Similar Initiatives

Trent Larson

— 3 min read

There are projects out there with similar goals. None tackle this problem the way we do – and if someone does then we would prefer to combine efforts (so let us know!).

First of all, Time Safari has these three goals:

  • ❶ Encourage direct contributions to one another without intermediate tokens
  • ❷ ... with the ability to accomplish bigger goals and build communities
  • ❸ ... in a way that all users can take over their data & run all apps on their own.

Here are similar initiatives, but I'll highlight our differences:

  • Project Participation
    • GitCoin - still uses currency as a go-between and is very tech-oriented (kudos for ❷ & ❸, and large-scale funding and participation)
    • Magnova - data is fully hosted on someone else's server and doesn't have ways to tracking contributions yet (but kudos for ❶, and a very interesting interface for engaging in multiple areas)
  • Connecting Community
    • Front Porch Forum - runs on their own server (but kudos for building something sustainable with local resources ❷)
    • Paired.world - uses a token (but kudos for ❷ & ❸ on a cryptocurrency emphasizing real-world work together)
  • P2P & Verifiable Technology
    • Open Hospitality Network - has a different focus of hosting travelers (but kudos for grand ideas for a federation of services to serve user choice ❸ – and they are tackling the same kinds of technical problems so we're watching this one closely, along with Trustroots below)
    • Ethereum Attestation Service - ties attestations to a world-visible identity and aims at technical builders (but kudos for a great toolset to support users owning their own data ❸)
    • Hello.coop - broader integration that is optional (but kudos for that integration because it may help in our future ❸)
    • Microsoft Entra - requires Microsoft tooling (but kudos for using open protocols ❸)

Lives of Giving has further goals. Here are some overlapping initiatives:

  • Giving Economies & Basic Needs
    • The Bridge Foundation - works mostly in a physically separate, more intentional community (but they are aimed at simpler living configurations ❷ – and we overlap so closely that we are officially affiliated with them :-)
    • Give Directly - doesn't help with direct local giving (but kudos for highlighting the benefits of giving with huge impact in low-income areas ❷)
    • ShareBay - data is hosted by someone else (but kudos for a platform where people are posting ❶ plus a TED talk and many linked reading resources and worldwide interest)
    • Create Village - data is elsewhere (but kudos for a platform ❶ that is used inside some communities ❷)
    • Trustroots - data is on their servers and doesn't get at larger groups (but kudos for connecting individuals ❶ and for the upcoming work on nostr ❸)
    • Good Dollar - uses a token (but kudos for gaining users ❷ and making open protocols & tools on a cryptocurrency meant for donations ❸)
  • Peer-to-Peer Economies
    • GotChoices & MyCHIPs- uses a token (but kudos for the peer-to-peer focus with a good deal of open-source work on ❷ & ❸)
    • BX - uses a token (but kudos for the peer-to-peer focus)
    • One Small Town - requires cooperation with municipal cities (but kudos for getting organized with individuals ❷ in multiple cities)
    • Duniter - uses a token (but kudos for tying to an economic theory and getting people to participate in a currency ❷ and ❸)
    • ... and many other projects.

All these are worthwhile initiatives! We have even started discussions directly with some of them... the best way to grow networks is to interoperate and cooperate with many of them (with open protocols, of course). Again, we're definitely willing to combine forces if we find someone who tackles these problems in a similar way, so suggestions are welcome.

Further Activities

  • In Time Safari:
    • You can now download your own chain of activity. So now, besides running the whole thing yourself for your purposes, you can share proofs of your activity on our system or your system. We can build ways of linking our chains together. 😁 🤓
    • You can now share multiple contacts with someone... so as you build your direct network, you can give people the info to reach out to one another and request connection.
  • Besides those resources above, here are some intriguing videos on many initiatives – plus one of the eminent Richard Feynman that is a great example of someone who shows the fun in topics that some think are dull (eg. energy preservation & fire).

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