% METHOD: Setup a Relational software observatory consultancy (RSOC)

% REMEMBER: 
* Collectivise research around hacking to save time.
* Self-articulate software needs as your own Operating (system) perspective.
* Change the lens by looking to software through a time perspective.

% WHAT: By paying a visit to our ethnomethodology interview practice you’ll learn to observe software from different angles / perspectives. Our practionners passion is to make the "what is the relation to software" discussion into a service.
% HOW:  Reading the signs. Considering the everchanging nature of software development and use and its vast impact on globalized societies, it is necessary to recognize some of  the issues of how software is (often) either passively-perceived or actively-observed, without an articulation of the relations. We offer a method to read the signs of the relational aspect of software observance. It's a crucial aspect of our guide. It will give you another view on software that will shape your ability to survive any kind of software disaster. 

**Strategy**: Case study    
**Tool**: Qualitative interview

[Reading the signs. From: John "Lofty" Wiseman, SAS Survival Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere]( http://gallery.constantvzw.org/index.php/Techno-Galactic-Software-Observatory/IMAG1319 )

% WHEN:
% WHO:
% URGENCY:
% NOTE:

% WARNING:

% have a advertising blob for the RSOC with a smiling doctor welcoming image  http://cdn2.holytaco.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/163.jpg %
% content of the advertising bloc % 

% EXAMPLE:

What follows is an example of a possible diagnostic questionnaire.

## Sample Questionnaire
% http://observatory.constantvzw.org/etherdump/RelationalObservatoryInterviewGuide.md.diff.html

**What to expect**
You will obtain a cartography of software users profiles. It will help you to shape your own relation to software. You will be able to construct your own taxonomy and classifcation of software users that is needed in order to find a means of rescue in case of a software catastrophy. 

* SKILLS      
  *  What kind of user would you say that you are? 
  *  What is your most frequently used type of software?
  * How often do you install/experiment/learn new software?

* History
  * What is your first recollection of software use? 
  * How often do / when did you last purchase software or pay for a software service?

* Ethics
  * What is the software feature you care about the most?
  * Do you use any free software? 
    -  if yes than
      *  do you remember your first attempt at using this software service? Do you still use it? If not why? 

  * Do you pay for media distribution/streaming services?
  * Do you remember your first attempt at using free software and how did that make you feel?
  * Have you used any of these software services : facebook, dating app (grindr, tinder, etc.), twitter, instagram or equivalent. 

  * Can you talk about your favorite apps or webtools that you use regularly?
  *  What is most popular software your friends use?

* SKILL
  * Would you say that you are a specilised user? 

  *  Have you ever used the command line? 
  *  Do you know about scripting? 
  *  Have you ever edited an HTML page? A CSS file? A PHP file? A configuration file?
  *  Can you talk about your most technical encounter with your computer / telephone? 

* ECONOMY
  *  How do you pay for your software use?
    * Please elaborate (for example, do you buy the software? / contribute in kind / deliver services or support)
    * What is the last software that you paid for using? 
    * What online services are you currently paying for?
    * Is someone paying for your use of service? 

* Personal
  *  What stories do you have concerning contracts and administration in relation to your software, Internet or computer?
  *  How does software help you shape your relations with other people?
  *  From which countries does your softwares come from / reside? How do you feel about that?
  *  Have you ever read a terms of software service, what about one that is not targeting the American market?


## Sample questionnaire results
% THESE ARE QUOTES FROM THE FORMS:%
% ROLEPLAY, SAMPLES OF ANSWERS:%


## Possible/anticipated user profiles 

### ...meAsHardwareOwnerSoftwareUSER: 

"I did not own a computer personally until very very late as I did not enjoy gaming as a kid or had interest in spending much time behind PC beyond work (and work  computer). My first was hence  I think in 2005 and it was a SGI  workstation that was the computer of the year 2000 (cost 10.000USD)  and I got it for around 300USD. Proprietary drivers for unified  graphics+RAM were never released, so it remained a software dead-end in  gorgeous blue curved chassis http://www.sgidepot.co.uk/sgidepot/pics/vwdocs.jpg" 

### ...meAsSoftwareCONSUMER:

"I payed/purchased  software only twice  in my life (totalling less then 25eur), as I could access most  commercial software as widely pirated in Balkans and later had more  passion for FLOSS anyway, this made me relate to software as material to  exchange and work it, rather than commodity goods I could or not  afford."

### ...meAsSoftwareINVESTOR:

"I did it as both of those apps  were niche products in early beta (one was Jeeper Elvis, real-time-non-linear-video-editor for BeOS) that failed to reach market,  but I think I would likely do it again and only in that mode  (supporting the bleeding edge and off-stream work), but maybe with more  than 25eur." 

### ...meAsSoftwareUserOfOS:
"I would spend most of 80s  ignoring computers, 90ties figuring out software from high-end to  low-end, starting with OSF/DecAlpha and SunOS, than IRIX and MacOS,  finally Win 95/98 SE, that permanently pushed me into niches (of montly  LINUX distro install fests, or even QNX/Solaris experiments and finally  BeOS use)."

