Currently there is no safe, comprehensive, location-based real-time way to connect LGBTQ people with community resources and each other.
1. A comprehensive database doesn't exist at the moment.
2. A way to easily access such a database doesn't exist at the moment.
3. Current smartphone apps are geared toward finding sex partners or LGBTQ commerce, not community resources.
The concept:
Create real-time geo-locative mobile access to LGBTQ community resources and people.
1. Create a comprehensive nationwide database of LGBTQ community resources.
2. Create web interface for database that is optimized for mobile access.
3. Create a texting interface for database.
4. Create admin interface to monitor database and users.
5. Allow interactions to be gps-based.
Those are the very basics.
The demo:
To demonstrate proof of concept, I built qwhere.org on top of a jquery mobile implementation of WordPress and set-up a TextMarks account – text qwhere to 41411. I populated a few categories and with "posts" of various NYC-based LGBTQ resources. I ran into quite a few PHP snags in processing and implementation, but for demo purposes, this site works as intended, minus the real-time geo-locative function and interactive texting.
This is not just a class project or a masters thesis; this is the basis for a business that can change the way LGBTQ people connect and make a significant impact on their physical, mental and social health and well-being. It is not meant to be "The gay Facebook" or Twitter or Foursquare. It should utilize the API's of these various social media to create a better, more informative and connected interface. It should also recognize the inherent dangers of a homophobic world, and give the user complete control over the way they interact with the database, other users and their personal information such as profile details and location. The last thing I want is for this app to be used to stalk and gay-bash people. Many great API's to accomplish this are available, too, such as the great tools from the Guardian Project.
So, I have identified projected typical users of QWhere, and sketched out a multi-year plan for features, team, funding and community growth.
Bootstrapping users:
I have also been exploring how to keep users engaged and returning. Aside from providing a valuable database, I believe it's the community-forming potential of the app/implementation that will keep people engaged and loyal. The ability to find your cohort - other LGBTQ people near you - is deeply compelling, especially to those who are most isolated. The ability to contribute to the shared knowledge of the community by tagging places and services as resources, or rating existing resources, leaving tips for others - none of these features is novel, but the fact that they contribute to improving your local LGBTQ community in a kind of "pay-it-forward" way is tantalizing to users. I'd like to resist the gamification of the app ("Gayby badge" for newcomers or "Queen of the sight badge" for superusers), but am interested in the social aspect of "check-ins" and chat. This kind of interaction is only truly fun when people share more about themselves with other users, so it can be used as a way to incentivize adding info to your profile. There could be premium features, only available to users who complete full profiles (not necessarily opting to share their info publicly) and/or donate to QWhere or its non-profit sponsors who advertise through push-advertising. Maintaining privacy while simultaneously trying to build an interactive community is challenging.
Getting the word OUT:
Beyond the local beta testers, letting the world know that QWhere exists will start with Internet-based social media. We will need a comprehensive social media strategy, superuser ambassadors, promotion through partner organizations, guerrilla advertising in physical spaces, online advertising campaign, traditional media campaign, video ads, etc... User incentives like coupons from sponsors in exchange for signing up friends or other exchange-based currency could help spread adoption of the site/app. The more people who use and are "visible" on QWhere, the better the user experience.
Funding:
Initially, foundation grants and angel investors will get QWhere off the ground. Venture capital may be less important that organizational sponsors in the beginning. There are so many LGBTQ non-for-profit organizations currently trying to expand their mobile reach and impact, partnering with them to have their own branded version of QWhere could be a way to boost user numbers quickly, while utilizing the umbrella of a non-profit in the early stages of app and company development. Crowd-sourced funding, like a Kickstarter campaign, is more problematic, as there is no tangible product - just a worthy cause. Eventually, push advertising through the mobile site will become a source of revenue beyond mere self-sustenance.
