"The Wealth of Networks" Booklaunch with Yochai Benkler

Eyebeam April 14, 2006 - 6-8PM 540 West 21st Street New York, NY 10011 http://www.eyebeam.org

Please join Yale Professor Yochai Benkler for the launch of his new book, "The Wealth of Networks," exploring how a new form of distributed collaboration is transforming the world economy. In this comprehensive social theory of the Internet and the networked information economy, Benkler describes how patterns of information, knowledge and cultural production are changing and shows that the way information and knowledge are made available can either limit or enlarge the ways people can create and express themselves.

The evening starts at 6pm with wine, cheese, and informal conversation. At 7pm Jonah Peretti, Eyebeam's Director of R&D, will introduce Benkler and give a quick tour of important and emerging open source and collaborative projects. Then at 7:15pm, Benkler will give a brief talk presenting the core ideas of his new book.

"The Wealth of Networks" examines distributed collaboration's transformation of the world economy, heralded by innovations such as: 1) Open Source software like Linux and Apache that have surpassed commercial software made by huge corporations 2) A free, collaboratively authored encyclopedia called Wikipedia that rivals Encyclopedia Britannica, and 3) Volunteer research projects like NASA Clicks that are as accurate as the work of paid scientists.

Benkler does not see these projects as isolated examples, but rather as exemplars of an emerging mode of economic production. His book shows why labor done outside the constraints of free markets and giant corporations can still have a huge impact on the economy and social relations. He argues that a "third mode of production" offers the promise of a more free society, but only if we make the right collective decisions.

"The Wealth of Networks" will be available for purchase in the Eyebeam bookstore the night of the event. This event is open to the public free of charge.

-- EYEBEAM 540 W. 21st Street New York, NY 10011, USA http://www.eyebeam.org