Community? Communication?
I was very happy to be able to set up my server using Rasberry Pi and Yunohost. The experience brought back my long-forgotten memory of playing with UNIX and FreeBSD and using the command lines in the ’90s. The technology has changed much since then. I had missed a lot, and there was a large hole in my knowledge. I am encouraged to get back to the practice of setting up my own server after all these years.
So, the idea for my project.
I want to integrate with the server I set up. My community for this project is small. I am inspired by Robin Sloan’s project, which I discovered when browsing the case studies for the class project.
Issue: My family members do not communicate often, and one of the issues is the limitation of tools. Due to privacy concerns, most of my family members do not use common messaging apps or social media created by big tech. Besides this, my family members live across the world. This results in infrequent communication, which hurts my heart.
If there is an infrastructure to mitigate not only privacy and security issues but also become a fun activity for family members, it would greatly improve communications among my family members. So, my idea is to have a safe space for family to communicate, share photos and memories, and get to know each other better.
I am thinking about installing an instance messaging app on Yunohost. I will need to explore more to see what is best. Additionally, I plan to create a game plan or protocol for family members to follow.
Any feedback is welcome.
So, I installed the message app with Synapse (Martix) and Element. It works! Communicating with my brother using my own server feels special. However, there is a (potential) hurdle to moving my family’s communication channel there. The issue is language. I realized that most of the apps will be in English, which is difficult for some of my family members. I would need to teach them about how to use it when I am with them or find something with a traditional Chinese interface. So, switching communication tools is a long way to go. But I am glad that at least I set up the server.
Protocol?
I have not contemplated this word deeply until this class. There are protocols everywhere in our daily lives and in society. I started thinking about what would happen if we changed protocols.
As I have been thinking about communication, protocol certainly plays an important role here. I am interested in developing a new protocol for my family to communicate. Like a new game. But I would need to gather their ideas and discuss them with them first. Right now, with us far apart, I can barely communicate with them. This is not going to happen overnight. I think when I have a chance to see them in person in the summer, I will try to do this.
So, I am back to the drawing board, thinking about how to improve communication with family. Several of my family members like gardening. Maybe this is a good way to connect.
How about a space where everyone can share their plant growth and exchange knowledge of gardening? I envision something unlike a regular discussion forum but more organic. More like a shared virtual garden map. Members can upload photos of their plants or vegetables at different stages. Members can add notes with information and respond to each other.
The messaging app is convenient to use but it is for too many different things. I want a dedicated space where people can focus on gardening. No pressure to post. Checking and uploading things when you want. More importantly, it should be easy to use.
I checked out and installed several whiteboard tools, thinking something like this would work, but I couldn’t find a perfect one.
How about a collaborative slide?
With the language interface issue, something most people are familiar with would help. Like a shared slide presentation. It is not ideal, but even my mom has experience using PowerPoint (she is on the opposite end of tech-savvy).
If I am capable in the future (my goal), I will create something better, but for now, I found that the Presentation tool in Nextcloud works for this purpose. It took me a while to figure out how to make it work in Nexcloud, but eventually, it worked!
Plant Diary is online!
I still need to educate family members on how to use it, but when I shared the idea with my mom, she was interested in doing this “plant diary” exchange with me. And my sister started sending pictures of her plants to me. My heart warmed up.
The first page of our Plant Diary on Nextcloud
As I was testing out Nextcloud, one of my colleagues, whom I had not communicated with for a long time, sent me pictures of her garden. She knows that I am into gardening and wants to tell me that she also set up her garden recently (it’s spring!) to grow herbs. She wants me to visit her home in the summer to pick up the herbs. I told her I was thinking about a “plant diary exchange” with my family to stay in communication, and maybe she and I could do so to stay in touch too. How interesting that this project helps me make more connections with other people.
I joined the class wanting to find a community. I started by exploring my small community (my family) and wanted to create something to help improve communication in my community. Now I feel that I can reach out to more people and find more community.
Project summary:
1. Installed Yunohost on Rasberry Pi
2. Installed Synapse (Martix) server. Downloaded Element app. Invited a few people. (to be continued due to language interface barrier)
3. Installed Nextcloud and Nextcloud Office.
4. Set up collaborative Presentation for the Plant Diary
5. In progress: inviting and educating family members to participate.
Other things… Repair and Reuse
I am encouraged by the experience this class brings to me. I want to repair my old computer and use it as a server. I have so many pieces of old tech lying around. Now I am starting to think about what I can do with them. It is going to be a fun journey. I am looking forward to it.
And… I want to try setting up a Wi-Fi portal
I am inspired by the local wifi portal class project showcased on the class project page. I go to conferences often. Many people would search for free wifi to join at the big convention center’s meeting rooms (sometimes the cellular signal is weak there, and there is no free wifi access). I am considering creating a portal that can go with me to spread the word for Lobby Activism (a feminist activism art activity and gathering a group of people in the feminist interest group run every year at the annual convention I attend).
It would also be a cool art project to share artwork at the convention. A mobile art gallery!
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Update: about Wi-Fi portal
I set up the Wi-Fi portals and took them with me to the conference from 4/3–4/6. It was really cool to see someone sitting in front of me with a laptop trying to find free wifi and end up seeing the message about the Lobby Activism activity information. I will definitely use it again in the future.