OurStories+Proposal

= OurStories =

Proposal
by **Payam Azadi** (azadi@umd.edu), **Brandon Britto** (britto.brandon@gmail.com), **Dan Sonthichartkul** (dsonthic@umd.edu), **Kevin Heiting** (kheiting@terpmail.umd.edu)

A (draft) proposal specifying the 434 term project for OurStories - a collaborative, multi-modal, accessible, internationalizable story sharing platform.

Perhaps the greatest barrier to forming a human community is distance between cultures. Though many facilities exist to bridge these gaps (such as internet and mass media), and despite living in an increasingly globalized world, cultures still clearly mistrust, or even hate each other; an unfortunate fact that can be attributed to ignorance. What we know about other cultures comes mainly from what we have learned in education systems, which can be viciously slanderous, or media, which can be similarly misleading regardless of the country in which it is accessed.

Now imagine taking advantage of all communications facilities, particularly internet and mobile phone, and using that to allow cultures to learn about each other in the most direct and time-tested effective way, which is to share stories. OurStories is a project which aims to allow users from around the world, particularly kids, to share their stories with other kids around the world. Anything can be a story, from an average day at school, or a special experience, to the most dark or most beautiful experiences that can come from any corner of the world.

The more we can allow open and free collaboration among the worlds youth, the brighter our prospects for not only a tolerant and understanding society, but one where our differences are reasons to share and learn, rather than fight. One great step toward the ultimate human race, and human community. Any young person with a story, which is every young person, the world over, is now given not only a voice to be heard, but an ear to listen, so that together they can pave the way for this future, because the future is theirs.