This project aims to support the ‘social economy’ aspects of Acrobat and PDF. The technology has potential for cheap and effective communication. It relies on widespread understanding and familiarity. Currently many aspects of the Reader are in use. More is possible and the software is still being developed.

PDF continues the project of desktop publishing – to make publishing cheap, fast and easy to using a personal computer. To work with litho this requires co-operation from people in pre-press. The social economy has the resources to work with changes of this kind.

PDF can also be published online or selected pages can be printed digitally. There are now cheaper alternatives to Acrobat for PDF creation. The file format has always been open so this will continue.

There are design skills needed in setting up PDF for viewing on screen. Many features of the free Acrobat Reader are not widely used or supported. More links between sites using PDF will help people get used to these possibilities.

Reader with Search can work with collections of PDF once Catalog has set up an index. This could be used to publish directories of contact information from different sources. This could be easier than compiling databases and agreeing on common structures and codes.

Future developments will be around online collaboration and forms linked to databases. The collaboration assumes a full copy of Acrobat with tools for comments and linking. Theories of how co-operation works will relate to how this technology can be used in education and organisations. The forms approach may suit more established co-operatives working in banking or insurance.

There are proposals for funding for the Social Economy Acrobat site. Meanwhile the production level is just about adequate to show what is intended, Any contributions are welcome.

Will Pollard will@exetreme.com