Introduction
Shopping areas, restaurants,
colleges, libraries, and even governments strive to make internet connectivity available
to the public. Along with connectivity, these entities also tend to provide
space for people and their access devices. Once connectivity and working space are
established, the possibilities for their use are unlimited to someone with
suitable (yet inexpensive) equipment, imagination, and energy.
This posting summarizes my
5200-word article on one use of internet connectivity, micro-tasking. It is
a way of bringing extra cash to the unemployed, students, and retirees. It is
also a way of learning meaningful work habits and entrepreneurial engagement while
training for secure life-supporting jobs, a stepping stone on the way to a good
career. (This is an electronic-format article available for $0.99. You can download
free readers for your computer, laptop, or other device.)
In the full article, several
micro-tasking websites are presented. Their application to high-unemployment
domains such as exist in rural areas and in developing nations is also
discussed, as is earning potential and a review of internet access devices.
Numerous links are provided for further reading.
Micro-tasks are components of
a larger project. They are small and short-duration activities, conducted by
numerous people, that add up to a larger result. Such tasks expand on ideas such as day-labor,
cargo load boards, and contracted professional effort. Taken in the broad
sense, micro-tasks do not necessarily require internet access. However, the article
focuses on those that do. Income from such tasks can be sufficient to afford an
access device and then provide extra income within a personal earning endeavor.
While such tasks bring in extra cash, they are typically insufficient for
providing secure life-supporting employment in the expensive economies of
developed nations. However, there is that potential in developing nations.
Assumed is the availability
of internet access, a space to work, and an access device. The first two are
reasonable assumptions for developed nations Such assumptions are not always
valid for countries that are less well developed, or for rural and under-served
populations in developed nations. Yet, as has been shown over and over again,
economic progress depends a great deal on reliable infrastructure.
Infrastructure is a cause for regional and national investment.
The advantage to the worker
is the ability to work whenever and wherever the worker likes. Companies gain a
way to manage the expense of their contingent workforce (a 30% reduction in
some cases, http://www.crowdsourcing.org/site/lionbridge/en-uslionbridgecomglobal-crowdsourcingdefaulthtm/6987).
They also gain a means of creating, allocating, and paying for tasks as they
arise. There is also the advantage of an immense global workforce.
Micro-tasking websites make money by charging a fee to the task creator. Beware
of sites that charge a fee to the worker. NEVER pay to have a job, although it
is legitimate to require the worker to supply their own tools. In
micro-tasking, you have to supply, at your sole expense, all equipment, tools,
materials, services, work space, and supplies that you may need to perform the
services required.
My experience with these
tasks is that, yes, money can be made, especially if you are diligent. However,
the tasks can be mindlessly tedious. Being so small and short, the tasks easily
take on the character of meaningless work, even if one is being paid. How much
can one earn? A mature and experienced adult of my acquaintance reports he does
micro-tasking two hours per day, five days per week. He earns about $100 per
week. Over nine months he makes about $4,000. From articles I have read on the
topic, this is typical.
Micro-tasking has already been accomplished in developing
nations. At issue is just what access device is really needed. Some believe
that a simple mobile phone would do. While this is technically feasible for
some types of tasks, it is not productive for serious earning in the general
case. Yet, an expensive device is not necessary. A reliable tablet with a good
keyboard and mouse would do. There is a good chance that this could be
accomplished for $100-$150, as will be shown later in this article. If the access and space are available, the income to
provide the device can be earned. If one accepts the $100/per-week figure and
puts 50% aside per week to pay for a device, then it would take three weeks to
accumulate sufficient funds. For a beginner, four weeks is likely more
realistic.
Many micro-tasking sites are
scams. But, there are a few that are legitimate. Such tasks do require a
minimum education but usually not a college degree. Some require pre-training.
Sometimes that training is offered as another task. Other times, it is part of
a registration process.
A Source of
Extra Cash and an Early Start on Career Development
It is possible to employ micro-tasking for larger
purposes. Traditional career centers can be expanded to include micro-tasking
facilities. Traditionally, a career center helps people discover their
particular talents and to bring those into focus for life-long endeavor. Such a
center also helps people find training and education opportunities. For those seeking
employment, a career center helps balance skills-push and jobs-pull. ("I
have skills to offer your company that your company could put to good
use." vs. "My company needs specific skills." This is similar to
“technology push” vs. “requirements pull”.)
