User talk:Kayemacabale/sandbox

Cognitive surplus
Cognitive surplus is comprised of the free time and talents individuals have where they can choose to be productive by consuming, creating, and sharing with others around the world. There are two types of cognitive surplus: communal value and civic value. Communal value is the result of a person or persons producing something for themselves as well as for others. Examples of communal value are photos on Flickr, videos on YouTube, and LOLCats. Civic value is also the result of an individual or group of people creating something, but it differs from communal value in the way that it is meant to benefit, improve, and transform society. The website Ushahidi is an example of civic value, as well as Wikipedia and online organizations that raise money for African HIV patients, such as Grobanites for Charity. Communal value can be seen more frequently because it is everywhere, it can be considered as any publicly available data. People might not see the value in LOLCats, but communal value can bridge the difference between no participation and a little bit of participation [Doctorow]. As long as these people are contributing to something, they are helping to create a more cooperative world.

The words cognitive surplus is commonly associated with Clay Shirky, who wrote a book titled Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age that came out in 2010. He claims that this cognitive surplus can come from the free time people use to watch television, which has increased due to the industrialized world. Instead of using up that free time by passively consuming hours of television, those hours can be used actively producing and sharing information and material.

Free time can be utilized more efficiently than before because of the development of social and digital media, as well as its increasing use within society. Social media platforms help people connect with others around the world who might share the same ideas, values, and concerns as them, which in turn can spark collaborations that will benefit the community as a whole. The Internet also plays a huge role of broadening opportunities and turning cognitive surplus into communal value or civic value. It has decreased the cost of participation and barriers to entry; people no longer have to depend on institutions. The Internet allows people easy ways to connect, create, contribute, and to share- all one would need is a computer and access to the network.

This vast amount of free time can become a new resource and a social advantage that can be used adequately in society. The outcome of people utilizing their cognitive surplus to generate communal or civic value is fostered by intrinsic desire and human generosity; according to Clay Shirky it is not so much about money and self-interest or about gaining material reward. People have always had intrinsic motivations to be generous towards their friends and family; the Internet just allows us to widen our social network and become generous at a more expansive range, for a longer span of time.