The Technocommons Initiative is an investigation into the applicability of advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) to the enhancement of participation and interaction in the public life of a community. Research and design goals will emphasize the development of systems – in prototype form -- that can be viewed as community resources accessible to all -- a “technological commons.”
Communities are the research environments for this initiative. Research problems are developed around specific gaps in ICT-based solutions available for performing critical community functions while seeking more broadly applicable results. This initiative will focus on the following functional domains in which members of the community operate:
- Democratic engagement: democratic participation and collaboration by community members in addressing public issues;
- Exchange of life-critical information: delivery and exchange of emergency and other types of information that are necessary for the health and safety of the community; and,
- Geographic and cultural engagement: public transit, tourism, and artistic activities.
Projects[edit | edit source]
- Course on Community Informatics & Collaborative Design