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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Atlanta, GA | Posted: September 15, 2020
CACP researchers Paul M.A. Baker and Nathan W. Moon, were coauthors on a recently published paper on inclusivity and citizen participation, Exploring the Smart Future of Participation: Community, Inclusivity, and People with Disabilities.
COVID-19 is having an enormous impact on civic life, including public services, governance, and the well-being of citizens. The pace and scope of technology as a forcefor problem solving, connecting people, sharing information, and organizing civic life has increased in the wake of COVID-19. This article critically reviews how technology use influences the civic engagement potential of the smart city, in particular for people with disabilities. The article aims to articulate new challenges to virtual participation in civic life in terms of accessibility, usability, and equity. Next, the article proposes a framework for a smart participation future involving smarter communities that utilize universal design, blended bottom-up, and virtual community of practice (VCoP) approaches to planning and connecting citizens with disabilities to smart cities. Policy and ethical implications of the proposed smart participation future are considered.
Bricout, J., Baker, P. M., Moon, N. W., & Sharma, B. (2021). Exploring the Smart Future of Participation: Community, Inclusivity, and People With Disabilities. International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR), 10(2), 94-108
