Citizen Dashboard

A proposal for Cuyahoga County

What are Citizen Dashboards?

• A way for a wide range of citizens to share resources, aggregate info and utilize an integrated environment – which is highly customizable?

• Using their PCs• A geeky way to find a job or make money

The problem

• Technology today is hard to use– you must be a geek to get any value from it

• Many concerned people want to help – how do they?

• We need to train people in skills which will get them jobs

• The local community is not connected to what can be done with technology

• We need to help generate jobs in the community

The Challenges

• Generating jobs in Northern Ohio• Educating people to use the technology• Integrating technology into our normal,

everyday lives• Enabling ‘digital lifestyles’ so that info can be:– Integrated into our lives– Aggregated from a wide range of sources– Customized to exactly what I’m interested in

Our proposed solution will

• Create new jobs and help build an on-line community in Cuyahoga County

• By using computers which are outfitted with the right software

• And by getting local citizens their own ‘dashboards’ which will get them involved

• And benefit from that software and community

The Citizen Dashboard effort

• Integrated platform• System Integration• Job Generating projects

County wide system integration

• An organization is created – with funding• That puts machines and software into the

hands of the right people and organizations• And provides suppport and training on that

software• To create jobs and build community• By putting on live events, sponsoring content

projects and establishing a business directory

The Citizen Dashboard environment

• Machines with video cam and mic• Browser and Skype• Wifi or 3G card• Special ‘dashboard’ software will connect it all

together• Lots of commerce, education, entertainment

and complementary services• With multimedia and ad bureaus for support

Project responsible for system integration

• We help schools, churches, local businesses configure their machines and get accounts

• We set up ‘bureaus’ which generate jobs, provide support and become an anchor in the community

• We help sponsor events and content projects which all generate jobs

• We provide a training ground and career path

Integrated platform

• The dashboard provides and supports:– A social network, with personal pages, blogging and

Groups– Real-time video Help– A marketplace and business directory– A series of knowledge bases and Content projects:• Green Job Skills – training and encyclopedia• History of the Region• Seniors project

– A series of Live Events

Each Citizen’s Dashboard

• Gives them a blog, media storage and a personal voice

• Allows them to share their photos, videos or whatever they’re interested in (feeds)

• A way to make friends, find jobs, join Groups, participate in ‘conversations’, etc.

• Allows them to forge their own ‘digital lifestyle’ – which will not only train them, but also give them a future – on-line

Dashboards will

• Aggregate a wide range of content sources– RSS, Events, Listings, Blog posts, Media, Activities

• Provide storage for Media and Files• Support Persistent Content– Knowledge bases: Green jobs skills, Health– Content projects: Seniors project, local History

• Provide Directories of local businesses, events, resources, government agencies

Job generating projects

• Local bureaus:– Create web pages– Edit video and audio, edit graphics and photos– Book, place and manage ads– Run a CMS (content management system)

• Content projects• Knowledge Bases• Live Events• Training and support services

Path through the system

• Phase 0 – walk in off the street– Assess computer skills– Adeptness to technology?

• Phase 1 – setup a machine– Download Skype, set it up– Go get your own Dashboard account– Configure your account– Connect into the community– Connect to Wifi or 3G

Path through the system <cntd>

• Phase II – prove your worth or start learning– What area of Interest? – join Groups, join

conversations– What skills? – edit music, photos, video, create

blog posts– How geeky? – leave comments, configure pages– Want a job? – how can you help?– Provide support to Family Activities, Church or

School events, Community at large

Path through the system <cntd>

• Phase III – schedule meetings, appointments– Reach out to local orgs– Get folks to sign up – Provide basic hand holding– Attend training classes– Learn wide range of skills– Help put on Live Events– Help shoot videos, record audio– Help setup machines, status displays– Start conversations

Path through the system <cntd>

• Phase IV – marketable skills– Edit video or audio– Touchup photos– Produce and/or place an ad– Build a knowledge base– Update Directories, run a CMS– Provide support– Configure a network or web site– Help teach classes– Help run an event

Path through the system <cntd>

• Phase V – full member of the team– Help organize and put on an event– Manage a support center– Teach classes– Start and Manage a Content project– Create new communities– Help others through the system– Recruit, sell, organize, train

The circular ecosystem

“Day in the Life”

“Day in the Life” <cntd>

Partnership goals

• Mobile carrier• PC hardware vendor• BigCo platform• Local media

Alliances

• w/local schools, colleges and universities• w/hospitals, pharmas and insurance

companies• w/local government• w/local businesses

Structure of Citizen Dashboard project

• Broadband Mechanics• REALNEO• Cuyahoga County

Who we are

• Marc Canter• Norm Roulet