 244 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,760 but instead of this transactional 245 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,839 approach 246 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,360 when we think about technical systems 247 00:09:47,839 --> 00:09:51,600 and communities 248 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:53,519 i want us to start to think about 249 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:56,560 transformation 250 00:09:53,519 --> 00:09:58,640 not just about inputs or outputs or 251 00:09:56,560 --> 00:10:00,399 components that provide services and 252 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:02,640 functions 253 00:10:00,399 --> 00:10:04,560 i want us to think about how by 254 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:07,360 interacting with each other 255 00:10:04,560 --> 00:10:10,160 influencing each other reciprocally and 256 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:12,959 continually through design decisions 257 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:14,959 past dependencies competing drivers 258 00:10:12,959 --> 00:10:16,079 emerging standards and many other 259 00:10:14,959 --> 00:10:18,560 factors 260 00:10:16,079 --> 00:10:19,920 technical systems and people systems 261 00:10:18,560 --> 00:10:22,240 communities 262 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:24,560 transform each other 263 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:27,519 communities shape the computing systems 264 00:10:24,560 --> 00:10:30,000 that are built and in turn those systems 265 00:10:27,519 --> 00:10:32,640 influence and change the communities 266 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:35,120 they interact with 267 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:37,920 this view that people and communities 268 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:39,360 shape and are shaped by the systems they 269 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,360 interact with 270 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:43,760 is not surprisingly called an 271 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:45,760 interactionist view 272 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,480 and it's also the view taken in this 273 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:49,200 book 274 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:52,240 by bacha friedman and david g hendry 275 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:54,240 called value sensitive design 276 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:56,640 it's a fantastic read 277 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:58,959 and the overarching takeaway is that 278 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:02,079 technology is imbued with the values of 279 00:10:58,959 --> 00:11:04,800 the people who create it 280 00:11:02,079 --> 00:11:06,880 but that's not always a good thing 281 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,760 for example 282 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:12,839 we have facial recognition technology 283 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:14,480 used in ever-increasing contexts and 284 00:11:12,839 --> 00:11:17,040 capabilities 285 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:19,920 that doesn't recognize people of color 286 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:21,519 and especially women of color as well as 287 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,680 white people 288 00:11:21,519 --> 00:11:26,320 gender shades this work is the 289 00:11:23,680 --> 00:11:28,640 incredible work of george bullenweeny 290 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:31,040 who earlier this week submitted her phd 291 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:33,360 thesis so please do congratulate her on 292 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:35,920 twitter she's drove your joy 293 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:38,560 and in gender shades she outlines how 294 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:41,040 common facial recognition models just 295 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:44,240 don't work for some people 296 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:46,640 and there are clear reasons for this 297 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:49,200 firstly we have far fewer women and 298 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:51,440 people of color working in artificial 299 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:53,519 intelligence to begin with 300 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:57,120 for example this report by the team at 301 00:11:53,519 --> 00:11:59,200 ai now in 2009 found that just 18 302 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,959 percent of authors at conferences in the 303 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:03,519 field of artificial intelligence and 304 00:12:00,959 --> 00:12:04,560 machine learning such as neurops are 305 00:12:03,519 --> 00:12:06,880 women 306 00:12:04,560 --> 00:12:09,200 and less than six percent of people in 307 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:12,480 large technical companies that's fewer 308 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:14,079 than 1 in 16 identify as black or 309 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:15,920 hispanic 310 00:12:14,079 --> 00:12:17,760 if the people building systems are 311 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,360 predominantly white men 312 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:21,519 then there are a narrow 313 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:24,000 range of values represented in design 314 00:12:21,519 --> 00:12:26,160 decisions in testing 315 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:30,320 fewer people to say 316 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:30,320 will this work for people like me 317 00:12:30,399 --> 00:12:35,440 and we also need to think about the data 318 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:37,519 upon which our systems are built 319 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:39,519 there are fewer images and photographs 320 00:12:37,519 --> 00:12:41,279 of people of color in the data sets on 321 00:12:39,519 --> 00:12:42,720 which facial recognition models are 322 00:12:41,279 --> 00:12:44,959 trained 323 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,880 again there's less representation from 324 00:12:44,959 --> 00:12:48,959 women and communities of color in these 325 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:50,720 data sets 326 00:12:48,959 --> 00:12:52,480 and we see this also in speech 327 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,320 recognition technology 328 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:58,399 that doesn't recognize the speech of 329 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:58,399 black people as well as white people 330 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:03,760 this this is the work of allison koenig 331 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:06,079 and her colleagues at stanford who 332 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:08,560 investigated cloud automatic speech 333 00:13:06,079 --> 00:13:11,040 recognition algorithms showing that the 334 00:13:08,560 --> 00:13:13,360 error rate in speech recognition a 335 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:15,920 measure of how well a model recognises 336 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,920 what someone is saying is nearly double 337 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,760 for black speakers compared to white 338 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,600 speakers 339 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,680 and when you