Holocene Chat

About

Holocene Chat is a patented software concept developed by David Brin. It attempts to make online realtime conversation more useful and productive by re-introducing elements of offline (non-computer) discussion into the user interface.

The software remains at the concept phase at this point (though a limited demo is apparently working), and is looking for a backer to fund development.

This is a growing seedling article. You can help HTYP by watering it.

Concept

The following is loosely adapted from materials at the official Holocene Chat web site.

the real "digital divide"

• The problem: Today's real-time interfaces dumb down thought and conversation
• The clue: Sophisticated conversation tools that we humans already use in real life. None have yet been brought into the online world!
• The solution: Holocene's broad range of patented and fundamental tools can revolutionize online communication, letting hosts offer new, attractive services to visitors, users, clients, collaborators

Realms →	Aynchronous Realm	Synchronous Realm
description →	speaker and listener not present simultaneously	speaker and listener are present simultaneously
examples →	web browsing email file sharing / downloads search, research, collaboration weblogs	chat (IRC) and IM interactive gaming virtual worlds avataring telepresence
what happens →	Advanced interfaces assist information flow and expression of complex thoughts Useful to grownups!	Primitive interfaces dumb down discourse to the level of flirting, grunts, mayhem... Almost useless to serious people!
Holocene impact →	Holocene improves this realm.	This realm needs utter transformation.

Funding / Marketing Opportunity

• "Only IP-protected Holocene can replace or transform online chat, instant messaging, avatar worlds, meeting-ware, collaboration-ware, user-generated gaming and 'augmented reality' overlays upon real-world locales."

The Dismal Competition

to be written/transcribed

Links

Official

• official site