Documents for Our Journey
Design Principles and Context
The Building Blocks of PLAN
Use Cases and User Experience Idioms
PLAN Systems Teams and Positions
How to Apply

The tragedy of the commons is not an inevitability, it’s a mythos we can overcome.

This idea survives the life and work of Elinor Ostrom. Lin, as she liked to be called, was a scientist and compassionate humanist who helped identify an analytical framework whereby people in community can sustain limited resources over generations. To the surprise of many, she was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in economics in 2009 for her seminal work on economic governance, Governing the Commons.

So why mention economic governance before a discussion on designing open source software? It is to acknowledge that economies don’t just happen because you can create a currency by fiat. Economies happen when people are able to come together within a framework for communicating and working together in cooperative agreement.

PLAN Systems is connecting virtual 3D environments, together with digital workspace tools – all supported by infrastructure that that is secure, reliable, and redundant. We think of it like this:

The experiential power of 3D worlds and virtual communities

Realtime collaborative workspaces and digital instruments

The privacy and reliability of peer-to-peer, distributed data systems

Underpinned by non-profit values and open source principles

PLAN UX | Early Alpha Preview  Q3-2020

Documents for Our Journey

PLAN Presentation
Spheres of Development 
Projects and Proposals Form Submission
PLAN Systems Textbook and Charter
Beyond Mere Decentralization

Thank you for showing up here to be a part of this effort. If you are unable to contribute your time or expertise, consider becoming a sustaining contributor through our Community Technology Fund.

Design Principles and Context

To put the conventional software paradigm in context, note that the Operating Systems and Applications that we rely on are largely tied to a single device, and information on the internet is predominantly accessed through a browser or through apps with dependencies to “the cloud,” API’s, or other proprietary services.

The problem is the current connected applications we depend on usually require us to give up vital private data for sale, use lock-in tactics, are available only when the internet is on, are sandboxed in a browser, are unwieldy 2D interfaces, or are black boxes of present and future risk. People can struggle even figuring out the “learning curve” on an app like Zoom, so we have our work cut out for us. But we see a decisive opportunity to lift up organizations and communities in need by developing an open source and gatekeeper-less alternative for collaborative computing.

In contrast with other platforms, PLAN Systems approaches development and use cases with some fundamentally different values and goals, such as delivering:

1. Privacy as the default

2. User owned data and interfaces

3. Self hosted and community-centric software

4. Tools for data and infrastructure redundancy

5. Usability even without being connected to the internet

6. Ease of use and accessibility

7. A user interface and experience that can shift from being 3D immersive, to a touchscreen, to being voice driven

8. Cross platform and hardware agnostic compatibility

9. Major components that are all modular and pluggable (including interfaces)

10. Interoperability as the rule rather than the exception

See our Design Principles Compared diagram.

Links and Nodes | Spaces and Channels – The Building Blocks of PLAN

The PLAN interface is influenced by a simple network theory based abstraction, Links and Nodes, to help connect, organize, and visualize information. A comparative analogy is the “files” and “folders” or “websites” and “hyperlinks” schema in a traditional operating system / web context; however this new approach is much more dynamic because of the interoperability of the channel infrastructure and p2p properties of the data-model.

A “node” takes on meaning, form and function when it is defined or components are instantiated. Some examples include adding a name / description / media content or meta-data; assigning a channel type and/or custom glyph (2d/3d icon); procedurally or manually creating links to other nodes / locations; Layering or clustering nodes in a Space (channels / people / assets & objects). Nodes, and by extension Spaces and Channels (aka data containers and interfaces) can be permissioned or made community-public, forked, grouped, merged, composited, subscribed to, or mirrored.

