Future E Gov Conference Catherine Howe (24 11 09)

Civic Architecture for Cyberspace

The social web is not a trend that can be ignored…..

…..some facts….

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/31/top-social-media-sites-of-2008-facebook-still-rising/

Some more facts…..

Oxford Internet Surveys:http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/microsites/oxis/

Social networking sites are not only growing in terms of people – they also have an increased share of online time

And other excellent facts….

Ofcom:http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/media_literacy/medlitpub/medlitpubrss/uk_adults_ml/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/media_literacy/medlitpub/medlitpubrss/uk_childrens_ml/

Neilson:http://server-uk.imrworldwide.com/pdcimages/Global_Faces_and_Networked_Places-A_Nielsen_Report_on_Social_Networkings_New_Global_Footprint.pdf

Web Strategist blog:http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2009/01/11/a-collection-of-soical-network-stats-for-2009/

The democratic question…..

People are talking……..they are just not talking to us…….

………what can we do about this?

Answers start with questions…..

How can the social web help us make better decisions and live in better communities?

How do we blend the needs of formal democracy with the way in which people actually behave?

How do we move past the simple fact of eyeballs on social websites being our measure of success?

How do we translate the participation we see that we can stimulate on the social web into formal democratic participation?

Do Council’s need to respond?Democracy needs to happen where the people are – it can’t happen in isolation

You have to start somewhere – and at least these people are already participating in something

Online is a growing trend and if we take a medium to long term view it is essential that Local Government has a clear role on the web

Online is the most cost effective way to engage – move everything you can there and spend money on the face to face that can’t be replaced

Innovation in public services is essential and will involve more participatory design

How do we describe Social Websites?

Malleable identity

User generated content

Shared rule creation – communities set norms of behaviour

Participation is expected and encouraged

Content is viral and shared widely

There is no controlling the message

The new social web is an environment superbly suited to Participatory Design: Co-

creation

Old web v. New web

Collaboration / XML

Presentation / HTML

Engagement

Content

Communities

Websites

WidgetsPortals

Old eGov Gov 2.0

From a presentation by http://dontapscott.com/

The democratic question…..

Social websites are profoundly different to most government spaces…….

….and so is democracy….

…..we can’t make a decision on the basis of how many people join a

facebook group

You’ll have seen this before…..

But it makes an important point

Social Web: The Wild West Local Government: The Law

How can you map this relationship?

FormalConsultation

Alchemy

News and social networking sites

Council managed services like webcasting or online

consultationsWe need to use tools like

petitions which can transition people from

informal to formal

Social Web: The Wild WestSocial Web: The Wild West

InformalSocial

Participation

Social Web: The Wild West

InformalCivic

Participation

Social Web: The Wild West Government: The Law

FormalDemocracy

Social Web: The Wild West

So how we respond?

We concentrate on what we are good at – councils are not social spaces so don’t try to be – no-one wants to be your friend

Listen – the conversation is already happening – you just need to find it

Provide the right support – and leave the content to the citizens

Organise geographically – not institutionally

And how does Government need to change?

Ensure that 'Local' is user defined – its not about you!

Build an environment for co-creation

Unlock the potential within Councils - trust officers to engage

Create the idea of Councillor 2.0

Change gears to work at a speed closer to that of the internet: this means taking risks

How do we build this?

Do not compromise on democratic principles - accountability is essential even if its not web 2.0 friendly in terms of identity

Build an idea of better citizens - and help people to embrace this

Build the spaces which are needed to enable this to happen

Build beyond the next trend: think of Civic Architecture

One suggestion: The Virtual Town Hall

A permanent civic space which will provide an online space for democratic activity

Manage identity within this space

Somewhere where citizens can take an equal part in shaping the outcomes of their engagement: a co-

created space

Not a website – a web space which brings in content from the existing social web and

connects it with democratic activities and outcomes

Virtual Town Hall Pilot

Working with 5 Local Authorities to try and build permanent civic spaces for a 12 month Pilot:

ChorleyEssex County CouncilKirkleesNorth LincolnshireRedbridge

Involving citizens at every level – including to manage and moderate content

Looking specifically at how to involve elected representatives in this process

Our objective is measurable increases in democratic activity

Thank you……

……and more importantly….what do you think???

[email protected]

Curiouscatherine.wordpress.comwww.public-i.info