This document discusses the relationship between small technology and informal economies. It notes that as complexity increases due to factors like thermodynamics, demographics, and shifting values, informality and simplicity will rise to meet complexity. Small, lightweight tools and platforms will enable connected cultures of informality. There are opportunities to focus on collaboration instead of competition, adaptability over control, and enabling open systems that allow for graceful evolution over time.

1. Small Tech
Big Informality:
Informal Economies and Small Technology
Scott Smith
Changeist
@changeist

2. Meta-unstable
http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2012/10/metainstability.html
Image: Flickr / Doyoubleedlikeme

3. Image: Flickr / Doyoubleedlikeme

4. Image: Flickr / kjrob

5. Complexity
_
Thermodynamics
_
Demographics
_
Values
Image: Flickr / Godwind

6. Patents
Image: Flickr / dannysullivan

7. Growth
Functional
Innovation
Resilience

8. Image: Flickr / John McNab

9. Image: Flickr / Icarus Kuwait

10. Complexity
Informality
Formality
Simplicity

14. Image: Make

18. Image: Flickr / hhjj

19. Image: Wired

20. Pirate
P2P
Skunkworks
Austerity
DIY
Connected
Cultures
of
Informality
Lightweight
Tools
and
Pla1orms

21. Opportunities
• Shift from capture and conversion to
co-existence and collaboration.
• Focus on adaptability and permeability
• Understand graceful decay
• Selective injection and open ports
• Light-touch enablement

22. Thank you!
ssmith@changeist.com
@changeist
www.changeist.com