think about where the data 340 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:26,800 that is used to train these models comes 341 00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:29,839 from mobile phones voice assistants 342 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:32,320 generally expensive pieces of technology 343 00:13:29,839 --> 00:13:34,639 then we start to see how communities who 344 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:36,399 can afford technology communities who 345 00:13:34,639 --> 00:13:38,720 use that technology 346 00:13:36,399 --> 00:13:40,399 shape how that community is built for 347 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:42,959 everyone 348 00:13:40,399 --> 00:13:45,519 even when not everyone is part of that 349 00:13:42,959 --> 00:13:45,519 community 350 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:51,519 but wait there's more 351 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:53,120 big data has become big business and 352 00:13:51,519 --> 00:13:55,760 many of us will be familiar with the 353 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:58,000 work of shashana zubov and her concept 354 00:13:55,760 --> 00:14:00,240 of surveillance capitalism 355 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:03,279 in which reality our everyday 356 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:05,839 interactions with data platforms are 357 00:14:03,279 --> 00:14:08,399 commodified extracted 358 00:14:05,839 --> 00:14:10,399 and sold to the highest bidder 359 00:14:08,399 --> 00:14:11,920 and we see how technical platforms 360 00:14:10,399 --> 00:14:14,720 exploit that 361 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:18,480 encouraging us to interact to post to 362 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:20,480 engage we do scroll while unseen bots 363 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,639 harvest our every click 364 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:24,480 and use every like to better target 365 00:14:22,639 --> 00:14:26,399 advertising to us 366 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:27,839 because that's the way the system was 367 00:14:26,399 --> 00:14:30,079 designed 368 00:14:27,839 --> 00:14:32,160 and by creating a technical system that 369 00:14:30,079 --> 00:14:33,920 values popularity 370 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:36,000 and impressions 371 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,760 to drive more engagement and to collect 372 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,680 more data about us 373 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:42,839 we feel inadequate if we don't get 374 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:46,079 enough likes or hearts or karma or 375 00:14:42,839 --> 00:14:49,440 followers community and technology 376 00:14:46,079 --> 00:14:50,880 systems shape each other 377 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:53,040 and if you thought surveillance 378 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:55,760 capitalism was just for giants like 379 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:58,320 facebook and cambridge analytica try 380 00:14:55,760 --> 00:15:00,880 logging onto iview the streaming site of 381 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:05,120 the australian broadcasting corporation 382 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:07,279 our public tax payer funded broadcaster 383 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:09,519 by mandating that viewers must log into 384 00:15:07,279 --> 00:15:11,360 eye view and then sharing or selling 385 00:15:09,519 --> 00:15:12,560 we're not quite sure because the abc 386 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:14,639 won't tell us 387 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:16,800 sharing or selling that viewer data with 388 00:15:14,639 --> 00:15:19,760 facebook and google by default 389 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:21,760 until the viewer explicitly opts out 390 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:24,000 our very own auntie is now a 391 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:26,560 surveillance capitalist 392 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:27,920 again technology systems shape 393 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:31,040 communities 394 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:32,880 if you or your kids watch lots of bluey 395 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:34,399 will you only ever be recommended 396 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:36,720 similar content 397 00:15:34,399 --> 00:15:40,519 diminishing the agency you have to 398 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,519 choose what you consume 399 00:15:40,639 --> 00:15:44,560 speaking of privacy and intelligence 400 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,639 sorry speaking of privacy and 401 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:49,040 surveillance capitalism 402 00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:51,600 we also have doorbells that infringe the 403 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:53,279 privacy of neighbors by listening and 404 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:56,320 watching constantly 405 00:15:53,279 --> 00:15:58,399 or at least when usc 1 is up 406 00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:00,320 with the surveillance covering an area 407 00:15:58,399 --> 00:16:02,320 greater than just that belonging to the 408 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:04,320 owner of the device 409 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:06,079 and we've frequently seen 410 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,759 requests from law enforcement to have 411 00:16:06,079 --> 00:16:10,480 access to this data 412 00:16:07,759 --> 00:16:13,040 so data surveillance used by an 413 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:15,040 individual or household being used to 414 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:17,199 police the community in which that 415 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:20,000 household is situated 416 00:16:17,199 --> 00:16:21,519 that is the technical system's reach is 417 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:24,800 increased beyond the individual 418 00:16:21,519 --> 00:16:27,519 purchaser to the broader community 419 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:29,440 and here in this article on gizmodo we 420 00:16:27,519 --> 00:16:32,160 see how at least one of those neighbors 421 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:33,199 is reacting responding to this technical 422 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,680 system 423 00:16:33,199 --> 00:16:38,399 by having it ruled illegal 424 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:41,279 technology systems shape communities and 425 00:16:38,399 --> 00:16:42,959 community reaction 426 00:16:41,279 --> 00:16:44,880 and speaking of things that have been 427 00:16:42,959 --> 00:16:47,120 ruled illegal 428 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:49,920 we have governments who tried to match 429 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:52,399 income and social benefit databases 430 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:54,480 poorly and unlawfully 431 00:16:52,399 --> 00:16:56,399 issuing debt notices to people who could 432 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,320 least afford to pay 433 00:16:56,399 --> 00:17:02,000 and i think that hints at the values of 434 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:03,920 the government that created that system 435 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,799 on the flip side we also have a 436 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:10,000 community