Amplified collective intelligence in large populations using deadbands and networked sub-groups
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for amplified collective intelligence across large networked human populations by using deadbands and interconnected sub-groups. Disclosed are methods and systems for computer moderated collaboration among the population of human participants using a plurality of networked computing devices. A prompt may be presented to participants for collecting collaborative responses. Individuals within the population may each provide an initial response to the prompt during an initial time period. During a second time period, participants are enabled to update their responses while content is shared across participants. A forbidden deadband region defines an area around each participant's initial responses that updated responses must fall outside of, Sub-populations are defined for sharing initial and/or updated responses, enabling coherent interactions among manageable sized groups while leveraging the full benefits of the whole population. Changes in initial responses are used as a factor in deriving amplified collective intelligence.
1 . A method for computer-moderated collaboration among a population of human participants using a plurality of networked computing devices, the method comprising:
providing a collaboration server running a collaboration application, the collaboration server in communication with the plurality of networked computing devices, each networked computing device associated with a human participant;
providing a local collaboration application on each networked computing device, the local collaboration application configured for displaying a prompt to and collecting input from the participant associated with that networked computing device; and
enabling through communication between the collaboration server and the local collaboration application running on each of the plurality of networked computing devices, the following steps:
synchronously send a prompt to the plurality of networked computing devices, the prompt describing an assessment to be collaboratively generated by the population of human participants;
synchronously present a representation of the prompt to each participant on a display of the networked computing device associated with that participant;
collect a set of initial numerical responses to the prompt based on input received during a synchronously initial time period such that each initial numerical response is collected from a different participant via a user interface on the computing device associated with that participant;
before the start of a second time period, store each initial numerical response in a unique location in a data structure in a memory accessible to the collaboration server such that each initial numerical response is associated with the participant the response was collected from;
using the data structure, divide the set of initial numerical responses into a plurality of overlapping subsets wherein each subset contains initial responses associated with a unique set of participants and wherein each subset is overlapping for including at least one initial numerical response that is also included in at least one other subset;
synchronously initiate the second time period for all participants during which they are instructed to update their response based on a presented stimulus;
during the second time period, display a different one of the plurality of overlapping subsets of initial numerical responses to each of a plurality of the participants;
during the second time period, collect updated numerical responses from each participant via the user interface on the networked computing device associated with that participant;
during the second time period, for each of thea plurality of participants, update the display of the different overlapping subset of initial numerical responses to provide a real-time representation of updated numerical responses of participants associated with the different overlapping subset of initial numerical responses, wherein the real-time representation is repeatedly updated as the participants associated with the different overlapping subset of initial numerical responses input or adjust their responses;
synchronously end the second time period for all participants;
determine a final updated numerical response from each participant and store it in memory accessible to the collaboration server such that each final updated numerical response is associated with the participant the response was collected from; and
compute a collaborative numerical response based at least in part on the final updated numerical response provided by each of the plurality of participants and the changes between each of their initial numerical responses and their final updated numerical responses.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the population includes 1000 members and wherein the population is divided into overlapping subsets of no more than 27 members.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the prompt describes an issue to be collaboratively assessed, estimated, or forecast.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein real-time indicates being substantially current within the context of human perception and reaction.
5 . A system for conducting computer-moderated collaboration among a population of human participants using a plurality of networked computing devices, comprising:
a collaboration server including a processor running a collaboration application, the collaboration server in communication with the plurality of networked computing devices, each networked computing device associated with a human participant; and
a local collaboration application on each networked computing device, the local collaboration application configured to display a prompt to and collect input from the participant associated with that networked computing device, wherein the system is configured to enable communication between the collaboration server and the local collaboration application running on each of the plurality of networked computing devices, including performing of the following steps:
synchronously send a prompt to the plurality of networked computing devices, the prompt describing an assessment to be collaboratively generated by the population of human participants;
synchronously present a representation of the prompt to each participant on a display of the networked computing device associated with that participant;
collect a set of initial numerical responses to the prompt based on input received during a synchronous initial time period such that each initial numerical response in the set is collected from a different participant of the population of human participants via a user interface on the computing device associated with that participant;
before the start of a second time period, store each initial numerical response in a unique location in a data structure in a memory accessible to the collaboration server such that each initial numerical response is associated with the participant the response was collected from;
using the data structure, divide the set of initial numerical responses into a plurality of overlapping subsets wherein each subset contains initial responses associated with a unique set of participants and wherein each subset is overlapping for including at least one initial numerical response that is also included in at least one other subset;
synchronously initiate the second time period for all participants during which they are instructed to update their response based on a presented stimulus;
during the second time period, display a different one of the plurality of overlapping subset of initial numerical responses to each of a plurality of the participants;
during the second time period, collect updated numerical responses from each participant via the user interface on the networked computing device associated with that participant;
during the second time period, for each of the plurality of participants, update the display of the subset of initial numerical responses to display a real-time representation of updated numerical responses of the participants associated with the subset of initial numerical responses, wherein the real-time representation is repeatedly updated as the participants associated with the initial numerical responses input or adjust their responses;
synchronously end the second time period for all participants;
upon ending the second time period, determine a final updated numerical response from each participant and store it in memory accessible to the collaboration server such that each final updated numerical response is associated with the participant the response was collected from; and
compute a collaborative numerical response based at least in part on the final updated numerical response provided by a plurality of participants and the changes between each of their initial numerical responses, their updated numerical responses collected during the second time period, and their final updated numerical response.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the population includes 1000 members and wherein the population is divided into overlapping subsets of no more than 27 members.
7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the prompt describes an issue to be collaboratively assessed, estimated, or forecast.
8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein said display comprises a histogram of the initial numerical responses.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein said updating the display during the second time period comprises updating the histogram in real-time with the updated numerical responses of the participants associated with the subset of initial numerical responses.