The Pattern Language project will strive to engage people from all over the world in a broad participatory process which includes opportunities to develop content (the patterns and the pattern language) as well as helping to steer the project (governance).
The aim of the Pattern Language project is to craft a high-quality, "utopian" yet pragmatic vision for the development of information and communication systems that is:
- Accessible
Easy to use and understand- Bridging
Blurs -- and transcends -- boundaries between activists, researchers, citizens, etc.- Coherent
Internally consistent, comprehensive, works as network- Compelling
Tells an important story, graphic, active, meaningful- Collective
Reflects broad range of opinion; broad participation during development; helps build community and movement- Assertive
Counters negative trends in dominant communication and information systems- Independent
Not beholden to special interests- Effective
Yields good results- Integrative and leveraging
Builds on and helps connect millions of projects worldwide.We will consciously apply values related to community and civic intelligence and creativity. These values include equity, peace, civic and community development, tolerance, environmental and social amelioration, social learning and problem solving, etc
We will include patterns that encourage progressive change.
We will use the project to help build collaborations, to encourage appropriate research and to engage and educate the public.