Comments on: Thoughts from barcampukgovweb

By: Simon Dickson

Simon Dickson — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:34:17 +0000

Actually, I’ve got a couple of ideas on that front… but it’s another of those ‘when I get time’ projects though, I’m afraid.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:32:02 +0000

@Tim – that’s a biggy, but a goody! I think consultation and participation are going to be key themes moving forward…but how?!

@Simon – What we need is a white label version of pageflakes. The other missing thing is a decent way of monitoring blogs – Technorati and Google Blog Search are ok, but a better way would be for people to submit their blog feeds to be added to the index. Don’t think it can be done in Pageflakes, or any of the others though…

By: Simon Dickson

Simon Dickson — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:28:23 +0000

Agree entirely on the ‘distributed conversation’ thing – RSS gives us everything we need to make it work, too. I’ve tried to pitch this to a couple of big clients, thus far without success, but I’ve got plans…

By: Tim Davies

Tim Davies — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:19:01 +0000

Hey Dave. It was great to meet you on Saturday.

I walked away reminded of the one big idea that we’re still grapling with:

Democracy.

It strikes me we’re working out what to do about where ‘the state’ should be using technology to increase the practice of effective democracy – at the same time that technology, globalisation and new social movements are redefining democracy in a fascinating and dynamic way.

In a sense the very foundations we’re standing upon are being changed by the actions we’re taking as we build on them…

Or something like that…

Ok – it’s a messy massive web of ‘big idea’… but I think they should provide the gravity we should aim to orbit aorund…

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 22:27:19 +0000

Em, it was a fabulous day and a remarkable achievement to get all these people in the one place – on a Saturday for heaven’s sake! – and to get them talking. I’m hoping that from this acorn grows a mighty oak of online engagement and collaboration. There are people itching to start work, so let’s keep the conversation going, and keep the momentum up so that they have something to do sooner rather than later!

By: emma mulqueeny

emma mulqueeny — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 22:11:12 +0000

I appreciate the fact that there seemed to be a lack of ‘defining objectives and outcomes’ on the day – but, to be honest, for all gov webbies this will be a welcome relief and enable a more productive conversation. I quite like this… but I can see the frustration. In reality we are all stumbing blindly forward and one benefit of keeping an open discussion is perhaps finding the answer to your questions. So… perhaps the answers to your questions are the end-game, and what we actually need to work towards… as you say, much more thoughtage to be done

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:50:14 +0000

@ Shane – you are right, maybe I am expecting too much too soon

@ David – great stuff on getting the video online so fast. Hopefully it will be appearing via the YouTube feed on Pageflakes soon!

By: David Wilcox

David Wilcox — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:22:16 +0000

Great to meet, and I’ll blog tomorrow … meanwhile video of Jeremy here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsd9BAI15pk
One idea from a session I was at – Government departments invite consultants and other “outsiders” to come in and share share ideas without pitching. Seems good to me – if we are doing it on blogs anyway, more fun to do it f2f. I would suggest video conferencing, but it probably wouldn’t get through the firewalls!
Thanks for Pageflakes – as you say, let’s see what we can join up. That could be small but useful idea.

By: ShaneMcC

ShaneMcC — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:16:40 +0000

Hi Dave,

Sorry not to catch up more on the day. Just a quick note on the “big idea”. Don’t worry about looking for it. Chances are it doesn’t exist. It will be lots of small things done better than they were 5 years ago. The main point was we all have a shared agenda of getting the public sector to use the internet better.

I do agree with though that a common theme for me was that jsut as the conversation got round to solutions as opposed to describing the challenge, someone would come in the room and say lunch/coffee/next session was served.

However, this BarCamp was more about connecting and solidifying that shared agenda than actually solving problems. At least it was for me and I think BarCamp rule #237 states anybody can take their own meaning out of the event.