Government at your fingertips with public sector iPhone apps

Direct input into local government policy-making via your iPhone; great use of technology, or another waste of public money?

An EU grant totalling 2.7 million Euros has been awarded to the UbiPOL  (short for the snappily titled Ubiquitous Participation for Policy Making) Project  to fund the development of smart-phone apps designed to give the public a channel to contribute to policy-making decisions.

Not dissimilar to the many existing 'fun' apps which are already available for smart-phones, rather than telling you how many calories you've consumed or how drunk you are, these applications will be public sector, giving Jo Public the opportunity to provide feedback to policy makers about issues which affect her everyday life.

Of that grant, £400,000 is going to Brunel Business School, where Professor Zahir Iran is Dean.  "This project will develop a mechanism by which the public can access local government at their fingertips and, more importantly, to give feedback and suggestions which can then be considered by policy-makers." said Professor Iran.  "All too often members of the public feel disengaged from local policy but this new system of e-government will give them instant access to services and information, and put the power in their hands - literally."

The apps are intended to be a two-way communication process, with users updated on policy decisions on the move, whilst also reporting back on issues such as health and safety, planning, transport and parking. The idea is that it will reverse the current trend of political disinterest and disenfranchisement. However, to work it requires participation, and it's a vicious circle to break, with the politically disinterested unlikely to download public sector apps in the first place.

Would you want to use your mobile to report potholes, parking problems or health and safety risks? Let us know below.