Difference between revisions of "InstaGov"

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(→‎Preliminary Table Design: added approval_log table, ID_Proxy field)
(→‎Notes: Links: "why I hate LiquidThreads")
 
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==Overview==
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<hide>
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[[InstaGov]] is software to aid very large groups in the process of decisionmaking and evaluating a large number of items which are entered into the system collaboratively. The philosophy behind its primary purpose (collaborative governance) is discussed in great detail on {{issuepedia}}, but there will probably be other uses for it as well.
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[[page type::project]]
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[[thing type::software]]
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[[category:software/incomplete]]
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</hide>
 +
==About==
 +
[[InstaGov]] is software to enable groups of people, of any size, to handle relatively large numbers of collaboratively-entered decisions in a rational and accurate way.
 +
 
 +
InstaGov will probably first be written as a plug-in for [[MediaWiki]]; it may later be available in other formats. It is entirely [[open source]], so others are free to adapt it to their own uses or add their own features.
 +
===Purpose===
 +
The philosophy behind its primary purpose (collaborative governance) is discussed in great detail on {{issuepedia}}, but there will probably be other uses for it as well.
  
 
InstaGov has two primary functions:
 
InstaGov has two primary functions:
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** aggregating individual rankings to determine which issues should be propagated to more people and which should be allowed to die out
 
** aggregating individual rankings to determine which issues should be propagated to more people and which should be allowed to die out
 
** organizing issues into a hierarchical topic system to allow users to filter in or out areas in which they have no interest
 
** organizing issues into a hierarchical topic system to allow users to filter in or out areas in which they have no interest
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** enabling rational discussion of complex issues within a large group of people
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===Modules===
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* '''[[/Liquid Agenda]]''' manages issues, solutions, and votes; records individual votes and aggregates them into final decisions
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* '''[[/Liquid Proxying]]''' allows users to select other trusted voters to help make decisions without surrendering any significant control
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* '''[[/Debate Mapper]]''' organizes and documents debate on complex issues
  
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InstaGov will probably first be written as a plug-in for [[MediaWiki]]; it may later be available in other formats. It is entirely [[open source]], so others are free to adapt it to their own uses or add their own features.
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===Documentation===
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==Preliminary Table Design==
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* [[/schema]]: database design
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===problem===
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* [[/concepts]]
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<section begin=sql /><mysql>CREATE TABLE `problem` (
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* [[/syntax]]: how to use it within a document
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  `ID` INT  NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
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* '''archival''':
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  `Page` varchar(127) COMMENT "wiki page describing problem",
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** [[/SMW]]: alternative implementation using [[Semantic MediaWiki]], possibly for future use
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  `WhenCreated` DATETIME NOT NULL COMMENT "when this problem was entered",
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** [[/obsolete]] stuff
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  `WhenExpires` DATETIME DEFAULT NULL COMMENT "when this problem expires (NULL = never)",
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==Development Phases==
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  `Pos_Text` VARCHAR(63) DEFAULT NULL COMMENT "optional: text to show at the 'yes' end of the scale",
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Phases in which functionality can be added:
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  `Neg_Text` VARCHAR(63) DEFAULT NULL COMMENT "optional: text to show at the 'no' end of the scale",
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===Phase I===
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  PRIMARY KEY(`ID`)
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* create {{instagov|concepts|question}}
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)
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* create {{instagov|concepts|answer}}(s)
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ENGINE = MYISAM;</mysql>
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** support for redirect to rephrased question
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<section end=sql />
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*** somehow prevent redirection loops?
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===solution===
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* {{instagov|concepts|rating|rate}} answer(s)
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Any problem may have zero or more solutions. Solutions can be proposed as long as the problem is active (not expired).
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* view results for specific question
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<section begin=sql /><mysql>CREATE TABLE `solution` (
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===Phase II===
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  `ID` INT  NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
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* list all questions (may arise naturally in Phase I)
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  `ID_Problem` INT NO NULL COMMENT "problem.ID of problem for which this is a solution",
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* show your status for each (created, voted)
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  `Page` varchar(127) COMMENT "wiki page describing solution",
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* show general stats for each (current favored answer, summed rating)
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  `WhenCreated` DATETIME NOT NULL COMMENT "when this solution was entered",
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* show issues needing your vote
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  `WhenExpires` DATETIME DEFAULT NULL COMMENT "when this solution expires (NULL = never)",
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===Phase III: Proxies===
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  PRIMARY KEY(`ID`)
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* create {{instagov|concepts|proxy}}
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)
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* assign proxy to specific question
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ENGINE = MYISAM;</mysql>
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* view your own proxy status (who is using you, and by what weights?)
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<section end=sql />
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* ongoing question - should there be options for:
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===approval===
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** private (anonymous) proxy - nobody can see who they are using
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Records each user's current level of approval of each proposed solution.
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** secret proxy - existence of your proxy weighting is totally concealed
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<section begin=sql /><mysql>CREATE TABLE `approval` (
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===Phase IV: Categories===
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  `ID` INT  NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
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* create category (general or personal)
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  `ID_User` INT COMMENT "user.ID of user who gave this rating",
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* vote question into general category
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  `ID_Solution` INT NOT NULL COMMENT "solution.ID of solution for which this is a rating",
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* rate question within personal category
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  `ID_Proxy` INT DEFAULT NULL COMMENT "if this approval was proxied, records who the proxy was",
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* assign proxy results to category
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  `Value` INT NOT NULL COMMENT "rating value",
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===Frills===
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  `WhenDone` DATETIME NOT NULL COMMENT "when this rating was posted",
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These can be added whenever needed:
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  `Comments` VARCHAR(255) COMMENT "comments on this rating (can include link)",
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* don't allow posting of question identical to existing one
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  PRIMARY KEY(`ID`)
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** detect similarity, though, and confirm that new question is desired
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)
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*** ask if redirect answer should be created, perhaps?
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ENGINE = MYISAM;</mysql>
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* don't allow posting of answer identical to existing one for a given question
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<section end=sql />
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** detect similarity, though, and confirm that new answer is desired
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* '''Proxy approval''' is a concept I keep coming back to. Rather than trying to prevent vote-buying by secret ballots, which cause their own problems (make recounting more difficult, inhibits discussion of personal voting record), it goes exactly the opposite direction and encourages them while ''documenting'' every occurrence for further analysis.
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==Notes==
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===approval log===
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This page needs an index to sites that provide similar tools, and how well each one meets the design goals set by InstaGov. (Issuepedia has a partial list.)
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Records every time a user submits an approval rating, including revisions.
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<section begin=sql /><mysql>CREATE TABLE `approval_log` (
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In general, petition sites have the following shortcomings:
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  `ID` INT  NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
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* no way to browse petitions by category (though some are beginning to add this)
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  `ID_Approval` INT NOT NULL COMMENT "approval.ID of approval to which this rating was applied",
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* no way to discuss petitions on-site prior to signing them (e.g. to investigate possible objections)
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  `ID_User` INT COMMENT "user.ID of user who gave this rating",
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* no way to discuss petitions on-site prior to making them public (e.g. to refine the language, get a sense of what people would be likely to agree with)
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  `ID_Solution` INT NOT NULL COMMENT "solution.ID of solution for which this is a rating",
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* no reliable way to check if you've already signed a given petition
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  `ID_Proxy` INT DEFAULT NULL COMMENT "if this approval was proxied, records who the proxy was",
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* no record of which petitions you've signed
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  `Value` INT NOT NULL COMMENT "rating value",
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* no follow-up regarding whether petitions were successful, much less any analysis of why they failed (or succeeded)
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  `WhenDone` DATETIME NOT NULL COMMENT "when this rating was posted",
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  `Comments` VARCHAR(255) COMMENT "comments on this rating (can include link)",
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==Links==
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  PRIMARY KEY(`ID`)
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* [http://www.mediawiki.org/w/index.php?title=Extension_talk:LiquidThreads&offset=20130109095522#Why_I_hate_LiquidThreads_18606 Why I hate LiquidThreads] describes a number of problems with threaded dialogue which InstaGov should probably try to address
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)
 
