Protocol Thinking

Source: Summer of Protocols Datus-Nusas Workshop

Description

By ChatGPT, based on the report by Venkatesh Rao and colleagues here at [1]

"Protocol thinking is an approach that analyzes and designs the underlying rules, patterns, and interactions—known as protocols—that govern systems, cultures, or technologies. Rather than focusing solely on individual behaviors or isolated events, protocol thinking examines the structures that enable or constrain actions within a system.​

In the context of the Datus-Nusas Workshop, protocol thinking was applied to the cultural and social dynamics of the Nusantara region (maritime Southeast Asia). Participants explored how traditional practices, local customs, and community interactions function as informal protocols that have evolved over time. These "soft protocols" guide behavior and decision-making within communities, often without formal codification.​"

Example

Cultural Fluidity in Nusantara (maritime SE Asia)

"One participant, LauraS, reflected on the workshop experience, noting the region's characteristics as "ungovernable, specific sense of humor, fluid, changing, collaborative." This observation highlights how Nusantara's cultural practices embody informal protocols that prioritize adaptability and communal harmony over rigid structures. Such protocols allow for a flexible social fabric where identities and roles can shift in response to changing circumstances.​

By examining these informal systems through the lens of protocol thinking, the workshop aimed to understand how such cultural protocols can inform the design of more adaptable and resilient systems in other contexts. This approach emphasizes the importance of aligning system design with existing cultural practices to ensure relevance and sustainability."