Powered by a sophisticated and extensible peer-to-peer data-model, PLAN can support the following fundemental Channel types:

– Space Channel
– File channels
– Video channels
– Audio channels
– Talk channels
– Spreadsheet channels
– Trello/Kanban channels
– Collaborative document editor channels
– Git channels

While PLAN can be thought of as a peer-to-peer Operating System, the functions that show up first will start simple, and mature as our team and effort grow. As far as use cases, and personas, here’s a quick overview:

First Responders and Engineers – Focused on collaborating with technical data, instruments, and visualizations such as a spatial spreadsheet, resource and asset mapping, GPS and spatial navigation, technical documents and files (studies, raw data, reports), report writing, evidence chain of custody, integration with other tools

Educators and Scientists – Focused on collaborating in a classroom context: syllabus, assignments, labs, virtual exploration of environments, video conferencing, peer and group communications, forms, group data collection and management, virtual textbooks/classrooms in 3D / VR spaces, collaborative assignments, a data repository for teachers, students, and administrators

Journalist and Artists – Focused on collaborating with stories, interactive media, and immersive experience: privacy features, distributed storage, live streaming and redundant data archives, tools to collect and create information flows and models, distribute multimedia information and experiences through immersive story telling.

Growers, Builders, Maintainers, and Organizers – Focused on collaborating within organizations in teams and project oriented groups: design manage tasks and time, scheduling, authoring custom maps with geo-spatial tools, channels for documenting techniques & methods, asset database and associated equipment, maintenance instructions

The prototype image (shown above) is a functional pre-alpha interface that we are continuing to refine. While the “tabs” style implementation is a huge step in the right direction, I want to acknowledge the work that is needed to improve the flow, layout, and user interface and experience design elements. We are currently developing an approach that will allow us to bring nodes / channels, menus, and other interface elements into a Space (“in-game”), which we believe will considerably enhance the logical flow of the experience and better visually separate global vs local user experience idioms, while: 

1. Employing methods to avoiding clutter or over saturating the Space with pop up boxes that can grow to overtake the primary viewing area when you start adding or interacting with content 

2. Allowing nodes / channels / spaces to be grouped or toggled on & off like layers on a map or art board

3. Preserving the ability to quickly move between Communities / Spaces / Channels / Nodes / People / Menus / Settings / etc.

Use Cases, Interfaces, and User Experience

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Use cases range from privacy and accessibility, multidisciplinary team collaboration, experiential learning, as well as managing a complex project or production where data management and spatial logistics matter a lot. For us, this effort is much about coming together to solve problems, as it is about art and interactive experience.

As the PLAN prototype demonstrates, we are provisioning for multitasking in Spaces and Channels (aka compartments and data interfaces), and working to provide robust functionality for privacy, accessibility, and collaboration. Early supporters and contributors benefit greatly, as we will be the stewards of a new class of community tools and technology that will show up for people in a big way. 

Consider the example use case where a family or team of organizers wants to set up a virtual Space to host projects and people (possibly hundreds or even thousands), with interactive content and group break out sessions along the way that include channels for messaging, sharing files, and collaborating in rooms or virtual locations (Spaces).

Another example of a primary use case is centered on creating a Space containing a geo-spatial map where collaborators can select an area or environment, and make maps showcasing custom content and experiences. Software giants like G-suite, Facebook, and now Zoom fumble their way to success with half baked interfaces and chat features; all while taking a pass on fundamental privacy protections and data ownership principles.

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Image Gallery – Imagining the Future 3D Desktops | Built with Unity

Just like the infrastructure of PLAN is modular and pluggable, the UX components will also be as reusable, modular, and as extensible as possible. There is a lot of conceptual flexibility in our system, but we are working to zero in on an initial prototype implementation that satisfies 90% of a users basic needs for facilitating privacy, collaboration (docs, messages, spreadsheets, files, A/V streaming, etc.), and navigation of Spaces (real and virtual). Maybe it’s a great time to revisit some old sci-fi movie scenes for inspiration! 

We are still currently building a framework for core components, and in some cases the infrastructure decisions we make will in large part drive the UX elements that we need. The long term goal is to develop a regenerative solutions ecosystem, with tools and environments that support collaborative experiences.

