Researchers, hackers, and students: There is a need in many countries, to support "extra-government elections" with web-based technology (i.e., let citizens vote fairly without government influence, extortion, etc.). I think this is a valuable investment of time for a Libtech/HCI/CS/ICTD research project.
Imagine a site that allowed citizens to vote, could show the outside world and governments themselves (which often have unreliable means of voting/counting/etc.) how the citizens really feel about different candidates - in a non-biased way. The research issues to solve: authentication, visualization, accountability, and perhaps even access. Using common computer components (keyboard, webcam, etc.) can such a system be delivered to at least approximate the real sentiment of the people? At least to the outside world? Does such a system already exist? I am in Iran right now connecting with young people and intellectuals. I can't speak for other countries but Iran will have important elections in 9 months. If even a prototype of such a system exists, it could gain wide use here and be used by news agencies around the world to broadcast the difference between govt and extra-govt voting results. All the best, Neema Moraveji, Ph.D. Director Calming Technology Lab Media-X Stanford University moraveji.org, calmingtech.stanford.edu @moraveji, @calmingtech -- Unsubscribe, change to digest, or change password at: https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech
