A) Introduction

• What is democracy?
• What is digital democracy?

B) Digital Inauguration

• The Presidential Inaugural Committee is offering Text Message updates on Inauguration Day. US citizens can Text HISTORY to 56333 to sign up for updates on how they can be a part of this historic moment wherever they are.

Where To Watch 

• CNN.com: Partnering with Facebook so you can see your friends’ status updates while watching.
• Current TV : Will add a Twitterstream to its coverage.
• Ustream.tv: This stream will also be available on your iPhone, great for those along the parade route too far away to see the main stage.
• Joost is also broadcasting the inauguration live.
• Obama Girl is streaming her coverage on Stickam.
• Second Life is hosting the inauguration with formal and informal balls. The event will also be live streamed within SL.

Where To Share 

• Twitter: Just search for “inauguration” or “Obama”. The chatter has already started.
• NPR Inauguration Report: Run by NPR’s social media desk, it will be collecting dispatches from spectators via Twitter, Flicr, YouTube, and text message. All Tweets or text messages that start with “#inaug09″ or “#dctrip09″ will be included in NPR’s feed, as well as Flickr photos and YouTube videos tagged “inaug09″ or “dctrip09.”
• CNN/Microsoft 3D Photosynth: People at the inauguration can upload their photos and Microosft will combine them into a 3D panoramic Photosynth. (Potential applications to Human Rights?).

Follow-up

• The White House Blog: hopefully, the administration will continue some of the experiments with citizen participation which it tried on Change.gov, its transition Website. Whitehouse.gov certainly has the same look and feel.
• Change (U.S.) Politics (iTunes link). Cast your approval rating of the Obama administration across 14 issues
• PolitFact’s Obameter: Obama made more than 500 promises during the election campaign. Track how many he keeps with the Obameter.
• Create a Transparent and Connected Democracy:
  • Open Up Government to its Citizens: Use cutting-edge technologies to create a new level of transparency, accountability, and participation for America's citizens.
  • Bring Government into the 21st Century: Use technology to reform government and improve the exchange of information between the federal government and citizens while ensuring the security of our networks.

• Under Obama, Web Would Be the Way: Can Obama transform his net-based electoral strength, into a policy and advocacy tool that will strengthen his presidency?

References

• http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2009/01/022390.htm
• http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/18/the-techcrunch-guide-to-the-inauguration
• http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/the-inauguration-will-be-televised-and-twittered-streamed-flickrd/

C) Readings

• The Wealth of Networks
  • Q1
  • Q2
  • Q3

• The Prospects for Cyberocracy
  • Do you think we're headed toward a cyberocracy?
  • Are democracies or repressive regimes more likely to thrive in a cyberocracy?
  • Does new technology favor democracy?
  • Will new technologies speed the collapse of the Castro regime in Cuba?

D) Syllabus

• Review syllabus

E) Twitter

• Please get on Twitter and follow @digidemocracy, a Twitter feed for our class!
• We'll use Twitter to share relevant links and news related to Digital Democracy