Smartup Manifesto

«We believe that collaboration, openness and celebration of intelligence are key to making humans smarter and make their life easier.»

The SmartUp project is inspired and guided by a set of very ambitious principle that we believe will make the world a smarter and better place.

«Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.»- Margaret Mead

1. SmartUp to make life easier

   Why:
   The human brain has not evolved to cope with the complexity of our modern society, and everything you need to know to manage your life is probably already known by someone who would be happy to share it.
   How:
   Getting the knowledge from the person who has it to the person who needs it at the right time, will enable a collective intelligence that will make our lives a lot easier so we can spend less time managing our life and more time enjoying it.

2. SmartUp to increase intelligence

   Why:
   Most people ignore how their brain really works.
   How:
   Providing knowledge on cognitive bias and great advice on brain health and fitness like what to eat and what are the brain optimal conditions are the key to improved cognitive functions like alertness, memory, creativity and learning abilities.

3. SmartUp to reduce poverty

   Why:
   Most of the world's problems are caused by poverty: hunger, disease, war, terrorism, etc.
   How:
   An increase of 10 points in the average IQ of a nation results in a doubling of the per capita GDP. Providing an easy access to collective intelligence and cognition augmentation advice to everyone, especially via increasingly adopted mobile devices in the developing world, will increase wealth and can help reduce poverty.

4. SmartUp to reduce stupidity

   Why:
   We all agree there is way too much stupidity in this world and we need to reduce it. Humans are not intrinsically stupid, but they act in an irrational way, make a lot of bad decisions, and end up doing stupid things.
   How:
   Providing the right knowledge at the right time will increase rationality, reduce ignorance, which will reduce the number of bad uninformed decisions, and therefore reduce stupidity.

5. SmartUp to increase productivity and prevent information overload

   Why:
   The average worker spends 1 day a week on searching and managing information or tasks that could be automated, optimized or eliminated.
   How:
   Contextual tips on how to be more productive at work and at home will reduce information overload andallow us to save a lot of time.

6. SmartUp to be happier

   Why:
   Every sentient being should have a life that is as easy as possible, and be as happy as possible for as long as possible.
   How:
   Happiness is a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. A variety of biological & psychological factors need to align to generate that state of mind. In order to be happy and healthy, we need to know how our body and our mind work. Getting the right knowledge at the right time to align these factors will help make it happen.

7. SmartUp to be healthy

   Why:
   Most people don't know how their body works or don't care about being healthy.
   How:
   Contextual advice on what to eat and what to do to stay fit in, addition to community motivation and peer pressure, can make it very easy to stay healthy.

8. SmartUp to live longer

   Why:
   55% of premature death are due to people making bad decisions and could be avoided. These stupid decisions include bad diet, lack of excercise, smoking, not wearing seatbelt, etc.
   How:
   Providing great contextual information and behavior reinforcement will help prevent these bad decisions.

9. SmartUp to be richer

   Why:
   Most people do not know how society really works and why they are working their ass off.
   How:
   Providing contextual financial tips will allow people to ask the right questions, make the right decision, save money and improve their situation.

10. SmartUp for a faster and safer Technological Singularity

    Why:
    The acceleration of technological progress is both a risk and an opportunity, and if the unevenly distributed current progress & wealth is of any indication, we need to be careful and make sure everyone can reap the benefits of progress.
    How:
    Providing average people with the knowledge they need to tame and enjoy technology, along with the understanding of the future, will bring the Singularity-related debates into the mainstream and hopefully increase the opportunities and reduce the risks.

Let us know what you think in the comment box below.

    - Nick & Frank