1. Variety (also think diversity) goes hand-in-hand with sustainability.

2. Sustainability is about environments and contexts, or more simply, proximities.

3. So, for sustainable proximities, we:
a. Need to, and get to, embrace variety.
b. Need to, and get to, create proximities that support variety.

4. To better think about, relate to, and create proximities, we need proximity thinking, also known as ProxThink. The ProxThink framework includes a sustainable proximities approach. By the way, variety is an integral part of proximity thinking.

P.S. You might also check out the varietypeople.com project.

How to Create a Sustainable Proximity

A short guide called “How to Create a Sustainable Proximity” offers a new approach. People can use it for an area, home, park, neighborhood, community, region, context, environment, business, group, organization, etc. If we create many sustainable proximities, they will start to overlap. People are free to use this guide. It is based on the ProxThink sustainable proximities approach. It allows people to relate to a proximity they care about in a new and more direct way. It leverages technology and networks in a different way by applying a new growth model. “How to Create a Sustainable Proximity” is available at the following link:
http://proxthink.com/blog/2009/12/24/how-to-create-a-sustainable-proximity/

—— (end of release) ——————–

NOTE: Should you have any trouble with the link above, you can also get there by going to the ProxThink.com website (http://proxthink.com). Once there, you’ll see links to “How to Create a Sustainable Proximity” in the upper right, and also in the bottom center of the page.

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Here’s the basic idea of this guide: The approach leverages technology and networks in a different way by applying a new growth model. The result is we can relate more directly to proximities, which can often be somewhat amorphous and hard to relate to. With this approach, relating to a proximity becomes more like relating to a person. When relating to a person, you can see how they are doing, you have ways of relating to them, you can consider options and goals for your relationship, and you can do or say things which help keep you, them and your shared context alive, interesting and growing. By making relating to a proximity easier and more likely to happen, this approach can not only increase sustainability, but also diversity and variety (for ourselves and others). Why? Because sustainability, variety and diversity mutually reinforce each other. Let’s begin.

Imagine a place you care about. An area, home, park, neighborhood, community, region, context, environment, business, group, organization, etc. This place is the “proximity” for this guide. (Sometimes, the proximity might be less physical.)

Add a network, such as the Internet, to your place.

Add people who can sense, track and record things about the place. Things that would relate to what you want to maintain or sustain about the place. What people might want to sense, track and record is so varied, I won’t even try to make up examples.

Add technological sensors for the place that can record what they sense. The sensors might record views, heat, pollution, chemicals, moisture, sun, traffic, electricity usage, and other things. Things that would relate to what you want to maintain or sustain about the place.

Allow the humans and technological sensors to record their impressions and data about the place on the network. This set of impressions and data on the network is the ProxMonitor for this place.

Allow people and technology to access the impressions and data on the network. These access points are RelatePoints. If the network is the Internet, the RelatePoints can be web pages viewed in browsers.

So far, we’ve covered two processes of the ProxThink growth model: ProxMonitors and RelatePoints. This growth model allows us to leverage technology and networks in a different way.

Now have people, or a subgroup, develop a set of conditions and characteristics of the place, that they want to sustain or maintain. It could also be a range of conditions and characteristics. Sustaining some conditions and characteristics does not mean the place would feel or be static or boring. Some of the conditions or characteristics might be uncertainty or variability people want to sustain. And some surprises are usually unavoidable anyway. Put the conditions and characteristics people develop into an agreement. Of course, the agreement could change over time based on new input from people, and impressions and data from the ProxMonitor. The agreement might also suggest new things to track in the ProxMonitor. This agreement is the third process of the ProxThink growth model, which is a Vadi Agreement. “Vadi” is short for valuable differences. The agreement can also be displayed in the ProxMonitor at the RelatePoints.

Now people and technology can work (and play) together to sustain the conditions and characteristics. Both people and technological systems can access the ProxMonitor via RelatePoints, check the Vadi Agreement, and do things which help sustain the conditions and characteristics of that place they care about. What they do to maintain or sustain those conditions and characteristics are ProxRewards, or “proxri” for short. Proxri are rewards made with the proximity in mind. Proxri are the fourth and final process of the ProxThink growth model.

