News Article Summaries
This section summarizes and provides links to news articles relevant to mobile technology and politics.
Long time...
It's been a very very long time since our last entry. The summer consisted of a *killer* amount of work registering voters. Just wanted to put a note up here to let you know that we're still around and finally have some time to start re-working this website/blog. Updates coming soon!
Posted by ben at 01:19 PM | Comments (0)
Voting by Mail - good sign for direct text message registration?
Interesting article in the economist about by-mail voting – perhaps a precursor to txt-voting. Article summary:
• Mail voting has been sketchy so far – dead people voting and the like
• In 2004, in WA nearly 70% of voters opted to vote by mail
• King County (seattle) is set to go mail only in 2007
• OR is the pioneer – mail only as of 2000
• Advantages
o Can take your time to decipher ballot initiatives
o Don’t have to wait in line
o Convenience turns out voters
Ie: Oregon’s turnout was 87% - highest in the nation
o Cheaper to manage
• Changes the nature of campaigning – extends it over the period of a month – makes it more expensive
• People are annoyed when they have to pay return postage
• Can cause tabulation delays
• Has its faults – but not any more than in-person voting.
Thoughts: wonder if UI of voting by text is feasible – or even desirable – are there too many options? There was that example of voting by text in Switzerland, but it was only on a single issue vote.
If vote by mail is OK – perhaps can be combined with voter registration (equivalent to same-day voter registration). So, citizen could request ballot/registration form via text (or other method), receive it, send it in and vote/register all in one fell swoop. Wonder if Oregon would go for it?
Economist. March 18th. Stamp Of Approval. P. 46
Posted by ben at 07:58 PM | Comments (0)
Canadian Election Results Via SMS
This January 23rd is Canadas federal election day and as if the media is not fast enough with this sort of thing, mobile-savy Canadians will be able to get up-to-the-minute local real time results via sms/text messaging. The service is provided by CTV.ca and Globeand mail.com.
The innovative joint initiative between CTV and The Globe and Mail will be available, at no additional cost, to any Canadian mobile phone subscriber.
via MOpocket
Posted by justin at 09:25 PM | Comments (0)
voter registration via SMS in Malaysia
Malaysians will be able to register as voters online and through the short messaging service (SMS) once amendments to existing laws are made. Malaysia has 4 million eligible voters who are not registered [seems like a low number to me]. Most aren't registered due to lack of facilities and infrastructure, and personal preference. Officials discussed auto registering people when they turned 21, but decided that this method ran counter to democratic process.
i wonder how they're doing ID verification - didn't see anything about it in these articles.
see: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/20051228095128/Article/indexb_html
and
http://web.utm.my/today/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=231
Posted by ben at 08:08 AM | Comments (0)
text messaging at concerts/events
Another article about texting at concerts. Bono is getting 10,000 people per concert to text in for his Unite campaign against poverty. Other concerts are starting to use text messaging to build revenue - by charging for Premium SMS during the concert - or by bringing vending (tshirts, etc) to cell phones. ie: buy a tshirt from your seat and it will be mailed to your house. Also, in-concert ring tones and coupons.
Once the carriers figure out that their 50% cut is too high to generate business, this type of SMSing is going to be really good for non-profit fundraising. Even at small events - non profits will be able to use phones as a mobile & personal credit-card reader or sorts - as a much more efficient way to gather donations. Rather than hit everyone on their way in to an event for a check - or follow up with them later - the speaker can fire up the crowd and then ask for phone-based donation. Of course, the Bono-style system can be very useful currently simply to gather constituent data.
re: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051203/en_nm/textmessaging_dc
Posted by ben at 08:36 AM | Comments (2)
Swiss SMS vote works "without problem"
Swiss town of Bulach successfully conducts vote by SMS. 11% of the electorate used SMS. Some people had trouble understanding the ID requirements (code sent by mail) - but no other problems with the system reported.
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=106&sid=6201250&cKey=1130692769000
Posted by ben at 12:27 PM | Comments (2)
Voting by SMS in Switzerland
Small Swiss town lets people vote to decide speed restrictions directly by SMS - the program will serve as a trial - fed officials will determine if they should roll SMS voting out throughout the country. To determine ID, each user will be sent a unique code via regular mail. They will have to enter in this code and their date of birth in order to prevent repeat voting.
Posted by ben at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)
Mobile Voter in the News
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Check out some recent articles/blog posts about our SFVote campaign:
CNET Personal Democracy Forum 160 Characters Smart Mobs Mobile Slate Also, check out our press release |  |
Posted by ben at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)
Blog Posts on MobileActive
Philo has an interesting post on The Baltimore Group blog about the recent MobileActive conference in Toronto.
MobileActive was a three day conference held in Toronto which focused on political activism and mobile technology. Our own Ben Rigby was at the conference, so expect a complete report soon ... in the meantime this is a nice jumping off point.
Our good pal Justin Oberman had an even more detailed account of the MobileActive conference on his excellent Personal Democracy Forum blog. Justin was at the event and goes into a lot more detail on who participated. We're looking forward to more detail in the future ...
Posted by Bart Cheever at 03:31 PM | Comments (0)
Katrina Relief Donations via Text Message
This release from Verizon:
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Verizon Wireless is enabling its customers to donate to the American Red Cross to support the relief efforts directly from their wireless phones. Customers simply send the message "2HELP" via a text message to the address 2HELP or 24357 using the key word "help." They will receive a reply message asking them to confirm a donation to the American Red Cross of $5.00 -- customers wishing to donate more than once can send up to four additional text messages to 2HELP, for a total contribution of $25.00.
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Modled after the Tsumani relief using csc: 4care
Posted by ben at 07:15 AM | Comments (0)
Text Messaging on the Rise in the U.S.
WSJ reports that text messaging is 'finally catching on' in the US. Article Summary: Statistics show upward trends in usage. Usage growing as people look for fast methods of communication while on the go - being connected while out of home and/or office. Interactive TV text messaging is a driver as are mobile community applications. Good demographic statistics.
WSJ Logon required: http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112372600885810565,00.html
Posted by ben at 09:36 AM | Comments (0)
Surge in text messaging generates interesting/novel usages
Another article about surging text messaging usage. Good summary of various usages including Bono's ONE program. Article summary: text messaging is exploding (due to interoperability) and it's being used in inventive ways that affect daily life such as: at Live 8, 26 million text messages were generated in support of debt relief for African nations. At U2 concerts, fans text their names to a giant screen behind the band- and thereby register to be part of Bono's poverty-fighting One campaign. Also discusses about appointment reminders, advertising, flirting in bars, traffic reports, buddy services.
Usa Today: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2005-07-27-text-messaging_x.htm
Posted by ben at 12:37 PM | Comments (0)