There is a lot of talk here about my Virtual Town Hall pilot which I thought should be explained! The pilot project is part product development and part PHD research. Hopefully with the two things complementing each other!
At Public-i we are in the process of launching a new engagement platform called CitizenScape. This has a number of aims but it basically supports these principles:
- Its designed to incorporate and respond to the next online fad – and the one after that.
- It’s a co-created space.
- Its moderated and managed – by all of the stakeholders.
- Content is accountable and transparent.
You can read more about these ideas here. Or look at the page on the Public-i site.
The pilot programme is a 12 month study (starting 1st October 2009) which will road test the technology and also some of the underpinning ideas such as the need to create a new ‘community ambassador‘ role where citizens become involved in moderation and facilitation. My specific research interest is in looking at ways in which we can leverage informal social participation in order to bring about increases in informal democratic engagement.
We currently have 5 sites participating and we are all working hard towards a January launch (beta sites going live in November). I am using this blog as a research diary so come back and visit again to see how we are getting on.
We are also using #virtualTH on twitter
December 1, 2009 at 10:12 am
Catherine,
Heard about your work at the “My public services” event last week. I think there may be some synergies worth exploring or at least a discussion.
Community Infopoint (“CIP”) provides an innovative digital solution to Government, Brands, Businesses and Advertisers to trade, shop and share information with the tens of millions of consumers, traditionally difficult to reach, living and working in local communities. CIP will replace the cluttered advertising space displayed in most local shop windows with an interactive web based digital Infopoint which will transform and position the local shop as a Community Communications hub and provide hyperlocal web access for the 10 million digitally excluded people in the UK.
We are working with Kent County Council with a view to a 10 location pilot in March 2010. They would like to utilise CIP as a way of empowering local communities to interact and have a shared voice. We are now starting to receive interest from Central Government.
Would love to meet for a coffee, my email address is gary@communityinfopoint.com
Rgds
Gary Coyle
December 4, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Hi Gary – does sound intersting as I think there is a real role for ‘real time’ info as part of the public sphere. Drop me an email (catherine [dot] howe [at] public-i [dot]) info and suggest some times to talk – and let me knwo where you are based!