Author Bios
Chris Haller heads up Urban Interactive Studio (UIS), a technology consulting firm specializing in web and mobile solutions for urban planning agencies and firms. He's the founder of EngagingCities.com where he helps urban planners understand and use the Internet and gives practical advice.
What if kids would experience the basics of good architecture and urban design through play? Sim City obviously comes to mind, but now gems of modern architecture, like the Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier, can now be recreated in LEGO form.
Have you ever felt like engagement strategies tend to involve a lot of bean counting, where the quantity of people participating is regarded as more important than the quality of participation created? Boston’s DARG projectis seeking to change this with the help of design-based research and a framework for conceptualizing and evaluating networked civic engagement.
Launched in December, Google+ Communities are a place where users can share ideas and content relating to a particular topic with others who are just as interested in striking up a conversation. Already, the types of Communities available to the Google+ audience seem endless — ranging from science, animals, and even groups devoted to cities such as Detroit and Kansas City.
When citizens have the opportunity to do a bit of storytelling about their community, they gain a sense of connection and pride, and may even feel motivated to become more involved and take ownership of its idiosyncrasies and challenges.
What could be better than the satisfaction in knowing that your city’s revitalization program is in full swing? The anticipation of a vibrant, walkable downtown area is a thrill for city planners and citizens alike. Perhaps in the interim, as the revitalization is occurring, we can determine how to enjoy what the city has always had to offer and by spreading the word, jump start the process.
