VoteWrap

I am willing to assist funding the development of VoteWrap. However, I personally don't have a lot of money. To overcome this limitation I have been considering using an avenue like ODesk to engage Indian (or similar) programmers. I have been told that they are available at around the $7 per hour mark. My current budget would only allow me to invest several thousand dollars in the near term. That may be enough to reach a workable first cut as the Excel implementation of VoteWrap is quite mature so they would only need to convert the existing Excel/VB Script into php for MediWiki.

In considering this option I thought that it would be best to find developers who were familar with the MediaWiki code base. Then I thought that the people who would be best at writing an extension for Media Wiki would be the people who have developed it. Then, as I see that VoteWrap has a natural synergy with the Semantic Web, it seemed that the obvious thing to do would be to contact you guys first.

My current day job is Test Manager for General Electric Digital Energy on a project to implement the GE product PowerOn Fusion to manage the Queensland electricity grid here in Australia. On this project I have been using an Object Oriented Documentation approach to record and manage in a single instance both the system tests and the functional design of the PowerOn system.

On my own time I am actively seeking other sources of funding to complete the development work needed to take VoteWrap to a global audience.

Once VoteWrap is implemented in a robust, scalable collaborative environment I will be pitching it to corporate customers using a model similar to what Red Hat has done with Linux. Combined with the OODoco approach to documentation in a collaborative environment I believe that there is a very strong potential for excellent financial returns for the earlier adopters.

I look forward to your response.

Regards,

Thor Prohaska

P.S. For your information I have included below a copy of a recent email seeking development support for VoteWrap:

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From: Thor [mailto:thorlp@hotkey.net.au] Sent: Thursday, 19 May 2011 1:21 AM To: Surj Samrai Subject: FW: Attention: Noel Pearson - re: VoteWrap

Hi Noel,

Last week I sent you the email below about VoteWrap. It was initially received by Imelda Stevens who forwarded it to your Executive Support Team on 11 May. I was hoping to have received some sort of reply by now.

I believe that VoteWrap would be of great assistance in progressing the issues that you and your associates are working on.

Since I emailed you I have decided as a next step to submit VoteWrap to the Semantic Media Wiki open source community as a ‘Feature Request’. If you are unaware the Semantic Web technologies are the World Wide Web’s founder Tim Berners-Lee’s vision for the further development of the internet. Anyway, if the community decides to implement VoteWrap into Semantic Media Wiki then it will be the crucial breakthrough I referred to below giving a globally available open source tool to more effectively & efficiently reach lasting consensus based on evidence & merit.

Can you please advise me if/when I might receive a response?

Regards,

Thor

From: Thor [mailto:thorlp@hotkey.net.au] Sent: Wednesday, 11 May 2011 2:18 AM To: Noel Pearson (info@cyi.org.au) Subject: Attention: Noel Pearson - re: VoteWrap

Hi Noel,

To quote Henry Thoreau "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." Delusions of grandeur aside and in all humility I can not only see that root but I have formulated an approach to effectively strike it!

That approach is the VoteWrap method. For details go to www.votewrap.com

After listening to you speak about the 'Radical Centre' on an ABC radio podcast a couple of months ago I thought you would really appreciate VoteWrap and that you may be an ally and collaborator to assist in bringing it to the world. However, after the burst of certainty that you would see the deep and broad value in VoteWrap doubt subtly diluted my motivation to put fingers to keyboard and I did nothing. But after watching tonight the recent 4 Corners programme about Aurukun the motivation to tell you about VoteWrap returned.

As it is said there are many ways to skin a cat, and likewise I can see many ways that the crucial breakthrough could happen to finish the final development work needed to put the power of VoteWrap in the hands of the people. Over the years I have tried many approaches to government, business, unions, colleagues, friends and other potential collaborators and supporters but with no substantial result.

In the meantime, like the ‘Little Red Hen’, I have continued to work on VoteWrap and it is now at the point where all it needs is a final phase of software development to create a web enabled version that I firmly believe, to use that well-worn phrase, "will change the world". As I said above, delusions of grandeur aside ....

I recently heard a wiser older Australian on ABC radio talking about fixing what needs to be fixed in our society. He said, "… the only way these issues are going to get resolved and for there to be real and lasting change is when enough Australians get of off their backsides and do something about it themselves …". I offer VoteWrap as my contribution to those people. In my experience it is the collective wisdom and knowledge of the people who do the real work that is the best path to effective and lasting success. No one person has all the answers, but together we do.

I am not getting any younger but this is a cause that I am still willing and able to fight for. And, before my body is returned back to the land from where it came, it is a fight that I want to win for the sake of my children and all the people and life on this beautiful planet.

So, now I have told you about VoteWrap. What do you think? Are you interested?

Regards,

Thor Prohaska 0419 344 806 thor@votewrap.com

P.S. An earlier phase of VoteWrap ( before it was called VoteWrap ) was to use Australia's national anthem as a catalyst for change. The link to that site is www.anthem.net.au. I think that the improved anthem would be good for all Australians. If you feel inclined I urge you to listen to the recording of it done by Erin Collins and friends. The link to play the mp3 file is: http://anthem.net.au/downloads/AustraliaErin20041026.mp3