This is a simple guide for how the ProxThink growth model can be used to create a sustainable proximity. As you can see, part of the focus shifts to the proximity that people care about. With the help of technology, networks, and the ProxThink growth model, people can relate to the place (proximity) they care about in a new and more direct way.

This approach may be most appropriate for shared challenges which people in a place or proximity face together. Given that some of our toughest problems are shared challenges, it is something I think we should try, see what happens, and improve as we go. In addition, it can be used for parts of a place or proximity. It’s not all or nothing. We can use it to make part of a place sustainable, and grow from there.

That said, I believe the sustainable proximities approach, which this guide introduces, has the potential to change how we approach many situations, large, medium and small, and also some of our toughest challenges. Things like globalization, economic turmoil and climate change.

Don’t believe this can work? Read this.

If you want to get more involved, I’m looking for people who want to try this approach, or build systems for it, or fund it, or several of these. If you know of software that can be used or adapted for this approach, please contact me. If you want to test this approach, provide resources, or get involved in any way, please contact me.

Again, you are free to use this approach, and I hope you will. I’m interested in your comments and thoughts. Also, if you found this interesting or useful, please share it. If you have questions, contact me here. If you find it beneficial or rewarding, please proxri the proximity which produced it, via the Proxri links at ProxThink.com. Thanks!

Not sure if I’ve mentioned this, but the integrated sustainable proximities approach amounts to an attempt to imagine a different way to organize society. Not only that, but it is designed to be able to exist alongside other organizational forms. And, to allow smooth transitions from other forms to it.

Proxri Deal: As you find our relationship rewarding, proxri with the proximity in mind.

A four point argument:

1. We have to focus more on proximities, such as contexts, environments and the myriad elements surrounding and connected to our tough challenges.

2. Our existing social structure (markets, governments, democracy) doesn’t support that very well.

3. Networks are part of the answer, in terms of physical structure.

4. The ProxThink framework provides a new conceptual structure, to complement networks.

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Expansion of Point 1

The following issues and areas point towards a greater need for paying attention to, relating to, and even taking care of, proximities: globalization, the environment, climate change, pollution, energy transitions, economic turmoil, externalities, species extinction, population growth, health degradation, etc.

Proxri Deal: As you find our relationship rewarding, proxri with the proximity in mind.

If we want to tackle tough challenges, such as globalization, economic turmoil and climate change, we may need new ways of thinking and relating. As a bonus, other things may get a boost, such as design, culture and fun. ProxThink is a framework for the proximity of situations, offering individuals and groups new ways to think, relate, create, innovate, and sustainably grow. People can explore, learn about and use it at http://proxthink.com.

Full Announcement

If we want to tackle tough challenges, such as globalization, economic turmoil and climate change, we may need new ways of thinking and relating. Thanks to scientists and philosophers, we know that things are connected and related, and that being is about relating. However, to make the most of these insights, we could use a general, widely shared, practical framework, which might suggest different ways of seeing the world and interacting with it. “I’ve tried to develop something with that potential,” says David Loughry, creator of ProxThink. The developments include a foundation, terms, patterns, models and tools that, with a focus on the proximity of situations, form a framework. The meaning of “proximity” includes nearness in relationship, so you can think of the proximity as elements related, or potentially related, to your situation. The framework is general and simple enough for conversation, yet also presents diverse possibilities, offering individuals and groups new ways to think, relate, create, innovate, and sustainably grow. People can explore, learn about and use it at the ProxThink website.

The perhaps surprising upshot is that this framework helps us relate to and within contexts, networks and environments, which can be considered from a proximity point of view. This is timely since social and technological networks, as well as global social, political, economic and environmental challenges, shift some of the emphasis to the proximity of situations. Further, ProxThink can relate to many different proximities, and in the process boost fun, the arts and culture; support science, engineering and design; promote sustainability; acknowledge and work with complexity; as well as be useful in situations ranging from everyday life and personal relationships to business and markets. Loughry says, “I call this framework ProxThink, short for proximity thinking and the different ways of relating that can result from proximity thinking. In the process of creating it, I’ve developed a number of proposed standards I hope others will adopt and adapt. These include standards for thinking structures, creativity patterns, downloadable content, climate change efforts and a growth model for people who share a proximity. I’m also curious how people will use the patterns and tools designed for creativity and innovation. As a designer, businessperson, inventor, writer and artist myself, they have helped me. In fact, some of the patterns co-evolved with my creative activities. On a larger scale, the ProxThink sustainable proximities approach is an effort to create, for some proximities, new options more suited to our highly networked world.”

