Summary for Emerging Tech Founders:
The paper introduces Voice to Vision, a new sociotechnical system designed to enhance civic decision-making by creating a structured data infrastructure that links community feedback with planning outcomes. Trust and transparency in civic processes are declining, with many community members feeling their input goes unnoticed.
Key Innovations:
- Co-Design Framework: Developed through a five-month iterative design process involving 21 stakeholders and field evaluations with community participants.
- Dual-Focused Interfaces: Tailored interfaces for both community members and planners aim to facilitate shared understanding and connection in civic ecosystems.
- Actionable Transparency: Community members are particularly focused on seeing their input reflected in decisions, recognizing patterns in feedback, and understanding the rationale behind decisions.
Implications for Founders:
- Those building tools for civic engagement should prioritize features that enhance transparency and legitimacy.
- Focus on creating platforms that can systematize diverse inputs while ensuring community members feel valued and engaged.
- Emphasizing participatory design can lead to more robust and trusted civic infrastructures.
Voice to Vision presents a valuable model for using technology to bridge gaps in community engagement and decision-making processes.
Read more about it on arxiv.org
