The conversations and engagement around crowdsourcing and open innovation continues to multiply. I recently hooked-up (latched-on) to Stefan Lindegaard’s www.15inno.net site, which provides a running commentary on what’s new, what’s hot and what’s cooking in the world of open innovation.

Shine a light

Also, judging by the content on Stefan’s associated Linkedin page many of those that participate appear to be gently feeling their forward, relying (quite rightly) on the input of the crowd to shine a light on the hidden path ahead. Others, confident in their opinions, act as self-appointed guides, happy to share their experience and any resulting insights.

The kitchen table Mark 2

This kind of discursive approach is everywhere on the Internet, and has become part and parcel of its didactic appeal. Not so very long ago, this opportunity to network, share and learn was confined to the kitchen table and the classroom. The image of a bunch of friends gathered around the kitchen table, deep in conversation, remains an appealing one. The growing importance given over to the ‘living kitchen’ space in our homes, as the hub of family life, coincidentally mirrors the rise of the global conversation hub via the Internet.

Listen-in not listen-up

For many the tone of that conversation remains as important as the content as the substance. As in the rest of our lives, we modulate it according to how ‘forceful’ we want to get our points heard. Generally, we adopt that easy conversational, style, and when we want the world to hear what we’re saying, we choose to do so in engaging tones.

The swapping of thoughts on such as large scale has never been delivered with such lightness of touch before. Encouraged to respond in kind, we’ve accommodated each others desire to appear helpful and reasonable.

The Whispering Gallery re-imagined

When I was but a young lad I came across a startling and provocative  black and white image from the 1930’s, depicting people sitting with their ear firmly pressed to the wall of that architectural gem known as the Whispering Gallery, located high-up in the iconic dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The acoustics are so exceptionally good that a couple situation on opposite sides of the dome can whisper to each other and carry on a conversation at some distance apart. 

We now inhabit the 21st Century version of the Whispering Gallery, ears to the wall, picking-up and emitting snippets of conversations, that circluate around us as if contained by some unseen virtual dome. There’s no need to shout or even raise your voice a little. Just like the real thing, let the ‘dome’ do the work for you.