Although the full framework cannot be explained here, a brief overview follows. ProxThink, with a focus on proximities, consists of the following three elements: 1) a new structure for thinking and relating, paired with 2) a creativity and innovation system. These were then used as building blocks for 3) a new kind of growth model for people who share a proximity. The new structure for thinking and relating consists of two foundational elements, four terms and two tools. The creativity and innovation system consists of 16 related proximity patterns and tools which leverage them. The growth model consists of four related processes, was created to work with networks, and includes new kinds of rewards called “proxri.” The growth model may provide a kind of evolutionary path for business models. The growth model can be combined with some existing technologies, networks, and participatory aspects of the Internet to create a new sustainable proximities approach, which can enable proximity-focused cooperation and collaboration while fostering greater sustainability. Loughry has begun to apply the growth model and the sustainable proximities approach to several areas, including climate change, downloadable content, web business models, intellectual property, and enhancements to markets. He believes ProxThink may be especially useful for challenges in which standard approaches are not working, for things that have never been done before, and for when people are stuck. People can explore, learn about and use it at the ProxThink website, where memberships start at $4.95 per year (yes, per year) with a 30 day free trial. There are also some free ProxThink resources, including videos. In addition, Loughry is available for webcam support as well as for seminars, speaking, consulting or collaboration on a short- or long-term basis. He is based in Los Angeles. For more, visit http://proxthink.com.

[Note: This is a new short form press release I'm working on. - David]

Thanks to scientists and philosophers, we know that “it’s all relative” and that “being is about relating.” However, we don’t have a useful, shared framework for thinking and talking about, and making use of, these insights. “I’ve tried to develop something with that potential,” says David Loughry, creator of ProxThink. The developments include some new language, concepts, systems, models and tools that form a framework. The new language and concepts are designed to be general and simple enough for conversation, yet also present diverse possibilities. The perhaps surprising upshot is that this framework for relating helps us relate to and with contexts, networks and proximities. This is timely since social and technological networks, which are growing more common, shift some of the emphasis to contexts and proximities. Further, rather than only being theoretical, this framework can engender enjoyment and the arts; support science, engineering and design; promote sustainability; acknowledge and work with complexity; as well as be highly useful and practical in situations ranging from everyday life to business and markets. Loughry says, “I call this framework ProxThink, short for proximity thinking and relating.”

ProxThink, with a focus on proximities, consists of the following three elements: 1) a new structure for thinking and relating, paired with 2) a creativity and innovation system. These were then used as building blocks for 3) a new kind of growth model. The new thinking structure consists of two foundational elements, four terms and two tools. The creativity and innovation system consists of 16 related proximity patterns, and tools which leverage them. The growth model consists of four related processes that are suggested as new standards. The growth model can be combined with some existing technologies, networks, and emerging participatory aspects of the Internet to create a new sustainable proximities approach. This sustainable proximities approach creates a wide variety of possibilities. Some of these include: 1) new ways to collaborate to deal with climate change, 2) alternatives to markets, 3) new ways to solve the intellectual property challenges of a networked world, and 4) sustainable proximity approaches which can complement markets, governments and democracies.

“It’s impossible to convey how these ideas and practices work with each other in a few paragraphs. It took a website and a blog to explain them, and provide tools based on them. I believe the framework and the sustainable proximities approach have potential, and should be explored, tested, and grown,” says Loughry. For a more thorough introduction to ProxThink, see this longer press release. For some practical takeaways and some proposed new standards in each related area, see the following links: 1) Boost innovation and creativity at http://proxthink.com. 2) Use and learn about a different model for downloadable digital content at http://artdown.com. 3) Become part of a new way to approach climate change which leverages social media at http://proxearth.com. 4) Discover more about the sustainable proximities approach at http://proxthink.com/ways/sustainable-proximities.php. 5) Explore the ProxThink growth model, and consider how you might adapt or adopt it for some of your proximities here: http://proxthink.com/brief/intro-growth-model.php.

