While at reboot8, I finally learned in detail of Ulla-Maaria Mutanen’s Thinglink. It’s an object-identification system that empowers craft makers with the ability to give unique labels to their creations. Thinglink’s open database then allows people to connect based on the story of the process and purpose of their creations.

Thinglink represents an alternative to classical economic theory. Ulla calls it Crafter Econonomics. In it, relationships are the currency, and participation is the principal use-value.

To understand the significance of Thinglink, it’s helpful to imagine a creation as the voice of the maker. Alone, a creation may evoke a feeling. But if the maker is not present, then the creation is deprived of the intimate voice that brought it into existence.

All around my house, I have creations that emerged from pieces of wood, masses of stone, and piles of straw. I know someone made these, and I’d like to know who it was and how they did it. Thinglink resolves this issue of anonymous origin by being a chronicle of the creation’s life. Objects then carry their human history.

I envision thinglink as the perfect complement to the fair trade movement. I was recently in a fair-trade store in Amsterdam and was amazed at the absence of information about the products on offer. At best, the objects had country of origin labels. The only indication that the store was in fact dealing in fair trade was a banner hanging behind the check-out counter.

I observed people seeking more information about products. Considering that supporters of fair trade want to ensure humane production, I believe that rich evidence of the humanity of their purchases would encourage more fair trade and bring makers and buyers together. Thinglink can make this happen.

An economist, engineer and holistic scientist, Ralph admitted that it will take years before his holistic spiritual perspective that is based on increasing dialogue becomes widespread.

Ralph’s notion of Holism, especially with regards to the internet, complements contemporary applications of collective intelligence, and the increasing significance of building a global consciousness through conversations within organizations and the marketplace.

“the internet is the physical and externalized manifestation of the realm of consciousness that we can’t see, but can experience.”

He speaks eloquently about the need to recognize the reciprocity between the whole and its parts, and to respect all the agents in an organizational ecology. His wisdom is inspired by process thinking, which emphasizes becoming, rather than static experience or being. It makes me wonder:

How can we bring forth something that wants to happen?