which fought and campaigned 437 00:17:06,799 --> 00:17:12,799 and advocated and launched legal action 438 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:14,799 and eventually got robo debt overturned 439 00:17:12,799 --> 00:17:17,360 people like asher wolf and lindsey 440 00:17:14,799 --> 00:17:19,839 jackson who i think is speaking tomorrow 441 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:22,160 and several others 442 00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:24,720 communities do have agency to shape 443 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:27,039 technical systems 444 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:29,840 there are also incredible examples of 445 00:17:27,039 --> 00:17:33,120 technical systems imbued with exemplary 446 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:34,960 community focused values 447 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:38,000 i suspect many of us have used matt 448 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:40,559 hayward's find a rat site in recent days 449 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:42,960 it's not perfect crowd source data never 450 00:17:40,559 --> 00:17:45,039 is but it's leveraged the power of the 451 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:46,640 community to provide a much needed 452 00:17:45,039 --> 00:17:48,160 scarce resource 453 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:51,919 for all of those who aren't mates with 454 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,919 the ceo of chemist warehouse 455 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:56,720 and many of us are familiar with the 456 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:58,640 work of chris fryer and john oxa in 457 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,799 creating excessively controlled 458 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:03,200 wheelchairs that aim to give more 459 00:18:00,799 --> 00:18:05,280 freedom and independence and agency to 460 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:08,240 wheelchair users 461 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:11,360 communities and their values help shape 462 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,360 technical systems 463 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:16,160 so if we take the view that communities 464 00:18:14,559 --> 00:18:18,080 social systems 465 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:21,600 influence how technical systems are 466 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:23,520 designed developed directed and deployed 467 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:26,000 and in turn technical systems shape 468 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:28,320 communities then it's not too far of a 469 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:30,960 leap for me to argue that thinking about 470 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:32,320 communities or systems is vitally 471 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,799 important 472 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:36,799 if we shape communities for the better 473 00:18:34,799 --> 00:18:39,600 we might just shape technical systems 474 00:18:36,799 --> 00:18:42,240 for the better and in turn build better 475 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,480 communities and so on in a positive 476 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:46,480 feedback loop 477 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:48,720 so today i'm going to outline some 478 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,559 principles from system thinking 479 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:52,240 and apply these principles to open 480 00:18:50,559 --> 00:18:54,000 source communities 481 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,880 what we're going to uncover is not 482 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:58,640 necessarily novel or groundbreaking 483 00:18:56,880 --> 00:19:00,960 but my intent here is to present it 484 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:03,440 through an unexpected lens that have 485 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:05,039 connected complicated co-evolving 486 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,880 systems 487 00:19:05,039 --> 00:19:08,960 and through this framing i want to 488 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:12,160 encourage all of us to reflect 489 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:15,120 on the suggestion that every commit 490 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:19,280 every design decision every choice 491 00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:22,559 is part of shaping and reshaping both 492 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:25,760 communities and technical systems 493 00:19:22,559 --> 00:19:27,039 and that we as individuals have some 494 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:28,480 agency 495 00:19:27,039 --> 00:19:32,559 and power 496 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,559 to determine what that shape might be 497 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:38,720 so what can systems thinking teach us 498 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:40,559 about creating communities 499 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:42,320 and to start with i'm going to explore 500 00:19:40,559 --> 00:19:44,640 the work of these folks 501 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:46,799 russell ackoff on the left there and 502 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:48,320 fred emery on the right 503 00:19:46,799 --> 00:19:50,080 fred emery was an australian 504 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:52,559 psychologist 505 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:54,960 and for any psychology people watching 506 00:19:52,559 --> 00:19:58,000 his work was particularly influential in 507 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:59,840 the area of organizational development 508 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,919 and russell ackoff was world renowned 509 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:04,159 for his expertise in management science 510 00:20:01,919 --> 00:20:08,799 and operations research 511 00:20:04,159 --> 00:20:09,840 in 1976 emery and akoff authored 512 00:20:08,799 --> 00:20:11,039 this book 513 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,039 this book 514 00:20:11,039 --> 00:20:16,240 on purposeful systems 515 00:20:13,039 --> 00:20:18,400 in it they explain human behavior as a 516 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,799 system of purposeful events 517 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:23,200 and their intent in outlining this view 518 00:20:20,799 --> 00:20:25,840 was to help us understand how to build 519 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:28,720 not just better social systems but how 520 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:30,880 to understand social systems so that we 521 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,320 can build better social systems that had 522 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:35,440 machines in them 523 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:37,679 technical and cyber physical systems 524 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:40,000 and so in this book emory and akov cover 525 00:20:37,679 --> 00:20:42,640 many different types of systems 526 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:46,080 but a key takeaway is that many systems 527 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:48,080 are purposeful or goal seeking systems 528 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:50,320 that is the system is structured around 529 