Proxri Deal: As you find our relationship rewarding, proxri with the proximity in mind.

Summary

We need some new approaches to a number of major challenges facing humanity, such as those related to the economy, climate, biodiversity, energy, oceans and global instability. We need them now. I’ve developed an integrated set of ideas, tools, models and standards called ProxThink, that can boost thinking, creativity, growth and sustainability. Part of ProxThink is a new growth model that, when combined with the Internet and related technologies, can foster more sustainable proximities, an approach that applies to many of our major challenges. The combination of growth model processes and network-related technologies can shift some, not all, of our attention and efforts more toward proximities, and away from our personal and professional bottom lines. (This is something we often do in wartime, and a number of our challenges are as serious as war. However, it won’t be so grim, and may be enjoyable and even fun.) In times like these, one thing we must not do is stop trying new things. This is where you come in. I’m looking for users, funders, investors, collaborators and partners. At the very least, join ProxThink.com to support the work. As a bonus, you’ll get some new options for your own creativity and innovation. My minimum goal is to raise a year or two of funding, so I can tell more people about this, and find more people who want to get involved. Even better would be to find people to work with, to actually begin building some more sustainable proximities using this approach.

Full Text

We need some new approaches, now.

We’re in a major economic crisis, now. We’re facing looming climate crisis, now. We’re losing biodiversity, now. We’re in a major energy transition, now. The oceans are in decline, now. We’re at greater risk of global instability, due to job losses and the economy, now. We’re having trouble coordinating and collaborating to deal with each of these, now.

I’ve developed something called ProxThink. ProxThink is short for proximity thinking. ProxThink is an integrated set of ideas, tools, models and standards. Together, they can boost thinking, creativity, growth and sustainability. ProxThink can be applied to a number of major challenges and situations we face, such as those mentioned above, and more.

ProxThink is built upon the idea that being is about relating, combined with a focus on the proximity. The proximity is a useful concept since the meaning of proximity includes nearness in relationship, allowing consideration of any elements related to a situation.

The most integrated and useful outgrowth of ProxThink is what I call a Sustainable Proximities approach, which leverages the ProxThink growth model. I suggest we begin trying it in some proximities. The basic idea is that we start keeping our attention and efforts more on the proximity, and shift some, not all, of our attention and efforts away from our personal and professional bottom lines. (This is something we often do in wartime, and a number of our challenges are as serious as war. However, it won’t be so grim, and may be enjoyable and even fun.) We can do this by combining technology and ProxThink growth model processes. Useful technologies include networks such as the Internet, combined with sensing and database technologies. New processes from the ProxThink growth model can help us coordinate, collaborate and manage resources in new ways that are relevant to proximities. This is critical — we have useful technologies available, and can put them to greater advantage with some new conceptual approaches and new processes which ProxThink and the growth model supply.

The Sustainable Proximities approach is more fully described on this page:
http://proxthink.com/ways/sustainable-proximities.php
To see an example of how the Sustainable Proximities approach can be implemented, see the Climate Change Project called proxEarth.org here:
http://proxearth.org
The Sustainable Proximities and proxEarth approaches can be adapted to a variety of other resources and proximities that we want to make more sustainable.

In times like these, one thing we must not do is stop trying new things. This is where you come in. I’m looking for users, funders, investors, collaborators and partners. At the very least,  join ProxThink.com to support the work. As a bonus, you’ll get some new options for your own creativity and innovation.

