Social Reference:
Harnessing the Hive Mind
Margaret Smith
New York University
October 26, 2009
http://www.flickr.com/photos/max_westby/8723397/

Meet the Hives!
● Yahoo! Answers ● AskMetafilter
● Askville ● Fluther
● Wikianswers ● Answerbag
● Wiki Answers ● Maholo Answers
● Vark.com ● Wikipedia Help Desk
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatfields/136409466/

Not all hives are equal...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arrangingmatches/60987970

Where do deer sleep?
(from http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/7990)
● “At a Days Inn if the Hilton is full.”
● “actually, deer are arboreal. they create nests
high up in the trees from scraps of their prey. ie:
squirrels, cats, etc.. also, deer are known for
their brachiation abilities. their main method of
locomotion through the trees is vertical
swinging and leaping.”
● “Why would you want to know? Under bushes.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonvscanon/906727708/

Forums/Messageboards
AskMetafilter
http://ask.metafilter.com
Library Society of the World FriendFeed Room
http://friendfeed.com/lsw
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calafellvalo/2860952642

Wikis
Wikipedia Help Desk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_help_desk
Wikianswers
http://answers.wikia.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/max_westby/8723398

Blogs
BobstRef
http://bobstreference.wordpress.com
Newman Library Reference Blog
http://blsciblogs.baruch.cuny.edu/newmanreference/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/max_westby/8723399

Basic hive construction
● Forum/messageboard: pHpBB, SMF
GoogleGroup, Tangler, Lefora, FriendFeed
● Wiki: PBwiki, MediaWiki
● Blog: Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wohack/3727256393

Growing your hive
Pollen (what content goes in?)
Honey (what reward/motivation comes out?)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arimoore/100959827

Staffing your hive
Worker bees (who contributes?)
● Skill level
● Security
● Anonymity
Beekeepers (who supports?)
● Moderation
● Maintenance

What if my workplace hates bees
and beehives and extended
metaphors generally?
“Slam the Boards!”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/che_fox/3002282095

Thanks!
Margaret Smith
@megvmeg
New York University
margaret.smith@nyu.edu