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,840 a particular objective 530 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:54,559 the system might not have a lot of 531 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:56,799 agency about how it achieves this goal 532 00:20:54,559 --> 00:20:59,679 such as say a flower whose goal is to be 533 00:20:56,799 --> 00:21:01,760 pollinated by a bee or alternatively the 534 00:20:59,679 --> 00:21:02,880 actors within a system might have a lot 535 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,960 of choice 536 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:07,039 a lot of agency about how they achieve 537 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:09,200 that goal that objective 538 00:21:07,039 --> 00:21:11,280 for example in a game of chess 539 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,200 the goal of the system is to move such a 540 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:15,600 way that your opponent is forced into a 541 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:17,360 position of checkmate 542 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,919 and there are literally millions of ways 543 00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:22,320 in which that goal can be achieved 544 00:21:19,919 --> 00:21:25,360 and the implications for communities 545 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:27,520 people systems are clear 546 00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:30,240 communities have purposes 547 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:32,720 they have objectives and goals a 548 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:35,280 sporting community exists to participate 549 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:36,320 and further the adoption of a particular 550 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,880 sport 551 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:40,320 an academic community exists to further 552 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,400 the body of knowledge around a 553 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:44,559 particular topic 554 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,840 the linux australia community 555 00:21:44,559 --> 00:21:47,840 oh hi 556 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:50,400 has the purpose the objective of 557 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:52,960 fostering open source software open 558 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,000 hardware open data open content and open 559 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:55,840 culture 560 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,440 throughout australia and the broader 561 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:59,280 region 562 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,679 there are many ways in which this could 563 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:04,559 be achieved but typically the choice 564 00:22:01,679 --> 00:22:06,720 that the community has made has been to 565 00:22:04,559 --> 00:22:08,640 achieve this through linux user groups 566 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:12,640 and by all meaning face to face once a 567 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:15,200 year and wearing the t-shirts prove it 568 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:17,200 values are also important here 569 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:19,520 because the behaviour used to achieve 570 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:22,240 goals is an expression of the values of 571 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:24,240 the community and the people in it 572 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,919 for example the linux confe you 573 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:28,480 community could choose to write 574 00:22:25,919 --> 00:22:30,240 manifestos and flame various mailing 575 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,240 lists or 576 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:35,200 choose to partner productively 577 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:39,039 constructively with other organizations 578 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:41,440 other systems to achieve shared goals 579 00:22:39,039 --> 00:22:43,440 so in creating communities we need to be 580 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:46,240 very clear about the goals that the 581 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:48,400 community should seek and importantly 582 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:50,960 the values and the choices that will be 583 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:54,240 made in pursuit of those goals 584 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:58,799 we have choice and agency about how and 585 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:58,799 how not we pursue our goals 586 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,520 another concept from systems thinking 587 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:06,640 that is useful when we're creating 588 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:09,440 communities is that of boundaries that 589 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:11,760 is where does the system begin and end 590 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:13,679 what elements are considered inside or 591 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:15,440 outside of the system 592 00:23:13,679 --> 00:23:17,120 where is that line drawn 593 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:20,799 and what might need to happen for the 594 00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:23,760 boundary to be permeated to be crossed 595 00:23:20,799 --> 00:23:26,880 that is how easy is it for new elements 596 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:28,720 to enter or to leave the system 597 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:31,679 and one of the key thinkers around 598 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:33,919 boundaries is this chap gerald midgley 599 00:23:31,679 --> 00:23:36,320 who's written several books on systems 600 00:23:33,919 --> 00:23:38,640 and intervening in systems but i've 601 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:40,880 highlighted one of his most famous books 602 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:44,400 here here 603 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:46,559 it's called uh systemic intervention 604 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:49,039 and in this book he makes the case for a 605 00:23:46,559 --> 00:23:50,880 technique he calls boundary critique i 606 00:23:49,039 --> 00:23:53,360 won't go into the details here they're a 607 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:55,120 little bit esoteric but in essence he 608 00:23:53,360 --> 00:23:57,279 argues that we need to critically 609 00:23:55,120 --> 00:23:59,840 evaluate where the boundaries of systems 610 00:23:57,279 --> 00:24:02,240 are and where different interpretations 611 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:03,919 of boundaries might conflict 612 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:06,000 there are several questions he 613 00:24:03,919 --> 00:24:08,640 recommends that we ask of systems and of 614 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:10,240 system boundaries so that we identify 615 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:12,240 where those boundaries 616 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:14,320 are and where they could be 617 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:17,440 such as who are the decision makers in a 618 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:19,520 system who is affected by a system 619 