UK-based social network for social entrepreneurs
UnLtdWorld, the social network for social entrepreneurs, today announced the launch of a developer platform around its Research Lab, the world’s first dynamic mapping of social entrepreneurship to directly integrate into a social network.
Through a set of APIs (application programming interface) all data in the Research Lab will now be accessible and usable for visualisations, comparative and historical analysis, and for dynamic use with other datasets and within applications developed and deployable anywhere on the web. UnLtdWorld also announced that it has integrated Clickpass, an OpenID and cross-platform authentication issuer and provider, into its platform.
Monday July 7th – UnLtdWorld – www.unltdworld.com – the social network for social entrepreneurs, launched a developer platform around the UnLtdWorld Research Lab today. The UnLtdWorld Research Lab is the world’s mostmapping of social entrepreneurship to dynamically integrate into a social network. The Research Lab provides a breakdown of UnLtdWorld’s community, demographics and of all content on the site. The Research Lab also enables to visualise a breakdown of all data around a specific location or a member’s personal network. All data is anonymous.
Through a set of APIs, the developer platform will allow anyone to access all the data in the UnLtdWorld Research Lab for visualisations, comparative and historical analysis, and for real-time and dynamic use with other datasets, and within mash-ups and applications that can be deployed anywhere on the web.
The APIs will enable to:
o Re-create and dynamically display the Research Lab in its entirety, anywhere
o Pull, display and use segments of data (e.g. around a specific location and/or interest) anywhere
o Analyse data historically, and display and visualise it as it evolves
o Dynamically use the data within visualisations
o Mash the data up with other datasets
o Dynamically use the data within applications (including with other datasets) that can then be deployed anywhere on the web.
Examples of usage could include displaying the relation between crime rates or regeneration initiatives in different areas and social enterprise’s and social entrepreneurs operating in these areas; building comparison clouds to display how interests, skills and needs differ in two different cities through a comparative tag cloud; measuring the relevancy of service provision by mapping what is offered with the needs and skills of social entrepreneurs: the research lab data would allow to assess real needs and identify gaps in service provision.
UnLtdWorld also announced that it is working to display and release additional datasets, and on enhancements to the API’s capabilities in terms of both accessing and using data from the Research Lab. UnLtdWorld has also integrated Clickpass, an OpenID and cross-platform authentication provider and issuer, into the platform. This will mean that members will be able to register on UnLtdWorld and also access the developer platform using OpenID authentication credentials and those of popular services, including Yahoo!, Google, Microsoft Live and Facebook. Alberto Nardelli, Chief Strategist of UnLtdWorld said:
“How information is produced and exchanged is critical; it affects the way we
see the world as it is and it influences how we understand what can and ought
to be done. Social media provides us with an unprecedented opportunity in
enabling and empowering this exchange by setting free the relevancy of data
on a societal scale. In other words, data becomes the platform.
We don’t aim to attract developers to one site; our vision is to make insight
and context shareable anywhere. Through the Research Lab, UnLtdWorld
aims to help build the capacity of social entrepreneurship, to enhance the
efficiency of relations between relevant stakeholders, and to support research,
understanding of issues and relevant initiatives by providing critical social
insight and context anywhere. Anyone, no matter their size, can access, use
and take advantage of this platform.
This for example could mean measuring the relevancy of service provision by
mapping what is offered with the needs and skills of social entrepreneurs;
comparing issues in different locations; or to view the relation between crime
rates or regeneration initiatives in different areas and social enterprise’s
operating in these areas and fields.
There are some great, and quite diverse, examples of data being valuably
used in very different contexts, and at UnLtdWorld we’re profoundly
committed to contributing to the realization of this potential, which is why we
developed the UnLtdWorld Research Lab and are announcing its evolution
into an open platform today.
We also feel that the integration of Clickpass adds even greater value to the
proposition, as it makes access to the platform even easier for users,
researchers and developers.”
Established in March 2008, in the UK, with support from UnLtd – the foundation for social entrepreneurs – www.UnLtdWorld.com connects thousands of social entrepreneurs worldwide, including some of the biggest names in social enterprise.
UnLtdWorld was a finalist in the 2008 New Statesman New Media Awards, Innovation Category. During the Start-up 2.0 2008 award’s at 10th Digital Global Congress in Barcelona; which was partnered by Microsoft, La Caixa Bank and Sun Microsystems, www.UnLtdWorld.com was declared the runner up. The prestigious competition sought to promote and reward the most innovative European start-ups that work in the field of Web 2.0 technologies.
Tags: Enterprise, entrepreneur, social network