WWW/Internet - Portal do Software Público Brasileiro

IADIS International Conference WWW/Internet 20102. WEB 2.0 SYMBOLIZING A NEW WEBUnder the name of Web 2.0 a new wave of web-based applications has emerged [9].These applications relyon the concept of the user as a producer of information. As a consequence Social Webs are emerging. Thecreation of collaborative content is done in several ways. So blogs are online notes open to comment forother users, while wikis are built by collaborative edition of content. Further important is tagging that resultin co sharing of information, so it may be organized by references such as bookmarks and URLs. Web 2.0 isa broad and emerging concept, so best it is regarded as a set of features involving technologies, applications,and values.The user roles are diverse in Web 2.0 applications. One may distinguish for qualitative different roles: (a)Producing content such as blogs or contributions to wikis; (b) providing ratings and reviews; c) using contentprovided by other users; (d) providing attention such as using on-line services or going to a most read page.As the level of engagement decreases, the number of users increases. There is a paradox on uptake: Lowuptake for large scale online public services; high uptake for low-budget user-driven services. Thus alsocommunities are diverse, so Communities of Practice may involve professionals while Communities ofInterest brings together persons with different background. With a social web new ideas are diffusing muchmore rapidly. Time (25 Dec 2006) made the User the Person of the Year. Therefore the front-page of thatedition had a reflecting foil mirroring the spectator.2.1 Participation on the RiseDeveloping Government has to support the formation of a democratic culture. Thus e- participation developsand implements new forms of participation. Communication in e-participation involves citizens, publicauthorities, elected representatives etc. One challenge is the perceived democratic deficit requiring newrelationships between state and citizens. Public responsiveness should be improved. Reconnecting citizenswith politics and policy making is high on the agenda. Given the complexity of decision making andlegislation, knowledge and expertise of citizens should be tapped in a well. All those who are concerned by adecision should be directly or indirectly part of the decision making process.The various project in Europe, have been investigated (DEMO-net project, www.demo-net.org ), thevarious views and concepts of participation via technology and have brought forward a structured way ofconceptualizing e-participation research and practice [11, 12, 13].The focus of e-Participation have changed. Initial investigations on e-democracy have focused on e-Voting and transparency. There were several projects using the web for voting (see e.g. the proceedings ofthe e-voting conferences [14,15]). But most projects ran without digital signature and were often directed torather special groups.Further interest was put on transparency. There is a close connection between transparency andparticipation in the form of a mutual promotion. In recent years some new foci have come in. Several projectsshow direct ways to the top, so in e-Petition which gives communication to the Prime Ministers Office.Besides several initiatives by public agencies and examples of successful projects the overall picture remainsequivocal. Many projects are isolated, they lack commitment from elected representatives, and they mayexperience political resistance.Then online consultations are not inter-connected with other activities on same public policy issue.Problems of size, numbers, space, distances, and different languages have to be overcome. There is a need tocreate environment and culture favorable to engagement in e-Participation. So the to-do list is long: activeparticipation; innovative solutions; responding to greater diversity; better outcomes at less cost. One has tosupport all forms of community development.3. WEB 2.0 IMPROVING PUBLIC GOVERNANCEIn the public sector transformation of Government and improving Public Governance is high on the agenda.E-Transformation has changed nearly domain of performing work. Transformation takes place for any kindof relationship: seller-to-buyer, administrator-to -citizen, and teacher-to-student are just some examples. ThusElectronic Government is about transformation: changing fundamentally the way Government does what it383