Archive for November 2009
LibDem tech chief backs free postcodes
Delighted to see LibDem MP (and client) Lynne Featherstone write the following: As Chair of the Liberal Democrat Technology Board - and an MP who believes that the internet should be used to strengthen democracy - I want to declare my support for the Free our Data campaign. We need postcodes to be owned by [...] read on »
Jimmy Leach returns to Whitehall
News from the Foreign Office: they've selected Jimmy Leach, former head of digital at 10 Downing Street, currently 'Editorial Director for Digital' at The Independent, for the recently-advertised position of FCO's Head of Digital Engagement. He's due to start in February. It'll be great to have him back: as I've written previously, I think he [...] read on »
Government gets into games business
The Department for Transport launched an online multiplayer fantasy roleplaying game last week, with the apparent aim of teaching kids to look left and right before crossing the road. Or at least, having played Code of Everand for a little while today, that's about the only road safety message I've been able to find in [...] read on »
Microsites make perfect
Steph Gray drew my attention to a piece highlighting the downside of microsites, and offered a nicely balanced view of the pros and cons. But whilst I admit to a commercial interest here, he missed one strong reason in favour of allowing at least the occasional microsite. I know it flies in the face of [...] read on »
BBC iPlayer back on Wii: a tipping point?
The BBC's new iPlayer 'app' for the Wii is now available for download: and it has the potential to do amazing things to UK viewing habits. Thus far, if you wanted to watch iPlayer via your Nintendo Wii (and your wireless broadband connection), there was a web-based interface, not dissimilar to iplayer/bigscreen - which was [...] read on »
LibDems' Ning-based social network
When the new LibDems website was launched a week or so ago, there was also mention of 'a new social action network site called ACT', which promised the ability to 'join groups, organise events, watch videos, talk politics and join in campaigns... to mobilize an online community that reaches beyond the boundaries of formal party [...] read on »
Lynne Featherstone redesign pays off
My friend / colleague / client Mark Pack gave a presentation at last week's Social Media 09 conference on 'Liberal Democrats and social media': in fact, it was a case study on the work we did to relaunch Lynne Featherstone's website. Although they don't make much sense in isolation (nor should they), here they are [...] read on »
Ordnance Survey data 'will' be freed
It's quite amusing to compare and contrast the announcements from DCLG and Ordnance Survey today, regarding boundaries, postcode areas and mid scale mapping information. DCLG's press release proudly declares: The Prime Minister and Communities Secretary John Denham will today announce that the public will have more access to Ordnance Survey maps from next year, as [...] read on »
Labour's cheap X-Factor dig
If the many series of Have I Got News For You have taught us anything, it's that if a joke is topical, it doesn't actually have to be funny. With that in mind, here's Labour's latest online campaigning masterstroke. A badly Photoshopped picture of the two senior Opposition politicians, mocked up to look like John [...] read on »