E-Democracy 2006 Videos

A round-up of the videos from the recent e-democracy '06 conference

URL = http://partnerships.typepad.com/civic/2006/11/edemocracy_vide.html

Description

Overview of the individual items at http://partnerships.typepad.com/civic/2006/11/edemocracy_vide.html

The challenge for e-democratisers: deliberation as well as demands

No 10 strategy chief challenges Matthew Taylor challenges e-democracy toolmakers to support deliberation

Not just e-democracy, new democracy, says MySociety founder

E-democracy toolmaker Tom Steinberg says we need a new philosophy of democracy, not just more tools

Blending participatory and representative democracy, with added e-

Mary Reid explains how two aspects of democracy can be integrated, drawing on local experience

Making e-democracy part of the everyday - even if that's YouTube rules

Researchers Molly Webb and Jo Twist say follow people's interests online and on the street

We have been warned: democracy can be hacked

Russell Michaels and Jason Kitcat on the vulnerabilities and doubtful value of e-voting

Additional videos

Below are additional videos for which I haven't yet written a full item. Items will follow later on this blog, or a forthcoming Headstar blog. Clicking people's names will bring Quicktime movies up in a pop-up.

Jill Sanders, a volunteer with Oncom, explains how local people can develop successful online communities. As I reported earlier, this isn't always welcomed by the local council.

Ian Johnson, Head of Branch at the Department for Constitutional Affairs, reflects on e-democracy within Government, and adds in an e-mail follow-up "e-democracy is in its development stage. It's about experimentation, finding out what works and what doesn't in different contexts, listening to feedback, adjusting and learning. It's about sharing knowledge and encouraging others to have a try." Ian points out a slip of the tongue confuses blogging Minister David Miliband and his brother Ed.

Bryan Lewis explains the work of Westminster Digital in webcasting Parliament and, increasingly, other programmes and events. Their portable Streampac system enables inexperienced operators to produce their own shows.

Gavin Sealey explains his work in Newham with young people, and as a manager of the local issues forum.

Ben Whitnall and Gez Smith work for the leading e-democracy consultancy and developer Delib, so they are well placed to explain what tools for online deliberation are available to meet the challenge issued by Matthew Taylor

David Hunter runs Votivation, which aims to make make democracy fun by enabling people to develop and vote on views online. Cash and celebrities are involved too. David also explains here the importance of relating real world value to online social networking.

Carin Lennartsson was running impressive demonstrations of Readspeaker, which can speak your web pages without sounding robotic. She took time out to explain to me how it works, and the benefits it offers to people with literacy difficulties. In Lincolnshire they are using the system to create podcasts where people can check job opportunities.

Ross Ferguson, of Hansard Society, and Michael Cross of The Guardian were talking together about the second wave of e-democracy. Hansard Society is working with government on the Digital Dialogues programme. Michael writes on -e-government and e-democracy. I chipped in and asked what was working well - and how widespread uptake of e-democracy tools was now. What emerged was that take-up was patchy, and as yet it wasn't clear what significant impact e-democracy would have on traditional representative democracy. Continuing experimentation, mixed with healthy scepticism was needed.

Carol Hayward is project manager for the e-democracy programme in Bristol - which has a reputation as one of the most innovative in the field. She explained that as well as developing its own projects, the council aims to empower others to develop and use their own tools. Councils can be nervous of losing control over activities - but only by being more flexible will they develop the relationships and trust necessary for real communication and engagement. This approach is evident in Bristol's Digital Challenge bid. (http://partnerships.typepad.com/civic/2006/11/edemocracy_vide.html)