Micro-tasking in the context of a career center could
be a way to help someone earn extra cash, although not a secure living, while
getting trained and educated for a particular career. This could also be a way
to introduce someone to the idea of productive employment or entrepreneurial
endeavor. A mobile career/work center could be sent into communities to provide
career mentoring and teach people how to use micro-tasking for earning. See http://career-winner.blogspot.com/2011/11/concept-for-mobile-career-center.html
for more on the idea of mobile career centers.
A comparable expansion is also possible for internet cafes. Much has been
made of the nefarious uses of such establishments. For instance, they provide
anonyminity to those who wish to conduct harmful activities. Such activities
have gotten so bad that nations have started to treat them the same as they
would terrorism, to include conducting covert operations (http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/01/07/1834233/israel-says-it-will-treat-online-credit-card-theft-as-it-would-terrorism).
There is also the more benign but still potentially insidious use of internet
cafes for gambling (http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/internet-sweepstakes-cafes-rip-off-consumers-need-regulation-dewine-says-1308756.html).
Gambling to generate revenue and taxes
should be no surprise to anyone in the United States since its state and local
governments promote that (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-01-23/states-casino-gambling/52746498/1).
In any case, even at internet cafes aimed at gambling time can be purchased and
that time can be used for anything, not necessarily for gambling. If the user
wants to generate funds, a more certain approach is micro-tasking. Rather than
condemn internet cafes as places used for ill purposes, we should take a
positive tack and encourage their use for earning. Café operators could even
sponsor classes in micro-tasking. Both user and owner would benefit from this
mutual synergy.
To be considered is that micro-tasking typically
follows a self-employment concept, not a traditional employee/employer
relationship. There is also the matter of who would own the access devices. My
own thought is that the individual should fund their own device as part of a
self-conducted micro-business. An Internet Cafe or Career Center could provide
Internet access and workspace, either via subscription or some type of subsidy.
Some equipment could be provided to get a person started, perhaps through a
more expensive subscription.
Micro-Tasking Websites -
Overview
During my review of micro-tasking websites I found that there are lots of
wanna-be and low-performance sites. I eliminated any that did not allow me to
preview projects without registering. These came across as sites phishing for
email addresses.
Some sites had no listings even under "featured jobs". One site
had so many grammatical errors that it lost all credibility. If they are that
sloppy, how serious can they be? How well do they run their business,
especially payments to workers?
Also eliminated were sites that expect you to bid
on jobs. These are freelance jobs, not micro-tasks as discussed in the article.
A micro-task website has small/short activities for immediate acceptance and
fulfillment.
If you venture into micro-tasking, be aware that you have to provide
quality work and finish what you start. Otherwise, you will soon be banned.
About half the tasks I have seen are for US-based people only, although the
article presents organizations that specialize in micro-tasking for people in
developing nations. Further, fraud abounds in this arena. Be very sure to
carefully research any site and client you engage with. In this article I do my
best to show credible sites but you have to take responsibility for your own choices,
actions, and results.
Summary
In the full article I
introduce micro-tasking as a good use of internet accessibility that is
becoming increasingly and inexpensively available world-wide. We discuss
internet access devices that have the potential to enable micro-tasking via the
internet. Also shown are websites and companies that make micro-tasking
opportunities available world-wide, even deep within developing nations, rural
areas, and underserved-populations in developed nations.
Use caution when undertaking
any remote work such as micro-tasking. Several sites and companies appear to be
legitimate. However, scams abound. Even legitimate aggregate task offerors can
be taken in by dishonest concerns that say they are offering tasks or looking
for workers. NEVER pay a fee to get access to tasks. Nor should you fall for
scams that require you to purchase documentation, equipment, or materials from
them. Learning is a good thing. Reading material can
be great for expanding your understanding. Just be careful of the junk. Scams
are plentiful in the marketplace. On the other hand, it is normal for
workers to own their own tools, such as internet access devices. What to
purchase and the vendor should be up to you.
Micro-tasking may well be a
solution if you are a retiree, student, unemployed, or someone looking for
extra cash. My advice is that you not depend on this approach if you need
full-time employment and benefits, although it may be a start until you
establish such employment. This is particularly true in the expensive economies
of developed nations. Many in developing nations have found micro-tasking to be
a good start for economic growth.
It is said that dreams come
true when preparation, opportunity, decision, and action meet. Micro-tasking is
an opportunity. The article helps you to prepare. The decision and action are
now up to you. Take responsibility for yourself and move forward to your future
success.
