At Cloudmade, as providers of mapping technology, we deal in models of the real world. We also support one of the worlds leading Crowdsourcing initiatives – Open Street Map. We provide mobile/Web sdks, tools, web services and applications that use these data models to create customized maps views, routes, relevant search results and other location based [...]

The recent publication of a FastCompany piece “The Future of Advertising” has seen the online platforms abuzz with ideas. The #adfuture hashtag generates tweets aplenty and theories abound covering everything from new payment and reward models, to technology-driven, totally-automated agencies, like a manufacturing conveyor belt with campaigns rolling off on to the palettes. In trying [...]

In 2006, Jeff Howe, a writer at Wired magazine, came up with a new concept for the Internet and he called it Crowdsourcing. He defined Crowdsourcing as the act of outsourcing tasks, traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, to an undefined, large group of people or community (a crowd), through an open call. Crowdsourcing [...]

There’s something going on in agency land. The tectonic plates seem to be shifting. Some say a revolution is under foot. Clients are looking for something new. Big brands are voting with their feet and backing the Crowdsourced Creative Agency.

Yo! As many of y’all know blur Group just hit da Campaigns listing of Top 10 Creative Agencies worldwide. That’s right. That’s wild. That’s RAP! And that’s one milestone a down bros. So as yo next gig we produce’d this worlds first Crowdsourcing Rap. Ja homies. So here goes – dig:

Crowdsourcing has officially moved from Web fad to Web trend. Which means that in a couple of years everyone will be doing it. There are 7 secrets to really successful Crowdsourcing. Or at least we think there are. 1. Understand clearly what Crowdsourcing is. Start with Jeff Howe’s definition (after all he coined the term).

Campaigns Top 10 Creative Agency Ranking has just been released and blur Group debuts at No 7. We’re flattered. To quote: “… most of the creative agencies in our 2010 Top 10 are smaller than they were two years ago. Only one breaks the mould. And they were not even around two years ago.

The BBC has just reported that the UK’s RSPB has Crowdsourced 90,000 volunteers to report on Hedgehog spottings in the UK. It reveals that 25% of UK gardens get hedgehogs dropping by on a monthly basis. Those little critters!

This century will usher in the ‘Participation Economy’. With Crowdsourcing as its essential new social and business tool. It’s a new way of working, thinking, cooperating and leading. It is destined to affect the very concept of organization. It can change the way we are managed.

Last November a new Crowdsourcing project was born, called Giffgaff, which boldly announced that it would become the Wikipedia of mobile phone networks. A brand new mobile phone operator – but with a twist. One that would Crowdsource both its customers and customer support.

Britain has Skins. Spain has El Internado. And the U.S. had The OC. But could we be about to embark on a new brand of teen based TV-drama? Welcome to online series ‘Anyone But Me’- and guess what? It’s turned to Crowdsourcing for help…

The UK Coalitions first major Crowdsourcing initiative ‘Your Freedom’ seems to have hit a snag. What started out as a cool programme to Crowdsource UK voters views on amending or abolishing red tape has turned into a PR embarrassment. You see, it seems that no government department wants to listen to the suggestions.

2010 marks the beginning of the end of Web 2.0. Just a decade since the starting gun was fired on the .com collapse. With the last collapse went billions of dollars of investor money and high profile company flame outs like Boo.com, Excite @home followed by M&A freak shows such as AOL/Time Warner.

Crowdsourcing harnesses the power of collective thinking and doing to solve problems – often big problems. Crowdsourcing and Cloud computing together deliver a new reality of burst-community and burst-computing. The US and UK governments are actively adopting Crowdsourcing to change the way in which citizens comment on and alter laws and regulation.

Nick Clegg and David Cameron’s UK Tory-Lib Dem coalition is set to launch its second major Crowdsourcing initiative called ‘Spending Challenge’ later today. The aim of ‘Spending Challenge’ is to reduce the UK’s deficit by inviting members of the public to suggest ways the Government could cut public spending.

Crowdsourcing has become one of the hottest trends on the Web. But who are the real experts? Here is our list of hottie Crowdsourcing leaders and a link to their Twitter page. Follow them and watch the space unfold.

Nick Clegg and David Cameron’s Tory-Lib Dem coalition government today announced a major Crowdsourcing initiative called Your Freedom. It’s a great start – assuming the public gets beyond their keyboard apathy. But what else could the coalition do?

Nick Clegg and David Cameron’s UK Tory-Lib Dem coalition today unveiled a major Crowdsourcing initiative called ‘Your Freedom’. Nick Clegg announced on British TV and in the leading newspapers that this is the largest government Crowdsourcing programme to date. Really?

This video about says it all. blur Group’s roots. Tomorrows organization with todays trends – design-driven, Crowdsourced and social media marketed. All in the cloud – defining and driving Agency 3.0. Why blur Group turns more than a few heads. Join us.

What is Crowdsourcing? This question is met head-on and stripped back to basics by Brian Bednarek (Industry Analyst and CEO of Mesh 01) in a one-to-one interview with CBS News anchor Michelle Gielan.

The term Crowdsourcing was coined in 2006 by Jeff Howe. But it’s roots go way back. Its early beginnings are collectives. Particularly the artist collective which was a way for a bunch of folk to get together and succeed better as a group than as individuals. Hey, it worked for the impressionists.

Crowdsourcing is the latest Web buzzword – it can also be as confusing as a tuk-tuk ride through Bangkok. Handle Crowdsourcing with care.

After six months in the making, we are over the moon about the paintastic film for the Let’s Colour campaign. The video is awesome! For those with a fetish for colour you’ll be drooling over your keyboards, your eyeballs kissing the screen! This is a crowdsourced art project that benefits communities worldwide.

Crowdsourcing is becoming the Web’s hottest buzzword. It could kickstart the next Web. Like blogging, Web 2.0, social networking and social media defined the last decade of the Internet, Crowdsourcing could shape the next. And it should.

Web 2.0 was all about the ‘social revolution’. Broadband, cheap laptops and smartphones allowed the masses to access free or nearly free software to converse and create. It unleashed the social media revolution we now depend on.