I love it when a (RSA) plan comes together

Over last autumn and winter I was fortunate to work with the Executive Board and about half the employees of the RSA on what new media could bring to them personally and to their organisation. At the same time, Anshuman Rane and his web team were developing a new web service on an open source Content Management System, that would benefit from a greater uptake and understanding of new media tools and attitudes by the staff.

In a symphony of ideas, the two lines of effort have met this week with the launch of their new web service, incorporating for the first time a virtual means into the amazing lectures series that takes place in the historic Adam Street RSA House.

Currently residing in RSA Vision are talks from Clay Shirky (Here Comes Everybody) and Jonathan Zittrain (The Future of the Internet: And how to stop it). In coming weeks I wonder whether we'll see an addition from Sir Ken Robinson, as he receives his Benjamin Franklin Medal at Adam House.

It's hard to describe the satisfaction you get working with such an amazing bunch of people, remembering the very conversation sessions you had about vaunting that lecture series, equipping young people with cameras to record events and having RSA staff and fellows interact through and on the site, only to see it come together in a rather tight timescale. Long may the innovations continue (and with a staff like that, they will). The real trick is getting more of the 27,000 fellows, of which I was recently invited to become one, to connect in ways other than F2F meetings, conventions and workshops. Many of us are combining efforts online, but there'll never be too many doing this.

Keep an eye open on the site over the next few weeks as more is added, and enjoy having "tomorrow's ideas today".

Comments

[Anshuman]

We're getting there slowly but surely Ewan.

See you when you're in the House next.

Thanks for the post and keep looking for new features and content that are being added on a weekly basis.

Also coming in august will be the new Networks platform once its been integrated into the main website, profiles and all...

[Mairi]

Thanks so much Ewan. Really appreciate your comments. Just wanted to confirm that Ken Robinson will most definitely be featuring on RSA Vision - so watch that space!
And look out next week for the next Vision posting - Matt Mason on piracy, hackers and remix culture...

Mairi

[Stuart Sutherland]

Thanks for the post Ewan and congratulations RSA on taking this big step towards sharing some of those jewels and gems that have been enjoyed by small, select audiences to date. Really excellent stuff.

Really appreciated the Clay Shirky link, having just finished his terrific new book, which did get me thinking a tremendous amount about the continuing question you weave in this space about building communities, the success factors, the tension between the pull of the institution and that of self-organising individuals and networks. Would recommend it all round.

[Tessy Britton]

The new RSA site is just brilliant and the the Visions films are an amazing resource, not just for Fellows, but for everyone.

Thanks for the link too Ewan :)