Watch Us Now

Us Now is a documentary film produced by the UK's Channel 4 that explores the potential of mass collaboration, social networking and open-source technology in the year 2009. The film is based on interviews with a diverse range of people from around the world, including experts, politicians, entrepreneurs and ordinary people, who are all involved in using new technologies to create more open, democratic and collaborative systems.

The film starts by introducing the concept of mass collaboration and social networking, highlighting the increasing use of these tools by people around the world. The film explores the potential power of this technology to transform society, giving individuals the ability to connect with others and share knowledge and resources on a massive scale. It shows how social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have created new opportunities for people to collaborate and connect, and how open-source technology has enabled people to share and contribute to the creation of new products and services.

The film goes on to explore a number of examples of mass collaboration in action, from the development of open-source software to the use of online communities to solve complex problems. It highlights the growing number of organizations and businesses that are embracing collaboration as a way to create value and solve problems, and showcases some of the innovative ways in which people are using technology to work together.

One of the most powerful examples of mass collaboration featured in the film is the story of CouchSurfing, a social networking site that connects travelers with locals around the world. The film tells the story of how CouchSurfing was created by a group of friends who wanted to create a platform that would enable people to share their homes and local knowledge with travelers, without the need for money. The film follows one traveler as she uses CouchSurfing to travel through Europe, demonstrating the power of the site to help her connect with locals and experience a new culture.

The film also explores the potential of mass collaboration to create more open and democratic political systems. It features interviews with political activists and experts who are using social networking and open-source technology to build new democratic systems, and showcases examples of these systems in action. One of the key examples featured in the film is the use of collaborative democracy in Brazil, where citizens can use an online platform to propose, debate and vote on policy ideas.

Overall, Us Now is a thought-provoking and inspiring film that showcases the potential of mass collaboration, social networking and open-source technology to transform society. The film provides a wide range of examples of these technologies in action, from the development of open-source software to the creation of new political systems, and demonstrates how they can be used to create more open, democratic and collaborative systems. The film's message is that we all have the power to create change, and that by working together we can build a better world.