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:22,159 that is where does power lie within a 620 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:24,640 system and what mechanisms are there for 621 00:24:22,159 --> 00:24:27,679 people within a system to express their 622 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:29,440 choice and their agency 623 00:24:27,679 --> 00:24:31,520 and the key point that i want to make 624 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:33,039 here is the boundaries and barriers 625 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:35,360 around a community 626 00:24:33,039 --> 00:24:37,440 may not be what we think they are 627 00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:40,240 for example we have a newcomers session 628 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:42,559 for linux convey you and a huge shout 629 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:44,159 out to everyone who attended last night 630 00:24:42,559 --> 00:24:46,480 and this provides an introduction on 631 00:24:44,159 --> 00:24:47,440 what to expect the lingo the lay of the 632 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:51,360 land 633 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:54,080 it helps to make newcomers feel welcome 634 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:56,799 lca and pike on a u both have equity and 635 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:59,600 diversity programs to help with the cost 636 00:24:56,799 --> 00:25:01,600 of attendance again reducing barriers to 637 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:03,919 participation 638 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:06,240 standards and norms of behavior such as 639 00:25:03,919 --> 00:25:09,360 the code of conduct exist and are 640 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:12,840 explained and generally upheld helping 641 00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:15,200 to reduce concerns people may have about 642 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:17,760 attending but i want you to consider 643 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:19,600 this example 644 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:22,880 imagine that you want to attend a watch 645 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:24,799 party for an awesome conference 646 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:27,279 and that the watch party is on a 647 00:25:24,799 --> 00:25:30,960 university campus 648 00:25:27,279 --> 00:25:33,440 imagine now that you use a wheelchair 649 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:36,159 and thanks to ride sharing companies 650 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:38,720 establishing in your city there is one 651 00:25:36,159 --> 00:25:40,400 wheelchair accessible taxi available for 652 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:42,960 the whole of your city 653 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:46,400 thanks technical systems 654 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:48,640 you persist you choose use agency to 655 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:52,080 book the taxi in advance 656 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:53,919 and they surprisingly show up on time 657 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:56,480 but when they take you to the university 658 00:25:53,919 --> 00:25:58,400 campus they can't actually drop you off 659 00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:00,480 close to the building because the 660 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:02,480 university has tried to discourage 661 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:04,960 parking near buildings 662 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:07,520 here we hit another system 663 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:10,159 so they drop you off about 800 meters 664 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:11,760 from where you need to be on a 30 degree 665 00:26:10,159 --> 00:26:13,360 plus day 666 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:15,440 thank goodness the watch party is on the 667 00:26:13,360 --> 00:26:17,760 ground floor and there are accessible 668 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:19,760 toilets in the building 669 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:21,360 my point is this 670 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:23,679 sometimes we don't know what the 671 00:26:21,360 --> 00:26:25,919 barriers are to entering and fully 672 00:26:23,679 --> 00:26:28,480 participating in our community we don't 673 00:26:25,919 --> 00:26:30,559 know what those boundaries really are 674 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:33,600 there is boundary conflict because of 675 00:26:30,559 --> 00:26:35,919 the variety of needs in our community 676 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:38,320 so to build better communities we need 677 00:26:35,919 --> 00:26:41,520 to get better at identifying where those 678 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:41,520 hidden boundaries lie 679 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:47,279 so we've explored how system thinking 680 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:49,919 principles like purposeful systems and 681 00:26:47,279 --> 00:26:52,480 agency and choice can be useful for 682 00:26:49,919 --> 00:26:54,640 creating communities but how about 683 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:58,080 systems thinking help us to curate and 684 00:26:54,640 --> 00:27:00,159 care for an existing community 685 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,760 and here i want to draw on the work of 686 00:27:00,159 --> 00:27:04,480 daniella meadows 687 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:06,799 a very famous systems thinker 688 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:09,360 this is an excellent book thinking in 689 00:27:06,799 --> 00:27:11,520 systems and that outlines many different 690 00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:13,200 ways to intervene and make a change in 691 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:15,600 systems 692 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:18,080 and i want to focus on one particular 693 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:21,440 concept that danella meadows uses which 694 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:23,200 he refers to as stocks and flows 695 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,720 we're all familiar with the concept of 696 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:27,039 stocks and flows 697 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:29,039 think of saying money in and money out 698 00:27:27,039 --> 00:27:31,360 of your bank account each month 699 00:27:29,039 --> 00:27:33,120 money in this case is a stock and where 700 00:27:31,360 --> 00:27:34,720 it comes from and where it goes is 701 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:36,559 considered a flow 702 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,159 and you might have stores of this stock 703 00:27:36,559 --> 00:27:39,760 such as savings 704 00:27:38,159 --> 00:27:41,520 and thinking about finances in 705 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:43,919 communities and keeping communities 706 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:46,080 financially viable is important but 707 00:27:43,919 --> 00:27:48,320 there are many other types of stocks and 708 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:51,279 flows in communities 709 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:54,320 consider for example volunteer labor 710 00:27:51,279 --> 00:27:56,960 this is a finite resource a stock 711 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:59,200 and it can flow in different