Google Freetopia and you'll get 2290 listings--at least as of today. This past week, the Stanford University team behind Charitopia launched a new sister website that will also be known as Freetopia.
Explains co-developer Michael Genesereth, the new site is "for people who wanted to offer goods to others for free. Just like eBay, but restricted to items offered for free."
Good luck finding it, however. As of today, the new website's URL (http://www.freetopia.org) will just direct you to the Stanford Logic Group, the computer scientists' general-research home page.
Showing posts with label Recycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recycling. Show all posts
Sunday, May 27, 2007
More on Charitopia
A few days ago, I reported the unveiling of Charitopia, a website developed by Stanford University computer scientists that matches up donors of goods and charitable groups that could use those cast-offs. At the time I noted that details were sketchy. Well, Charitopia developer Michael Genesereth has since gotten back to me with some details.
As I suspected, the new program is currently operating only around the San Francisco Bay area, largely because arranging for the movement of "free" goods becomes problematic when the donor is in Chicago and the charity in Atlanta. However, he fully expects the program to eventually go international.
For now, Genesereth explains, "We try to match by zipcode. Getting goods transferred remains a problem even in this case. At any rate, it is the charity that is responsible for 'arranging' the exchange. In some cases, this means picking goods up. In some cases, it means asking donors to drop things off. We are also working with organizations like the UPS to do free pickup and delivery; however, we do not yet have any such deals signed. Finally, we are contemplating a volunteer service--to drive around on weekends to pick up and drop things off. Not yet in place either. This is a summer project for some students here."
Although Charitopia went live in March, as of last Friday, only 10 donors and charitable recipients had registered with the project's website (http://www.charitopia.org).
By the way, in just the last 4 days, that site has vastly expanded its utility. For instance, individuals no longer have to register and log in (which is, of course, free) to see what is available or what categories of goods it's currently soliciting.
Or, which charities have signed up. As of today, there are eight: AidsfreeAfrica; Belle Haven School; Budding Ballerinas; Charitopia; Freetopia; Gomoa Achiase School; Habitat for Humanity; and Stanford Logic Group.
However, things are moving along swiftly, Genesereth says. Later this week, he says, "We expect to have the system in full service, including email notifications of complementary listings and so forth."
Speaking of Freetopia, what's that? See the next post.
As I suspected, the new program is currently operating only around the San Francisco Bay area, largely because arranging for the movement of "free" goods becomes problematic when the donor is in Chicago and the charity in Atlanta. However, he fully expects the program to eventually go international.
For now, Genesereth explains, "We try to match by zipcode. Getting goods transferred remains a problem even in this case. At any rate, it is the charity that is responsible for 'arranging' the exchange. In some cases, this means picking goods up. In some cases, it means asking donors to drop things off. We are also working with organizations like the UPS to do free pickup and delivery; however, we do not yet have any such deals signed. Finally, we are contemplating a volunteer service--to drive around on weekends to pick up and drop things off. Not yet in place either. This is a summer project for some students here."
Although Charitopia went live in March, as of last Friday, only 10 donors and charitable recipients had registered with the project's website (http://www.charitopia.org).
By the way, in just the last 4 days, that site has vastly expanded its utility. For instance, individuals no longer have to register and log in (which is, of course, free) to see what is available or what categories of goods it's currently soliciting.
Or, which charities have signed up. As of today, there are eight: AidsfreeAfrica; Belle Haven School; Budding Ballerinas; Charitopia; Freetopia; Gomoa Achiase School; Habitat for Humanity; and Stanford Logic Group.
However, things are moving along swiftly, Genesereth says. Later this week, he says, "We expect to have the system in full service, including email notifications of complementary listings and so forth."
Speaking of Freetopia, what's that? See the next post.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Recycling Charitably
Charitopia. I guess what the Stanford University researchers had in mind when they named their website was some vision of a utopia for charitable giving. It's actually a site that matches up individuals having things to donate—from an unopened box of pencils to a car—with charities that can use them. There's no charge for the matchmaking service, either to donors or recipients. The site's developers also promise no advertising or spam.
A news release that went out to reporters, today, recommends the site for students finishing their school year and at wits end what to do with that chair, TV, and bookcase—items that worked well in the dorm but won't fit in the car to go home. Now, instead of pitching unwanted goods on the street, they can be matched up with hospitals, homeless shelters, or schools.
According to Michael Genesereth and Michael Kassoff, the scientists who designed the program, the site's matching abilities depend on the application of a branch of computer science that endows those number crunchers with reasoning skills. Both donors and would-be recipients identify what they have or want, based on descriptions of the goods in terms that both people and computers can understand. Then, the computer applies logical rules to pair up donors and charities. Donors can even select the type of charity they do or don't want to receive their items.
The project receives no outside funding beyond the Stanford computer-science department, and legal services for the site have been "secured" pro bono by Genesereth, who is research director of Stanford's Center for Computers and Law.
I tried contacting the Charitopia people earlier today to find out if their project has a national reach yet, or just works with parties in California. I've yet to hear back, and the website doesn't offer a clue.
Clearly, even though the site went live in March, the project is a work in progress. Today's news release notes that the Stanford team has hired a summer intern to manually update and increase the classifications for goods that can be listed with the site.
It certainly seems like a good idea. As the parent of a college student, I know how much stuff these young adults acquire over the course of 8 to 9 months—far more than our car can retrieve. Which is why I want to know: Is this service available in Pittsburgh yet?
A news release that went out to reporters, today, recommends the site for students finishing their school year and at wits end what to do with that chair, TV, and bookcase—items that worked well in the dorm but won't fit in the car to go home. Now, instead of pitching unwanted goods on the street, they can be matched up with hospitals, homeless shelters, or schools.
According to Michael Genesereth and Michael Kassoff, the scientists who designed the program, the site's matching abilities depend on the application of a branch of computer science that endows those number crunchers with reasoning skills. Both donors and would-be recipients identify what they have or want, based on descriptions of the goods in terms that both people and computers can understand. Then, the computer applies logical rules to pair up donors and charities. Donors can even select the type of charity they do or don't want to receive their items.
The project receives no outside funding beyond the Stanford computer-science department, and legal services for the site have been "secured" pro bono by Genesereth, who is research director of Stanford's Center for Computers and Law.
I tried contacting the Charitopia people earlier today to find out if their project has a national reach yet, or just works with parties in California. I've yet to hear back, and the website doesn't offer a clue.
Clearly, even though the site went live in March, the project is a work in progress. Today's news release notes that the Stanford team has hired a summer intern to manually update and increase the classifications for goods that can be listed with the site.
It certainly seems like a good idea. As the parent of a college student, I know how much stuff these young adults acquire over the course of 8 to 9 months—far more than our car can retrieve. Which is why I want to know: Is this service available in Pittsburgh yet?
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