PLAN Systems Teams and Positions

INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM: Software architecture engineers and developers with a focus on distributed technology, encrypted systems, C#, C++, Rust, GoLang, CRDT, scientific computing, APIs & protocol development

INTERFACE TEAM: Developers with experience in 3D graphics, UI/UX implementation, real-time collaboration, VR/AR applications, Unity / Unreal engine experts, GIS & maps, CAD, procedural graphics, data visualizations

COMMUNITY DESIGN TEAM: Creative designers, digital artists, and organizers with a focus on using PLAN for real world applications e.g. implement a network, build a use-case template, contribute CAD graphics, and environments

NETWORKS & HARDWARE TEAM: IT experts in hardware integration, accessibility technology, network protocols & configuration, geo-spatial information systems equipment, off-grid systems, infosec

We’re looking for developers, 3D artists, and designers to join our team in developing cutting-edge community technology. Data ownership and accessibility is the #1 issue of our generation. PLAN is a software platform designed for teams, groups, and organizations to work together and collaborate privately online and offline. Your contribution can decisively impact the development of a new class of peer-to-peer technology.

Senior UX Developer (Unity / C# / Rust)

A career defining opportunity to lead the user experience strategy from the ground up, for a new kind of p2p Operating System. The ideal team member is an ambitious 3D designer / engineer with a vision for integrating (2D/3D) spatial interfaces and tools that will help non-technical users secure their data, create immersive experiences, work collaboratively, and map their environment. Drive the rapid design and prototyping of UI and UX components, develop channel interfaces and adapters that bring funitionality to our secure data-model, optimise for use across desktop, mobile, AR/VR experiences, and help identify & implement essential collaborative productivity workflows. 

– Expert in UI UX design implementation, procedural drawing, and 3D graphics.
– Collaborate and innovate alongside other advanced engineers, specializing in 3D graphics, crypto, and distributed systems. 
– Skills: 3D design, mobile UI UX design, AR/VR/XR, computer animation, computer graphics, virtual environments

Senior UX Designer (Unity / 3D Design)

Work alongside a world class team, including pioneers in audio visual graphics and distributed systems technology. Develop interfaces for critical privacy, accessibility, and collaboration needs. The ideal team member is an ambitious UI/UX developer with deep experience using Unity or Unreal engines. If you have a vision for incorporating spatial interfaces and tools (2D/3D) that can help non-technical users secure their data, create immersive experiences, and map their environment, we want to hear from you! 

– Shows advanced skills in 3D graphical user interface and software development, VR experiences, and immersive collaborative spaces.
– Experienced in Unity 3D and creative interface design
– Work closely with a 20+ year software developer, specializing in 3D graphics, crypto, and distributed systems. 
– Skills: Unity, UX design, computer animation, virtual environments

Expert 3D Art & Interfaces Designer (UX focus) / 3D Graphics Apprentice

Our UX team needs a self motivated, creative designer to help develop interface components, styles, and art elements that support an integrated design strategy. Highly proficient in expressing information in visual design mediums and working with a team towards a common outcome.

– Contribute to the cohesive design of icons, 3D glyphs, menus, toolbars, user flow, and other interface and experience elements as required by the Sr. UX developers
– Be able to simplify complex processes into concise and actionable solutions
– Skills: 3D art and animation, graphic design, game design, multimedia, film

Community Technology Research & Development (R&D) Specialist

Research, identify, and engage with vital trends in the technology space, as it relates to education, society, the environment, and the sciences. Assist with integrating open protocols, scientific methods, governance models, proven community frameworks, and best practices. 

– Adapt research findings into practical applications, frameworks, and innovations
– Geared towards social & environmental scientists, technologists, engineers, & mathematicians with a focus on improving the human condition and relationships
– Skills: Requires a multi-disciplinarian, adept at research, analysis, & reporting methods.

How to Apply

The contributions you make will be amplified by our team, and will stay with you forever with onramp to full-time positions, as well as project-based opportunities. We would love to hear from you. Send your professional resume with a cover letter and work samples to apply@plan-systems.org.

⏣ PLAN Systems is an Austin Tx. based public benefiting 501(c)(3) charity.