Public Interaction Through Novel Communications Channels Enables Innovative Projects: A Study of the Space Industry's Use of Web 2.0
- Paper number
IAC-07-E5.2.03
- Author
Mr. David Lackner, Bio | Info | Nano R&D Institute, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
New means of communication with the public about science and technology are creating opportunities for unparalleled participation in space projects. There is a fundamental shift in how information is transmitted, exchanged, synthesized, and utilized due to new channels. Some examples include: Podcasts for major companies like Sprint, web videos on YouTube, blogs like the Ansari Space Blog <http://spaceblog.xprize.org/> , multiple-actor simulations like Second Life, along with forthcoming innovative communications techniques we haven't even thought of. Despite the almost accidental popularity of the Mars' rovers websties among the public, space professionals generally consider public participation as an afterthought, or worse, a nuisance. Internationally, the technical ability to enable global participation removes certain affiliations between the space program and the nation-state sponsorship, making the activity an endeavor for humankind. This paper explores the novel opportunities to build space activity awareness, support, and most importantly "open source" participation from the public. The author indicates that the primary audiences should be existing supporters of the concept of a space program, globally distributed technophiles, and most imporantly, young people. The audience is shifting from passive watchers to active stakeholders, and therefore a more important component than ever in garnering political support and source of financial means. Finally, the author explores the compound affects of privately operated, for-profit space activities, and how they will overtake state-run programs via the new communications channels, and the individuals, like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, who know how to use them to maximum effect.
- Abstract document