NOTE: This is content from the web re:Brand posts going back to November 2010. We have kept the re:Brand posts as a legacy archive but, on a go forward basis as of October, 2011, the new DATA eh? content takes over this space.
Like toronto.ca, The US government is rebranding their web presence. They aren't using the term "rebrand" but they are looking to address the exact same things we are. I'm keen to see what kind of response they get. I can see from their blog/forum they are getting pretty good take up.
It's interesting how many governments are seeing the need to engage users rather than force feed users - especially when it comes to change. It's a major shift in how we (they) do business. Actually - a show of hands here - how many of you would have ever thought that the City of Toronto would start to open up its data?
As of November 2 we did - it's out there with more to follow. I overheard it being said that the "genie is out of the bottle and it can't be put back in". Indeed! And this happened largely because of community interest in having it happen. I'd go as far to say that the toronto.ca/open project is one of the first in what we see as a transition toward a user centric web. Call it an early outcome of the re:Brand if you like, but it does show we are morphing from a closed ship to an open one with your input.
Our team has been yakking about this for a while but do you believe us yet?
The Year Ahead ...
If the "blog & comment" style isn't the best forum for you to talk to me about changing toronto.ca, here's what we plan for next year. In 2010, we are setting up focus groups, launching a beta "labs" space off toronto.ca, introducing content management tools so we can post content in varying ways and generally cranking up mainstream communication on what we are attempting. Want to have influence on what we do? You can read more about our timelines here.
For those who've taken their valuable time to offer comments on the blog since we started in September, thank you!
Be great for everyone reading who has an interest to officially follow the blog too. That would be awesome.
Happy Holidays y'all.
Like toronto.ca, The US government is rebranding their web presence. They aren't using the term "rebrand" but they are looking to address the exact same things we are. I'm keen to see what kind of response they get. I can see from their blog/forum they are getting pretty good take up.
It's interesting how many governments are seeing the need to engage users rather than force feed users - especially when it comes to change. It's a major shift in how we (they) do business. Actually - a show of hands here - how many of you would have ever thought that the City of Toronto would start to open up its data?
As of November 2 we did - it's out there with more to follow. I overheard it being said that the "genie is out of the bottle and it can't be put back in". Indeed! And this happened largely because of community interest in having it happen. I'd go as far to say that the toronto.ca/open project is one of the first in what we see as a transition toward a user centric web. Call it an early outcome of the re:Brand if you like, but it does show we are morphing from a closed ship to an open one with your input.
Our team has been yakking about this for a while but do you believe us yet?
The Year Ahead ...
If the "blog & comment" style isn't the best forum for you to talk to me about changing toronto.ca, here's what we plan for next year. In 2010, we are setting up focus groups, launching a beta "labs" space off toronto.ca, introducing content management tools so we can post content in varying ways and generally cranking up mainstream communication on what we are attempting. Want to have influence on what we do? You can read more about our timelines here.
For those who've taken their valuable time to offer comments on the blog since we started in September, thank you!
Be great for everyone reading who has an interest to officially follow the blog too. That would be awesome.
Happy Holidays y'all.
| BTW, still needing comments on better search and better business |
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