### ...meAsSoftwareWEBSURFER:

"I got used to websurfing in  more than 15 windows on UNIX systems and never got used to less than  that ever since, furthermore with addition of more browser options this  number only multiplied (always wondered if my first system was Windows  3.11 - would I be a more focused person and how would that form my relations to browser windows>tabs)."

### ...meAsSoftwareUserOfPropertarySoftware:

"I signed one NDA contract in person on the paper and with ink on a  rainy day while stopping of at trainstaion in north Germany for the  software that was later to be pulled out of market due to problematic  licencing agreement (intuitivly I knew it was wrong) - it had too much  unprofessional pixeleted edges in its graphics.

### ...meAsSoftwareUserOfDatingWebsites:

"I got one feature request implemented by a prominent dating website  (to search profiles by language they speak), however I was never  publicly acknowledged (though I tried to make use of it few times), that  made our relations feel a bit exploitative and underappreciated. "

### ...meAsSoftwareUserTryingToGoPRO:

"my only two attempts to get into the software company failed as they  insisted on full time commitments. Later I found out ones were  intimidated in interview and other gave it to a person that negotiated  to work part time with friend!  My relation to professionalism is likely  equally complex and pervert as one to the software."

% Rsoc - Relational software observatory Consultancy service

## Case study : W. W.

...ww.AsExperiencedAdventerousUSER - experiments with software every two days as she uses FLOSS and Gnu/Linux, cares the most for maliabity of the software - as a result she has big expectations of flexibility even in software category which is quite conventional and stability focused like file-hosting. 

...ww.AsAnInevstorInSoftware - paid compiled version of FLOSS audio software 5 years ago as she is supportive of economy and work around production, maintainance and support, but she also used closed hardware/software where she had to agree on licences she finds unfair, but then she was hacking it in order to use it as an expert - when she had time.  

...ww.AsCommunicationSoftwareUSER - she is not using commercial social networks, so she is very concious of information transfers and time relations, but has no strong media/format/design focus. 

Q: What is your first recollection of software use?   
A: ms dos in 1990 at school _ i was 15 or 16. oh no 12. Basic in 1986.

Q: What are the emotions related to this use?  
A: fun. i'm good at this. empowering

Q: How often do / when did you last purchase software or pay for a software service?  
A: I paid for ardour five years ago. I paid the developper directly. For the compiled version. I paid for the service.
I pay for my website and email service at domaine public.

Q: What kind of user would you say you are?  
A: An experienced user drawing out the line. I don't behave.

Q: Is there a link between this and your issue?  
A: Even if it's been F/LOSS there is a lot of decision power in my package.

Q: What is your most frequently used type of software?  
A: Web browser. email. firefox & thunderbird

Q: How often do you install/experiment/learn new software?  
A: Every two days. I reinstall all the time. my old lts system died. stop being supported last april. It was linux mint something.

Q: Do you know about scripting?  
A: I do automating scripts for any operation i have to doi several times like format conversion.

Q: Can you talk about your most technical encounter with your computer / telephone?  
A: I've tried to root it. but i didn't succeed.

Q: How much time do you wish to spend on such activities like hacking, rooting your device?  
A: hours. you should take your time

Q: Did you ever sign licence agreement you were not agree with? How does that affect you?  
A: This is the first thing your when you have a phone. it's obey or die.

Q: What is the software feature you care for the most?  
A: malleability. different ways to approach a problem, a challenge, an issue.

Q: Do you use any free software?  
A: yes. there maybe are some proprietary drivers.

Q: Do you remember your first attempt at using free software and how did that make you feel?  
A: Yes i installed my dual boot in ... 10 years ago. scared and powerful.

Q: Do you use one of this software service: facebook, dating app (grindr of sort), twitter, instagram or equivalent?  
A: Google, gmail that's it

Q: Can you talk about your favorite apps or webtools that you use regularly?  
A: Music player. vanilla music and f-droid. browser. I pay attention to clearing my history, no cookies. I also have iceweasel. Https by default. Even though i have nothing to hide.

Q: What stories around contracts and administration in relation to your software internet or computer?  
A: Nothing comes to my mind. i'm not allowed to do, to install on phone. When it's an old phone, there is nothing left that is working you have to do it.

Q: How does software help you shape your relations with other people?  
A: It's a hard question. if it's communication software of course it's it's nature to be related to other people.there is an expectency of immediate reply, of information transfer...It's troubling your relation with people in certain situations.

Q: From which countries does your softwares live / is coming from? How do you feel about that?  
A: i think i chose the netherlands as a miror. you are hoping to reflect well in this miror.

Q: Have you ever read a terms of software service; one that is not targeting the American market?  
A: i have read them. no.

% SEEALSO:

% SOURCE:
http://observatory.constantvzw.org/etherdump/SCP.see.html
http://observatory.constantvzw.org/etherdump/SCP.ayanoa.html
http://observatory.constantvzw.org/etherdump/SCP.wendy.html
This method was developed by The RSOC Group.