# Crowd-based knowledge synthesis - ToA This is an approach to[[§Augmented Knowledge Generation]] that enables groups of non-experts to contribute to knowledge generation. [[Foldit]] and [[Galaxy Zoo]] are two case studies. [[Using crowdsourced non-experts to perform optimizations]] is one specific approach [[Large groups of untrained people can effectively participate in knowledge synthesis if they are given tight constraints on how to classify things]] is another. It feels like this approach seemed really promising in the late 2000’s but the initial successes picked the low hanging fruit and the amount of effort to make the There have also been several attempts to predict outcomes in the world through DARPA and IARPA Programs ([[Forecasting Science & Technology (ForeST)]] and [[SciCast]] described in detail in the book [[Superforecasters]]) This is where [[Prediction markets]] come in. [[Accelerating Advanced Energy Materials Discovery by Integrating High-Throughput Methods with Artificial Intelligence]] makes the point that enabling non-experts to do experiments or operate machines would also be a step forward in this direction. ### Possible opportunities The dream is to make games that enable people to contribute to larger projects. However, in the same way that [Educational games are a doomed approach to creating enabling environments](https://notes.andymatuschak.org/Educational_games_are_a_doomed_approach_to_creating_enabling_environments) it might be that games are a doomed way to create crowd-based knowledge synthesis. Making equipment easier to operate (“idiot-proof”) and remotely operable could open the door to ‘crowd synthesis’ in the physical world instead of just via data on computers. Any new approach that uses crowd-based knowledge synthesis needs a strong reason why it is different than previous approaches. ### Some random Thoughts Better simulations might help here. Or robotics. There’s something around “guard rails” to having non-experts contribute to a thing. But then guard rails limit possible movements. <!-- #evergreen #inbox --> [Web URL for this note](http://notes.benjaminreinhardt.com/Crowd-based+knowledge+synthesis+-+ToA) [Comment on this note](http://via.hypothes.is/http://notes.benjaminreinhardt.com/Crowd-based+knowledge+synthesis+-+ToA)