A means for users to contact public administrations (inbound) or for public administrations to contact their users (outbound) with the aim of acquiring or delivering public services as the use of web based technologies, telephony, paper media or face-to-face contacts; applications of these technologies such as the internet, eMail, SMS, call centres or the counter; and devices to access the applications such as a personal computer, mobile phone, kiosk or digital TV.

Source(s):

DEMO_net. DEMO_net Deliverable 5.1: Report on current ICTs to enable Participation. Deliverable, DEMO_net Consortium, 4 2006.

Systems, which enable groups of people with a common interest (issue or locality-based) to work together to influence change. They usually involve content management systems and discussion forums. Often, they include quick polls, and may also exist as email lists.

See also: Tools/Virtual Communities,

Source(s):

DEMO_net. DEMO_net Deliverable 13.1: Development methods and support environments to build eParticipation tools. Deliverable, DEMO_net Consortium, 2007.