Proposal

For my project I intend to create a portable system that users can carry round with them on a usb flash storage device. Based on Linux it will contain utilities that can be used by creatives. The user will be able to plug it into any computer, boot from it and use their data on the device as if it was on the hard drive of the host. Then once they have finished, the user will be able to shut the host down and remove the device taking their files with them.

For my thesis I want to examine the theory of gift giving and the bond it creates between the giver and the receiver. Do people give gifts without expecting something in return or are all gifts returned in one way or another? I am particularly interested in the growth of the gift economy amongst the hacker community and want to explore it being a viable alternative to the market economy.

Download the full proposal here.