Becoming a business:
I envision QWhere as a not-for-profit venture. This will entail incorporation, building a board of directors and an advisory board, on top of the usual hiring of developers, both technical and financial, and support staff. Compiling the database is a herculean task, implementing a secure, anonymous, easy and pleasing way to access it on multiple platforms will be challenging - and fun. I have already met with people from the Trevor Project, Friendfactor and The Ali Forney Center. I will continue to meet with LGBTQ tech leaders and form partnerships with them, as well as populate the board of directors and benefit from their savvy advice.
Beyond the LGBTQ:
I have also been exploring how to keep users engaged and returning. Aside from providing a valuable database, I believe it's the community-forming potential of the app/implementation that will keep people engaged and loyal. The ability to find your cohort - other LGBTQ people near you - is deeply compelling, especially to those who are most isolated. The ability to contribute to the shared knowledge of the community by tagging places and services as resources, or rating existing resources, leaving tips for others - none of these features is novel, but the fact that they contribute to improving your local LGBTQ community in a kind of "pay-it-forward" way is tantalizing to users. I'd like to resist the gamification of the app ("Gayby badge" for newcomers or "Queen of the sight badge" for superusers), but am interested in the social aspect of "check-ins" and chat. This kind of interaction is only truly fun when people share more about themselves with other users, so it can be used as a way to incentivize adding info to your profile. There could be premium features, only available to users who complete full profiles (not necessarily opting to share their info publicly) and/or donate to QWhere or its non-profit sponsors who advertise through push-advertising. Maintaining privacy while simultaneously trying to build an interactive community is challenging.
Getting the word OUT:
Beyond the local beta testers, letting the world know that QWhere exists will start with Internet-based social media. We will need a comprehensive social media strategy, superuser ambassadors, promotion through partner organizations, guerrilla advertising in physical spaces, online advertising campaign, traditional media campaign, video ads, etc... User incentives like coupons from sponsors in exchange for signing up friends or other exchange-based currency could help spread adoption of the site/app. The more people who use and are "visible" on QWhere, the better the user experience.
Funding:
Initially, foundation grants and angel investors will get QWhere off the ground. Venture capital may be less important that organizational sponsors in the beginning. There are so many LGBTQ non-for-profit organizations currently trying to expand their mobile reach and impact, partnering with them to have their own branded version of QWhere could be a way to boost user numbers quickly, while utilizing the umbrella of a non-profit in the early stages of app and company development. Crowd-sourced funding, like a Kickstarter campaign, is more problematic, as there is no tangible product - just a worthy cause. Eventually, push advertising through the mobile site will become a source of revenue beyond mere self-sustenance.
Becoming a business:
I envision QWhere as a not-for-profit venture. This will entail incorporation, building a board of directors and an advisory board, on top of the usual hiring of developers, both technical and financial, and support staff. Compiling the database is a herculean task, implementing a secure, anonymous, easy and pleasing way to access it on multiple platforms will be challenging - and fun. I have already met with people from the Trevor Project, Friendfactor and The Ali Forney Center. I will continue to meet with LGBTQ tech leaders and form partnerships with them, as well as populate the board of directors and benefit from their savvy advice.
Beyond the LGBTQ:
QWhere can be adapted to any affinity group. The can be a ___Where for anyone seeking connection to their community and its resources. Asian Pacific Islander? APIWhere.org. The (Fill-in-the-blank)Where concept may work better with a different name like queer.WeAreHe.re or something to that effect. The general idea being to connect like-minded people to their community and their peers. I'm starting with my community - the queer community - to fill the gap in rated-PG access to resources and people, to try and stem the trend of isolation and despair for those members of our community who don't yet know they've got a community ready to help, from near and far, as close as the mobile phone in their pocket.
Posting this as my final for ITP2800: Social Activism using Mobile Technology is just a preview of the work that continues on QWhere. Illness may have delayed timely progress on this project, but it has not killed it. Great things to come... ;-)
Posting this as my final for ITP2800: Social Activism using Mobile Technology is just a preview of the work that continues on QWhere. Illness may have delayed timely progress on this project, but it has not killed it. Great things to come... ;-)
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