There are three membership levels ($4.95/year, $9.95/year, $19.95/year). You get a 30-day free trial, or a special offer for immediate payment. There are also opportunities to relate and contribute in more engaged ways. For yourself and others, if would be great if you join here now.
http://proxthink.com/join/

If you want to be funder, investor, collaborator and partner, or know people who might want to be, please contact me here:
http://proxthink.com/relatepoint/contact.php

I figure the bill to humanity for what I’ve created should be at least $50 million . The benefits should be far, far higher than that. Pay up! I’m partly joking of course. But I’ve invested decades of work, thought and care in this effort. Not to mention a lot of money. My minimum goal is to raise a year or two of funding, so I can tell more people about this, and find more people who want to get involved. I can live, and pay down my startup debt, for around $100K per year, so I need around $200K. I’m willing to start a non-profit for the development portion of the work, if I need to, so funders can write off their contributions. I just haven’t had time for that. I’ve been racing to finish the work and the main ProxThink website. The site isn’t perfect, but it’s a strong start. The ideas, however, are quite solid. Even better than telling people about this approach, would be to find people to work with, to actually begin building some more sustainable proximities using this approach.

Please forward this to others who might be interested.

Below are a few optional links to explore.

Thanks for your attention.

——– ( optional links to explore below ) —————

MAIN SITE: Main site for the ProxThink ideas, tools, models and standards.
http://proxthink.com

SUSTAINABILITY: Ways to create more sustainable proximities and resources.
http://proxthink.com/ways/sustainable-proximities.php

CLIMATE CHANGE: A climate change project, including what you can do.
http://proxearth.org

PRESS RELEASE: A good ProxThink introduction and overview.
http://proxthink.com/blog/2008/11/07/proximity-focus-bears-fruit/

BUSINESS/GROWTH MODEL: A new growth model.
http://proxthink.com/brief/intro-growth-model.php

INNOVATION, PROBLEM-SOLVING, CREATIVITY: Boost them.
http://proxthink.com/join/ways-to-use-proxthink.php#Innovation_Problem-Solving_Creativity

INTERNET AND NETWORKS: New ways to leverage them (three links).
http://proxthink.com/blog/2009/02/09/networks-plus-the-proxthink-growth-model/
http://proxthink.com/blog/2008/12/17/networks-nature-and-new-possibilities/
http://proxthink.com/blog/2008/11/23/upside-of-combining-the-proxthink-growth-model-and-the-internet/

FINANCIAL TURMOIL AND MARKETS: Also includes coordination, collaboration and resource management (two links).
http://proxthink.com/blog/2008/11/24/financial-turmoil-is-avoidable/
http://proxthink.com/blog/2008/10/31/financial-turmoil/

DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT: New ways to share downloadable content (music, movies, video, art, books, software, etc.).
http://artdown.com/downloads.html

MY BACKGROUND: A little about me.
http://proxthink.com/relatepoint/david-loughry.php

SHORT HISTORY OF PROXTHINK: A bit about the evolution.
http://proxthink.com/blog/2008/12/15/some-proxthink-history/

——– ( end of optional links to explore ) —————

Proxri Deal: As you find our relationship rewarding, proxri with the proximity in mind.

If we want to deal better with this recession/depression and with climate change, just for starters, we need to collaborate better.

Networks, such as the Internet, provide the technology. I believe the ProxThink growth model, used in a Sustainable Proximities approach, can provide new processes for using the technology of networks. Together, networks and the growth model can allow better collaboration.

As things are now, we’re acting a lot like helpless victims. We’re humans, and we have the power to change. We need to be experimenting with a number of new approaches.

Want another opinion on the need to experiment with different approaches? Check out this great article by Thomas Homer-Dixon, and don’t miss the last paragraph.

Let’s do it!

Proxri Deal: As you find our relationship rewarding, proxri with the proximity in mind.

Before networks, markets were a way for people to relate to proximities. But now, networks can allow us to more directly know about and relate to proximities. Especially networks such as the Internet.

But we need updated ideas, tools, models and standards for relating to proximities via networks. ProxThink provides these. Especially the ProxThink growth model.

Given what we’re facing, such as the effects of global economic linkages, the limits of markets, climate change, loss of biodiversity, and other challenges which relate to proximities, we need to begin putting the ProxThink growth model to use in combination with networks. This Sustainable Proximities proposal is a guide for doing so.

See also Networks, Nature and New Possibilities.

Proxri Deal: As you find our relationship rewarding, proxri with the proximity in mind.