Expert Labs

Expert Labs was a nonprofit technology incubator associated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It was formed in November 2009 after discussions with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, with the stated aim of improving government access to expertise and ideas from interested members of the public. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer-facing technology company, Expert Labs occupied the space between civic technology, public engagement, and software experimentation. Its work focused on developing or supporting tools that could make it easier for public institutions to obtain informed input through online networks and collaborative platforms. The initiative was directed by technology evangelist and longtime blogger Anil Dash. Its initial funding was reported as US$500,000 from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The funding and institutional affiliation gave Expert Labs a nonprofit framework for exploring how digital tools could support government consultation and broader participation in policy-related conversations. The organization therefore represented an early attempt to connect public-sector needs with the practices of the social web and the broader technology community. In February 2010, Gina Trapani joined Expert Labs as a product director. Trapani brought experience in technology publishing and software development, and her involvement reflected the organization’s emphasis on creating practical digital products rather than limiting itself to policy discussion. One project associated with her, initially called ThinkTank, was subsequently renamed ThinkUp and became funded by Expert Labs. ThinkUp was intended to help users analyze and understand activity on social networks, illustrating the organization’s interest in turning online participation and discussion into useful information. The available reference material documents Expert Labs primarily during its creation and early operating period. It does not establish a current operating status, a later ownership structure, a continuing product portfolio, or a definitive closure date. Accordingly, Expert Labs is best described as a historically documented nonprofit technology initiative whose principal significance lies in its effort to bring civic engagement, public expertise, and software experimentation together.

Expert Labs emerged in November 2009 as a nonprofit technology incubator connected with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Its creation followed discussions with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, reflecting interest in using digital technologies to help public institutions find and engage people with relevant knowledge. The initiative was not described as a conventional software company or commercial brand; its purpose was to explore practical ways of connecting government with expertise available across the public. The organization was directed by Anil Dash, a longtime blogger and technology evangelist. Its initial reported financing was US$500,000 from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. This early support enabled Expert Labs to operate within a nonprofit and research-oriented environment while experimenting with online participation, public consultation, and civic technology. Its institutional setting also distinguished it from private technology start-ups whose primary objective would have been commercial product growth. In February 2010, Gina Trapani joined the initiative as product director. Her appointment indicated that Expert Labs sought to translate its civic-technology goals into usable products and services. Trapani was associated with a private project called ThinkTank, which was later renamed ThinkUp and subsequently funded by Expert Labs. The project connected Expert Labs with the emerging field of social-network analysis and provided an example of how online conversations could be organized and interpreted through software. The surviving reference material concentrates on Expert Labs’ formation, leadership, funding, and early product activity. It does not provide enough evidence to establish a complete account of later programs, a formal shutdown date, current leadership, or the organization’s present legal and operational status. The documented history therefore centers on its early role as an experiment in civic technology: a nonprofit effort to apply internet-based tools to government access to public expertise.

• 2010

  Gina Trapani became product director

  [1]Expert Labsen.wikipedia.org

  Gina Trapani joined Expert Labs as product director in February 2010.

• 2009

  Expert Labs was formed

  [1]Expert Labsen.wikipedia.org

  The nonprofit technology incubator was formed in November 2009 after discussions with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

• 2009

  Initial MacArthur Foundation funding

  [1]Expert Labsen.wikipedia.org

  Expert Labs received reported initial funding of US$500,000 from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

• ThinkTank became ThinkUp

  [1]Expert Labsen.wikipedia.org

  The private project ThinkTank was renamed ThinkUp and later received funding from Expert Labs.

A nonprofit civic-technology incubator focused on helping government access expertise and participation from the public through online tools.

• Social-network analysis and civic technology

  ThinkUp

  ThinkUp was a software project associated with Expert Labs and Gina Trapani. It began under the name ThinkTank before being renamed ThinkUp. The available reference material identifies it as a project funded by Expert Labs, but does not provide a complete technical specification, commercial model, release history, or definitive account of its later development.

• Renaming of ThinkTank as ThinkUpOther

  Background

  A private project associated with Gina Trapani was initially known as ThinkTank and was later renamed ThinkUp.

  Action taken

  The project adopted the ThinkUp name and subsequently received funding from Expert Labs.

  Aftermath

  The available source does not document the full operational or commercial consequences of the renaming.

  Source

1. 1Expert Labsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Expert Labs official websiteexpertlabs.org