A question about how taxicabs look alike in different countries started a visual dialogue between two friends living in India and Mexico. Through their conversation, they discovered similar patterns on how each country is adapting to the promise of sharing economies. How are those systems based on information technology are really empowering individuals, corporations and governments? Are they really delivering value and bringing opportunities to transact and collaborate? The author might not have an answer, but her narrative is challenging the way we think about local human and physical resources and their changing role in the emergent economy stage.
Nora Morales is an Information Design professor and researcher at Autonomous Metropolitan University in Mexico City. Her research interests include data visualization and participatory approaches for the co-production of knowledge. norismo@gmail.com