Loomio

Loomio

A screenshot of Loomio in action
Written in Ruby, JavaScript[1]
Platform web
License AGPL v3[2]
Website www.loomio.org

Loomio is decision-making software to assist groups with collaborative decision-making processes. It is a free software[2] web application.[3][4][5][6] Loomio implements occupy hand-signals but allows groups to interpret these as they wish. Users initiate discussions and put up proposals. As discussions progress the group receives feedback on a proposal through an up-datable pie chart.[4]

In 2014, they raised over $100,000 via a crowdfunding effort, to develop Loomio 1.0, with support for mobile phones and other enhancements.[7]

It is built by a core of group of developers based in Wellington, New Zealand.[8] Because it is built in the libre software model, there are contributors to the project from around the world.[9]

History

Loomio emerged from the Occupy movement, and has developed into a social enterprise.

Operation

Diagram depicting how Loomio works

Within Loomio, there is the concept of groups. Groups are the top-level organizational structure within Loomio, and are made up of members who have been granted permissions to be a member of the group. Groups can be both public and private, allowing for privacy or openness where required.

Within groups, members can create discussions on specific topics. During a discussion, members of the group can post comments and create proposals.

Proposals solicit feedback from members on a specific proposition. Members can either agree, disagree, abstain, or block. Blocking is essentially a strong form of disagreement.

Funding

Loomio is developed in the libre software model. The main hosted service running the software doesn't advertise. As a result, Loomio funds itself through contracts with government and business, and also solicits donations from its users.[10]

Reception

Loomio has been used by the Wellington City Council for discussion with their citizens.[11]

The Pirate Party of Hellas used Loomio[12][13] to create 461 groups, covering 18 federal departments, 13 regions of Greece, 23 prefectures, and hundreds of counties and municipalities. The Internet Party of New Zealand also used Loomio to develop policy during the campaign for the 2014 General Election.[14]

Loomio won the MIX Prize Digital Freedom Challenge in April 2014.[15]

Projects using Loomio

Prominent projects that use Loomio for collaborative work based on democratic process:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "loomio/loomio". Github. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "loomio/LICENSE.txt". Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  3. ↑ Pullar-Strecker, Tom. "Group decision-making software ready to run". Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Can Social Software Change the World? Loomio Just Might". Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Occupy Democracy: Loomio attempts to re-invent group decision-making… as a co-op". Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  6. ↑ de Taar, Charlie. "InterTwinkles: Online Tools for Non-Hierarchical, Consensus-Oriented Decision Making". MIT. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "Out in the Open: Occupy Wall Street Reincarnated as Open Source Software". Wired. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Loomio - The Enspiral Network". Enspiral Foundation. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Contributors to loomio/loomio". Github. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  10. ↑ https://love.loomio.org
  11. ↑ "Loomio Launches Exciting Collaboration with Wellington City Council". blog.enspiral.com. 15 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "Loomio used for large scale citizen democracy project in Greece". blog.loomio.org. 14 March 2014.
  13. ↑ "The Largest Loomio Project Yet". techpresident.com.
  14. ↑ "LOOMIO GIVES POLICY POWER TO MEMBERS". Internet Party of New Zealand. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  15. ↑ Lumio (3 April 2014). "Wellington Tech Startup Loomio Wins International Award". Scoop.co.nz.
  16. ↑ "Diaspora* project wiki". Retrieved 2014-10-29.
  17. ↑ "Realdemocracy project website". Retrieved 2014-10-29.
  18. ↑ https://podemos.info/participa/herramientas/como-usar-loomio/

External links