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development. However the Web as it now exists was not 'designed' - the
original concept devised by visionary technologists and scientists has sim-
ply been appropriated by the rest of the world. It is a unique example of
participative development undertaken by countless individuals. The freely
accessible and open nature of the Web has empowered citizens and engen-
dered extensive engagement, with highly visible and influential outcomes.
This power and influence is at odds with the limited power and influence
citizens typically have in the design and shaping of many of the other ICTs
they use in their daily lives. Although citizens are major stakeholders in
systems for public use, their high importance to the success of such sys-
tems is not matched by their opportunity to influence critical variables -
e.g. access, ease of use, usefulness, entertainment value or desirability - all
of which will promote adoption.
Members of the public, along with many relevant professionals in a
wide variety of roles, have significant and often unique contributions to
make in shaping digital futures. To achieve their participation in the design
of ICT systems, services and products will require not only a shift in the
focus of the design process, but also special capacity-building initiatives.
A groundswell of support and understanding of the issues is essential in
gaining a critical mass for major change to begin to come about. It is not
possible or appropriate to attempt to offer an exhaustive list of relevant
participants who have significant contributions to make to bring about
change. Some examples of professionals to include are social scientists,
psychologists, software developers, HCI designers, change management
specialists, experts in participation strategies, along with government
agencies, voluntary agencies representing the interests of many 'extraordi-
nary users' among the population, and, above all, citizens themselves as
crucial stakeholders in society.
10.4.3 Enabling Role of Technology
There will of course be a role for technology-enabled debate to cascade
discussion of the issues and involve citizens in examining ways in which
they wish to engage with the design of our digital futures, what they see as
the benefits and the pitfalls, their priorities, and the preparation they need.
Some new mechanisms might well emerge to support this process. For ex-
ample, a 'civic commons' conceived of as a trusted public space where
dispersed discourse can be concentrated to allow government to inform it-
self regarding concerns and views of its citizens would offer one context
for debate for people who are comfortable conversing on the Internet. For
others, there are tried and tested hybrid environments such as those offered
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