Blogging and the use of other legislative technologies in Africa

Citizen Engagement and the Algerian Parliament

I am flying to Africa this afternoon, where I'll serve on the faculty for a conference on the use of technology as a tool for communicating with the public in Algiers. The conference is being hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures, and this is part of their international array of programs. I'll be using this PowerPoint, although the actual PowerPoint will be presented in French, and I'll have the benefit of having an interpreter with me.

One interesting key point on this presentation about the Algerian context -- only 10% of the Algerian population has access to the Internet, but 80% of them have cell phones. Therefore, they won’t be all that interested in Internet-based social networking applications but they will be interested in cell phone-based ones. I understand that the use of Blackberries and iPhones are on par with the use here, so my presentation will be geared towards cell-phone based technologies to engage the citizenry in government.

One other interesting piece of new technology that I'll be using: Polleverywhere.com allows the presenter to poll the audience on an array of issues using cell phones. Use this site the next time you're speaking to a large group, and they'll be fascinated by this technology.

I'll be on the faculty with Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-Texas), Sen. Jack Hatch (D-Iowa), Rep. Ellen Roberts (R-Colorado), and other staff and coordinators with NCSL. Ironically, I won't have access to cell coverage there, but I will be able to check e-mail daily (I'll be six hours ahead of CDT).

Wentworth

Hatch

Roberts

Harrelson

I'll blog (and live blog) to the extent possible. I'm flying today from Txk to DFW then to Heathrow before ending up in Algiers tomorrow night. Our conference will begin Saturday morning. Check back for updates.