solici

Solici is a fictional concept used in speculative fiction to describe a decentralized mechanism for requesting information, resources, or actions from a community or network. It is not an established term in real-world technology or governance.

Etymology and usage: The word appears in several works as Solici (also seen as Solici-net or Solici system). It is generally presented as a portmanteau of solicit and a formal-sounding suffix, giving it a technocratic tone.

Design principles: In these narratives, Solici systems are usually open, peer-to-peer infrastructures that minimize centralized authority. Participants issue solicitations, others submit responses or proposals, and a computation layer aggregates inputs to guide decisions.

Applications in fiction: Solici is used to coordinate crowdsourced funding, knowledge gathering, or civic projects, with an emphasis on transparency and accountability. Storylines often explore risks such as manipulation, information bias, or surveillance within solicitation networks.

Variants and real-world echoes: Some works contrast permissive Solici networks with restricted variants used by institutions, while others present Solici as a social protocol rather than a technical one. The concept resonates with real-world ideas like crowdsourcing, participatory governance, and distributed decision-making, though it remains fictional.

In summary, Solici serves as a narrative device to examine collective solicitation and decision-making in interconnected communities.