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ENGINE = MYISAM;</mysql>
 
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<section end=sql />
 

Latest revision as of 13:09, 24 March 2013

About

InstaGov is software to enable groups of people, of any size, to handle relatively large numbers of collaboratively-entered decisions in a rational and accurate way.

InstaGov will probably first be written as a plug-in for MediaWiki; it may later be available in other formats. It is entirely open source, so others are free to adapt it to their own uses or add their own features.

Purpose

The philosophy behind its primary purpose (collaborative governance) is discussed in great detail on Issuepedia, but there will probably be other uses for it as well.

InstaGov has two primary functions:

  • vote tallying: collecting votes from each member and presenting aggregated data showing overall sentiment towards each issue
  • issue management:
    • aggregating individual rankings to determine which issues should be propagated to more people and which should be allowed to die out
    • organizing issues into a hierarchical topic system to allow users to filter in or out areas in which they have no interest
    • enabling rational discussion of complex issues within a large group of people

Modules

  • /Liquid Agenda manages issues, solutions, and votes; records individual votes and aggregates them into final decisions
  • /Liquid Proxying allows users to select other trusted voters to help make decisions without surrendering any significant control
  • /Debate Mapper organizes and documents debate on complex issues

Documentation

Development Phases

Phases in which functionality can be added:

Phase I

  • create question
  • create answer(s)
    • support for redirect to rephrased question
      • somehow prevent redirection loops?
  • rate answer(s)
  • view results for specific question

Phase II

  • list all questions (may arise naturally in Phase I)
  • show your status for each (created, voted)
  • show general stats for each (current favored answer, summed rating)
  • show issues needing your vote

Phase III: Proxies

  • create proxy
  • assign proxy to specific question
  • view your own proxy status (who is using you, and by what weights?)
  • ongoing question - should there be options for:
    • private (anonymous) proxy - nobody can see who they are using
    • secret proxy - existence of your proxy weighting is totally concealed

Phase IV: Categories

  • create category (general or personal)
  • vote question into general category
  • rate question within personal category
  • assign proxy results to category

Frills

These can be added whenever needed:

  • don't allow posting of question identical to existing one
    • detect similarity, though, and confirm that new question is desired
      • ask if redirect answer should be created, perhaps?
  • don't allow posting of answer identical to existing one for a given question
    • detect similarity, though, and confirm that new answer is desired

Notes

This page needs an index to sites that provide similar tools, and how well each one meets the design goals set by InstaGov. (Issuepedia has a partial list.)

In general, petition sites have the following shortcomings:

  • no way to browse petitions by category (though some are beginning to add this)
  • no way to discuss petitions on-site prior to signing them (e.g. to investigate possible objections)
  • no way to discuss petitions on-site prior to making them public (e.g. to refine the language, get a sense of what people would be likely to agree with)
  • no reliable way to check if you've already signed a given petition
  • no record of which petitions you've signed
  • no follow-up regarding whether petitions were successful, much less any analysis of why they failed (or succeeded)

Links

  • Why I hate LiquidThreads describes a number of problems with threaded dialogue which InstaGov should probably try to address
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