About: SOS: Social Operating System for Plymouth

‘S-OS: Social Operating System for Plymouth’

www.s-os.org

Framework:

i-DAT in collaboration with Plymouth Arts Centre is presenting ‘S-OS a Social Operating System’ for the city of Plymouth.

The idea of a ‘Social Operating System’ (referring to computer operating systems such as Mac OSX & Linux) has emerged through the prominence of online Social Networking Software such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Myspace. These websites, the software that drives them and the online communities that thrive around them constitute the core components the system. Wired (2007) magazine described Social Operating Systems as a “platform for online living where all social activities are integrated. The system might be defined as providing systematic management and facilitation of human social relationships and interactions.”

The ‘S-OS’ project provides an Operating System for the social life of the City of Plymouth. By superimposing the notion of a ‘Social Operating System’ on the physical interactions and exchanges of the city, it models, analyses and makes visible the ‘social exchange’ within the City.

Whilst town planners and architects model the ‘physical’ City and the Highways Department model the ebb and flow of traffic through and around the City, ‘S-OS’ will model the invisible social exchanges of the inhabitants of the City. By modelling these activities ‘S-OS’ seeks to define the ‘value’ of social exchange as a ‘real’ immaterial resource, and propose a social springboard for alternative social activities increasing exchange, participation and social engagement.

“Just as a screwdriver (physical capital) or a college education (human capital) can increase productivity (both individual and collective), so too social contacts affect the productivity of individuals and groups” (Putnam 2000).

http://www.i-dat.org/