Memory

Memory FAQ

Memory: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

About ActivityPods

Q: What is ActivityPods, and how does it differ from ActivityPub?
A: ActivityPods is a framework designed to enhance the decentralisation and user sovereignty of digital interactions on the web. It integrates the principles of ActivityPub, the protocol behind decentralised social networks like Mastodon, and combines it with Solid, a standard developed by Sir Tim Berners-Lee and the W3C for personal data storage and secure access in personal data stores (Pods). While ActivityPub facilitates decentralised social networking by allowing different platforms to communicate, ActivityPods takes this a step further bringing powerful capabilities to the realm of communication and social interaction. From your own space online, you can decide who to connect to, who to share with, and which parts of the Web point back to the things you own. Instead of having your data stored in someone else's database, it's all there in your Pod.. This means users have complete control over their data.

Q: What different experiences can be had via the adoption of ActivityPods?
A: Adopting ActivityPods offers a range of enhanced experiences for users, developers, and platform administrators: – For Users: Enjoy a more personalised and secure online experience with full control over your data. – For Developers: Leverage a robust set of tools for creating applications that are inherently more flexible, interoperable, and user-centric. Eliminate the guesswork when it comes to digital sovereignty, decentralised communication protocols, and user autonomy. – For Platform Administrators: Benefit from a platform architecture that reduces server load and storage requirements, as user data is stored in personal Pods. This leads to lower operational costs and a focus on enhancing user experience and engagement.

General Questions

Q: What is Memory?
A: Memory is an Open Social Web platform that prioritises user autonomy, consent, and experiences. It integrates seamlessly with the current Fediverse ecosystem, offering enhanced customisation and personalisation through features like a recommendation engine, encrypted messaging, custom feeds, groups, and encrypted video & voice calling. Memory is available natively on Android and iOS, serving both as a client compatible with Mastodon API-powered platforms and as a standalone platform built on the ActivityPods framework. With Memory, you are given control of your social experience online. See what you want to see, sort it any way you want to, talk to the people you want to.

Q: Is Memory like Threads? It is a part of Mastodon? A: There are similarities in that they're all microblogging formats and share a common protocol which allows them to all communicate, thus meaning you can follow and connect with users that have accounts on Mastodon and Threads. How Memory differs is that users own and control their data and identity.

Q: How does Memory respect user autonomy and consent?
A: Memory is designed with user autonomy at its core. User data is housed inside of their own POD. Every piece of Memory, every part of the user experience is designed around what your preferences are. We give you the power to decide what data Memory has access to, and whether to process it to make recommendations. All personal data is processed locally on the user's device whenever possible, ensuring privacy and consent are respected.

For Users

Q: Can I use Memory with my existing Fediverse account?
A: Yes, Memory can be used as a standard Mastodon client. Any platform that supports Mastodon's API will allow you to log in and supplement your experience with Memory's extra features.

Q: What are some of the standout features of Memory?
A: Memory offers several unique features, including: – Algorithmic Choice: Sort your timeline however you like, with a variety of options and adjustable recommendation engine settings. – Encrypted Direct Messaging: Communicate securely with messaging protected by the Signal protocol. – Custom Feeds: Personalise your feed and interact with content that matters to you. Custom feeds are shareable and able to be subscribed to. – Circles: Create, join, and interact with communities that share your passions, your causes, and your interests. – Encrypted Video & Voice Calling: Chat securely in real-time with family, friends, and colleagues with messaging secured by the same technology that Signal uses.

For Developers and Admins

Q: How can developers contribute to or build upon Memory?
A: Developers can leverage the ActivityPods framework upon which Memory is built to create custom applications or features. The open nature of Memory and its foundation on ActivityPods offer a flexible environment for innovation, respecting user data sovereignty and interoperability standards.

Q: What benefits does Memory offer to platform administrators?
A: Memory provides admins with a robust, user-centric platform that emphasises privacy and customisation. Its mobile-first approach, coupled with advanced features like encrypted communication and on-device data processing, We believe that these provisions significantly reduce the load and overhead for admins, while also reducing friction and headaches for users.

Conclusion

Memory represents a significant step forward in the evolution of social web platforms, offering a blend of privacy, customisation, and user-centric features. Our platform balances privacy with flexibility, all while providing a design that's easy to use. Whether you're a user looking to make a move to a more personal and secure social network, a developer looking to build a next-generation experience, or an admin seeking to provide a robust platform for your community, Memory offers something unique for everyone.