摘要
Critics have pointed at new technologies as cutprits in the decline of civic life, neighboring and social capital construction in Western societies. When applied to community design and ptanning processes, technologies can empower residents to actively engage in decision-making, foster connections across social groups, with positive consequences on life and sociatization in public spaces. What kind of participation do technotogies foster? And is it the kind that bridges social and ideotogical divides? The 2012 community design process for Hawthorne Park in Medford, Oregon illustrates many of the challenges and opportunities connected to the use of new technologies in design. In the process, technologies were instrumental in enlisting a larger-than-usual number of residents to participate in the design of the park. Blogs and online questionnaires were successful in gathering people's thoughts on the design choices being made, but also favored a limited, intermittent form of engagement. The results are synthesized in principles for the successful integration of web-based technologies in future community design efforts: adaptability, fuji participation, nuanced participation and the need for links to the physical realm.
Critics have pointed at new technologies as cutprits in the decline of civic life, neighboring and social capital construction in Western societies. When applied to community design and ptanning processes, technologies can empower residents to actively engage in decision-making, foster connections across social groups, with positive consequences on life and sociatization in public spaces. What kind of participation do technotogies foster? And is it the kind that bridges social and ideotogical divides? The 2012 community design process for Hawthorne Park in Medford, Oregon illustrates many of the challenges and opportunities connected to the use of new technologies in design. In the process, technologies were instrumental in enlisting a larger-than-usual number of residents to participate in the design of the park. Blogs and online questionnaires were successful in gathering people's thoughts on the design choices being made, but also favored a limited, intermittent form of engagement. The results are synthesized in principles for the successful integration of web-based technologies in future community design efforts: adaptability, fuji participation, nuanced participation and the need for links to the physical realm.