directions 712 00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:01,520 flows enter the system when volunteers 713 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:04,080 feel energized and committed 714 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:06,080 and have free time to donate 715 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:08,480 and that stock of volunteer labor can be 716 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:10,799 consumed in many ways on productive 717 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:12,559 tasks on achieving the goals and 718 00:28:10,799 --> 00:28:14,080 objectives of the community of the 719 00:28:12,559 --> 00:28:16,240 system 720 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:19,039 alternatively they can be squandered and 721 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:21,919 misdirected in dealing with unnecessary 722 00:28:19,039 --> 00:28:24,080 conflict and burning out the volunteer 723 00:28:21,919 --> 00:28:26,799 consuming the stock of passion and 724 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:29,679 commitment and time 725 00:28:26,799 --> 00:28:31,679 so to build stronger communities we need 726 00:28:29,679 --> 00:28:33,120 to understand their stocks their 727 00:28:31,679 --> 00:28:35,919 resources 728 00:28:33,120 --> 00:28:39,279 and where they flow in and out and are 729 00:28:35,919 --> 00:28:39,279 consumed in the community 730 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:44,399 another systems thinking tool that can 731 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:47,200 help us curate communities is that of 732 00:28:44,399 --> 00:28:48,960 cardinality and connection 733 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:51,200 those of you from a networking or 734 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:53,279 database background will recognize this 735 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:55,760 concept straight away 736 00:28:53,279 --> 00:28:57,520 cardinality refers to the strength or 737 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:59,360 the bonds of connections between 738 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:01,760 elements in a system 739 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:03,520 in a database context it refers to how 740 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:05,440 entities are related 741 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:07,600 in a network system it refers to how 742 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:10,000 many paths or edges there are between 743 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:11,919 nodes in a network 744 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:14,559 and it can be a measure of how tightly a 745 00:29:11,919 --> 00:29:16,640 system is connected and how resilient it 746 00:29:14,559 --> 00:29:18,640 is to nodes being removed or dropping 747 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:20,559 off the system 748 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:21,840 the parallels with communities are 749 00:29:20,559 --> 00:29:23,760 obvious 750 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:25,039 if we think about cardinality and 751 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,880 connection 752 00:29:25,039 --> 00:29:28,960 we can think about how closely our 753 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:31,360 community is bonded 754 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:34,799 for example what would a map of linux 755 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:36,880 australia members look like 756 00:29:34,799 --> 00:29:39,120 well it just so happens that i prepared 757 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:42,240 this map earlier 758 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:42,240 bear with me one moment 759 00:29:43,039 --> 00:29:45,760 and 760 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:46,960 it shows some really interesting 761 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:49,039 patterns 762 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:51,520 and i want to be very clear here that 763 00:29:49,039 --> 00:29:54,000 this data is at the postcode level 764 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:57,840 so there's no actual 765 00:29:54,000 --> 00:30:00,159 addresses mapped here i only have 766 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:03,200 addresses represented in postcode format 767 00:30:00,159 --> 00:30:05,760 so for example if you live in 3000 you 768 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:07,600 have a data point in 3000 i don't have 769 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:10,320 your actual address 770 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:12,559 and what this shows as expected are that 771 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:15,120 we have some very dense clusters near 772 00:30:12,559 --> 00:30:17,520 urban centres like melbourne 773 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:20,640 sydney there and we have some clusters 774 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:23,120 around cities where there have been 775 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:25,440 lcas and we can see ballarat there and 776 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:27,760 we can see geelong but there are also 777 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:30,080 some unexpected clusters here 778 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:32,640 so we have a cluster here in aubry 779 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:34,480 wodonga which is quite interesting and 780 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:37,039 we have a cluster here in northern 781 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:40,399 tasmania there in lonnie 782 00:30:37,039 --> 00:30:43,919 and i think i also saw one in 783 00:30:40,399 --> 00:30:46,640 mount gambier over here 784 00:30:43,919 --> 00:30:48,480 so folks who may not have a local lug or 785 00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:50,799 they may not have ways of getting to a 786 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:52,799 local meet-up and so it's harder for 787 00:30:50,799 --> 00:30:55,520 these people to make and maintain 788 00:30:52,799 --> 00:30:55,520 connections 789 00:31:00,159 --> 00:31:06,799 and so the lessons here are again clear 790 00:31:04,559 --> 00:31:06,799 sorry 791 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:14,720 the lessons here are again clear 792 00:31:13,039 --> 00:31:17,120 understand the connections in your 793 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:19,440 community and what you might be able to 794 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:22,399 do to strengthen them and bring people 795 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:22,399 closer together 796 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:27,760 one last tool that i'm going to mention 797 00:31:25,519 --> 00:31:30,480 for helping to curate communities is 798 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:32,640 that of requisite variety 799 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:35,200 remember how we met russell akov back in 800 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:37,519 the slide about purposeful systems and 801 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:40,159 how systems have goals and how we have 802 00:31:37,519 --> 00:31:41,679 agency and choice about how we pursue 803 00:31:40,159 --> 00:31:43,919 these goals 804 00:31:41,679 --> 00:31:44,880 right well akov took that concept a step 805 00:31:43,919 --> 00:31:46,799 further 806 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:49,519 and thought about how systems used 807 00:31:46,799 --> 00:31:50,880 choice and agency to choose how to reach 808 00:31:49,519 --> 00:31:53,039 those goals 809 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:54,720 and he thought about how systems adapted 810 00:31:53,039 --> 00:31:56,960 to challenges to those goals 811 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:58,720 disturbances in the system 812 00:31:56,960 --> 00:32:00,960 and one of the things he found about 813 00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:03,840 systems through his research was the 814 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:06,159 more variety the systems had the greater 815 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:08,240 the range of values and dimensions that 816 00:32:06,159 --> 00:32:10,320 the elements in a system took 817 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:13,279 the more resilient the system was to 818 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:15,120 shocks and challenges 819 00:32:13,279 --> 00:32:17,279 and again the implications for 820 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:19,279 communities are clear 821 00:32:17,279 --> 00:32:21,200 the greater the variety of people the 822 00:32:19,279 --> 00:32:22,960 greater the variety of skills they bring 823 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:25,200 to bear the greater the range of 824 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:27,760 viewpoints and values the greater the 825 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:29,600 range of resources the better position 826 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:33,279 the community will be to withstand 827 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:35,360 shocks and unexpected occurrences 828 00:32:33,279 --> 00:32:37,600 and a key example of this that many in 829 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:41,279 the room will be familiar with is from 830 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:43,200 pycon in the us back in 2020 831 00:32:41,279 --> 00:32:46,000 pycon was scheduled for just after the 832 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:48,080 covert 19 pandemic started 833 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:50,799 and they had to cancel 834 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:53,919 that single event much like lca and 835 00:32:50,799 --> 00:32:55,519 pycon au for linux australia was the key 836 00:32:53,919 --> 00:32:57,519 source of revenue for the python 837 00:32:55,519 --> 00:32:59,279 software foundation 838 00:32:57,519 --> 00:33:02,320 and they were staring down a loss of 839 00:32:59,279 --> 00:33:04,159 over 1 million us dollars 840 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:06,399 luckily donations flowed in to 841 00:33:04,159 --> 00:33:08,799 ameliorate and to offset the size of the 842 00:33:06,399 --> 00:33:11,600 loss but it's a good lesson 843 00:33:08,799 --> 00:33:13,919 both for the psf and for linux australia 844 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:16,000 about the need for requisite variety and 845 00:33:13,919 --> 00:33:17,919 revenue 846 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:20,000 and we also see the need for requisite 847 00:33:17,919 --> 00:33:22,240 variety in achieving the goals and 848 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:24,480 objectives of communities 849 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:26,880 putting together a conference like lca 850 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:29,279 requires a wide range of skills 851 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:31,360 marketing communication audio visual 852 00:33:29,279 --> 00:33:34,320 sponsor liaison treasury and finance 853 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:37,279 emceeing and project management 854 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:40,080 together all of us with our differences 855 00:33:37,279 --> 00:33:42,880 our quirks our idiosyncrasies 856 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:46,799 help build rich resilient communities 857 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:46,799 with our combined superpowers 858 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:52,320 so we've looked at systems thinking 859 00:33:49,519 --> 00:33:53,840 concepts for creating and for curating 860 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:56,240 communities 861 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:59,279 but how can systems thinking help us in 862 00:33:56,240 --> 00:34:01,440 concluding communities 863 00:33:59,279 --> 00:34:03,440 and although requisite variety gives us 864 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:06,559 a tool for thinking about how a system 865 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:08,720 can respond to unexpected shocks it's 866 00:34:06,559 --> 00:34:11,200 less useful for helping us to combat a 867 00:34:08,720 --> 00:34:13,440 characteristic of many systems 868 00:34:11,200 --> 00:34:15,599 that of entropy 869 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:17,679 the concept of entropy has specific 870 00:34:15,599 --> 00:34:20,240 meaning and fields such as physics and 871 00:34:17,679 --> 00:34:22,879 thermodynamics but here i'm taking the 872 00:34:20,240 --> 00:34:24,960 very broad general definition of entropy 873 00:34:22,879 --> 00:34:27,679 to mean the general deterioration and 874 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:30,000 decline of a system 875 00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:32,800 over time systems have a tendency to 876 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:35,599 move towards chaos and disorder 877 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:38,159 until they no longer exist 878 00:34:35,599 --> 00:34:39,679 communities because they are systems are 879 00:34:38,159 --> 00:34:41,359 similar 880 00:34:39,679 --> 00:34:43,440 they will always need to deal with the 881 00:34:41,359 --> 00:34:45,760 constant force of entropy 882 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:48,320 and when there are large stocks remember 883 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:50,320 stocks and flows of resources like 884 00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:52,480 volunteer time and clear purpose and 885 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:54,480 objectives and clear ideas about how to 886 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:56,720 achieve those objectives 887 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:58,480 those forces will tend to outweigh the 888 00:34:56,720 --> 00:35:00,560 force of entropy 889 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:03,280 but over time as those resources are 890 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:05,760 consumed and not replenished for example 891 00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:07,520 if your volunteers are burnt out or if 892 00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:09,200 you don't have the financial revenue to 893 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:11,040 continue operating 894 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:12,880 then the community will be dealing with 895 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:14,320 entropy 896 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:16,320 and there will come a time when the 897 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:17,680 community needs to make a very difficult 898 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:20,720 call 899 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:23,520 how much entropy how much disorder 900 00:35:20,720 --> 00:35:26,800 how much inactivity is needed before the 901 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:29,599 community can be considered defunct 902 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:31,359 or can the entropy be recognized and a 903 00:35:29,599 --> 00:35:35,040 decision