Output details

Viewpoint : empowering communities with situated voting devices

The idea of Digital Democracy was core finding of the RCUK Digital Economy funded Bespoke project. Digital Democracy is a concept and framework for designing digital technology for public accountability and policy maker engagement. The Bespoke team tested the notion of digital democracy using the Bespoke design response, Viewpoint. Viewpoint was installed in a community in Preston for a month in March 2011. It acted as a device to harvest public opinion from policy makers on the Preston City Council. In the four-week period over 1500 valid interactions were made with over 250 people in the community. Digital Democracy is a fundamental new approach to how we use digital technology within government and public interactions.

The core insight generated is that access to, and engagement with, the emerging notion of digital democracy is significantly enhanced by geographically located physical objects that connect citizens to policy makers.

The significance of this research is the core contribution to new knowledge and insights on the providing physical interfaces to the digital economy. It raises questions surrounding notions of accessibility and engagement of democracy: from hyper-local specific issues to UK government national campaigns. Rogers and Marshall remade a Bespoke India Viewpoint device at the Unbox Festival in Delhi 2013. Working with a local craftsman and illustrator, a Bespoke viewpoint was designed, illustrated and exhibited at this international conference and festival for design change.