Digital Democracy: What Web services to the citizen?
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The obligation to design accessible web interfaces websites for the public sector ( Article 47 of Law No. 2005-102 of 11 February 2005 ) is similar to imposing setting accessibility of public buildings and Highways by 2015.
This is a necessary first step for a society accessible to all, this helps change attitudes, but it is not enough (the article " Availability of e-administration: much more than Web sites "published by Ideos September 21, 2009 had begun to address this issue). Indeed, Web services set up by the public sector - particularly at the local level by local authorities - must also meet the needs of citizens and improve the effectiveness of public policies. So we need these services and not just making accessible interfaces for consultation.
Today - and simplified - Web services for local governments (eg cities) provide citizens with information and sometimes discussion forums. Overall, this is to allow the flow of information and expression of ideas, which is the basis for digital democracy.
However, the role of digital local authorities should not he change? In addition to the expression of ideas, should they not become operator of Web services to citizens on themes of daily life?
Take the example of using the displacement of urban public disabled and seniors. We can ask the following questions:
- What is the role of the city from its citizens on this subject?
- The Web can provide a solution?
- The citizen can also be a contributor, not just users of a Web service?
On this theme, a cooperative project in Sweden has been successfully tested in the city of Stockholm. This is the system e-Adept which a video is available online (English) .
This is a support system around the city using mobile phones. It guides the person in a route and allows him to see problems if it is confronted with changes in the city. The three advantages of this system is:
- all you need is a mobile phone (no purchase of specific equipment)
- It is open to all (especially for people with visual impairments, with a cognitive problem and the elderly) and not just one category of person,
- citizens are not users, they contribute to the improvement of the city by plotting problems / changes encountered when moving.
The practical, everyday seems clear from this service for citizens. Conversely, the fact that the city can retrieve information from citizens during use of the service confirms the interest for local authorities to participate in the development of such services.
Digital democracy of tomorrow will perhaps then a triple imperative: flow of information, expression of ideas and citizen participation. The role of local authorities Digital will then make it possible by providing services that meet citizen's needs.












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