made to gently end the 904 00:35:31,359 --> 00:35:37,359 community in a managed and careful way 905 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:39,920 so building better communities also 906 00:35:37,359 --> 00:35:42,240 means ending communities thoughtfully 907 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:44,480 and carefully 908 00:35:42,240 --> 00:35:46,800 but i don't want to end my talk on that 909 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:49,920 note 910 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:51,599 yes systems decline and decay 911 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:53,359 over time and sometimes the right 912 00:35:51,599 --> 00:35:54,960 decision is to gracefully end the 913 00:35:53,359 --> 00:35:57,280 community 914 00:35:54,960 --> 00:36:00,240 but remember how systems interact with 915 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:02,560 each other influence each other 916 00:36:00,240 --> 00:36:04,800 the decline of one community can often 917 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:05,839 sow the seeds of rebirth or birth of 918 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:08,560 another 919 00:36:05,839 --> 00:36:11,599 in a pattern of regeneration 920 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:14,240 without the australian unix users group 921 00:36:11,599 --> 00:36:16,240 there would probably be no lca and no 922 00:36:14,240 --> 00:36:18,480 linux australia 923 00:36:16,240 --> 00:36:20,240 without logs like love and slug and 924 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:22,960 tesla and humbug 925 00:36:20,240 --> 00:36:25,440 there would be no lca 926 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:29,119 and we can choose deliberately what we 927 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:31,119 bring from one community to another 928 00:36:29,119 --> 00:36:33,520 because we have agency and we have 929 00:36:31,119 --> 00:36:33,520 choice 930 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:40,079 so in conclusion my talk today started 931 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:42,400 out with a deceptively simple premise 932 00:36:40,079 --> 00:36:44,800 communities are systems 933 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:46,640 and as i've unpacked this concept we've 934 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:48,800 seen how communities and technical 935 00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:50,960 systems shape each other 936 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:52,960 for better and worse 937 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:55,520 and from this i've argued that if we 938 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:56,720 build better communities we will shape 939 00:36:55,520 --> 00:36:59,520 better 940 00:36:56,720 --> 00:37:01,839 we will shape better technical systems 941 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:03,760 and drawing from different authors i've 942 00:37:01,839 --> 00:37:06,480 highlighted several systems thinking 943 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:08,640 concepts such as purpose and choice 944 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:10,079 boundaries cardinality and requisite 945 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:12,320 variety 946 00:37:10,079 --> 00:37:14,800 that provide tools for thinking about 947 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:16,880 and improving communities 948 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:18,320 and the astute viewer will recognize 949 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:21,119 that along the way 950 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:23,040 i've created a reading list by stealth 951 00:37:21,119 --> 00:37:25,440 because i sincerely hope to have piqued 952 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:28,079 your intellectual interest 953 00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:32,079 and so on that note i would like to 954 00:37:28,079 --> 00:37:35,119 leave you with one final note to ponder 955 00:37:32,079 --> 00:37:38,720 communities shape technical systems 956 00:37:35,119 --> 00:37:41,280 and technical systems shape communities 957 00:37:38,720 --> 00:37:43,680 every contribution we make every code 958 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:45,760 commit every design decision 959 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:47,119 helps influence the communities we're 960 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:49,280 part of 961 00:37:47,119 --> 00:37:51,359 and in turn the technical systems those 962 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:54,000 communities build 963 00:37:51,359 --> 00:37:55,359 and we still have a long way to go 964 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:58,640 so 965 00:37:55,359 --> 00:38:00,640 let's use our choice our agency and all 966 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:03,040 our available tools 967 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:06,800 to actively deliberately shape our 968 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:08,400 systems because otherwise those systems 969 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:11,200 will shape us 970 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:11,200 thank you very much 971 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:15,599 thanks kathy that was that was really 972 00:38:14,079 --> 00:38:16,880 interesting i like the the comment about 973 00:38:15,599 --> 00:38:19,680 org i was thinking oh yes i know what 974 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:21,040 you're talking about 975 00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:23,119 that was really great 976 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:25,599 we will hopefully 977 00:38:23,119 --> 00:38:27,440 i don't know if we our minions were able 978 00:38:25,599 --> 00:38:29,520 to provide you with the 979 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:32,079 live illustration feed possibly here we 980 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:34,400 go 981 00:38:32,079 --> 00:38:36,960 wow 982 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:38,400 that's incredible 983 00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:40,560 and now we're all dumbstruck looking at 984 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:40,560 it 985 00:38:40,880 --> 00:38:43,920 so we'll hopefully be able to get you a 986 00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:46,320 hard copy of that you can 987 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:48,400 stick up on your wall or something oh 988 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:50,880 i'd love that thank you so much yeah 989 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:52,480 that's great um anyway so now this is 990 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:55,119 the end of the proceedings for the 991 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:57,440 afternoon um feel free to keep chatting 992 00:38:55,119 --> 00:38:59,359 in the channels or do your own thing 993 00:38:57,440 --> 00:39:01,520 we'll be making meeting back here at 9 994 00:38:59,359 --> 00:39:02,880 00 am for our next keynote from jono 995 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:04,960 bacon you'll probably notice that the 996 00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:06,480 other 997 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:09,119 stages have disappeared for the moment 998 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:11,200 they'll be back at nine don't worry 999 00:39:09,119 --> 00:39:12,880 and i look forward to seeing the keynote 1000 00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:17,400 with everyone tomorrow 1001 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:17,400 until then stay safe