MindMixer
Summary
MindMixer is a “virtual town hall” providing a forum for communities to share ideas, discuss, and create plans for the future. Without the time and place constraints, citizens can share ideas online, and leaders can gain input from their communities.
Tool Description
An online town hall forum, MindMixer gives citizens a space to share ideas, and community leaders a resource to gain ideas and input. It allows anyone to contribute from anywhere, increasing participation in the town planning process by eliminating time and location constraints.
First, MindMixer helps identify the main focus areas by talking to civic leaders about the most common issues brought up in the community. A custom site is then created for the community, allowing leaders to add information about the issues and citizens to learn more, ask questions, and submit ideas. This forum is open anyone with creative, innovative ideas for tackling the pressing topics identified in the community. Citizens can vote on which ideas they think are the most viable for the particular topic, with a rating system completely based on merit. Voters may also give feedback and make comments or suggestions on the submissions. MindMixer then provides ideas, and encourages discussion, for how to implement the ideas generated through the voting process.
MindMixer provides the tools for communities to get the most out of their online collaboration forum:
- site hosting
- site administration and customer service
- user and client email and texting notifications
- project reporting
- reward systems to successful ideas
To encourage creative, resourceful solutions to community issues, MindMixer gives rewards to the most highly rated submissions. Also to encourage ongoing momentum within communities, MindMixer tracks the most involved citizens and reaches out to these individuals for future planning projects. This tool democratizes the town planning process by allowing everyone to express their ideas and let their voice be heard.
Skills needed
Some knowledge of web-based forums would be helpful, especially in engaging all members of the community.
Summary of Costs
Three options exist, providing varying lengths of time, support services, number of discussion topics, and marketing and outreach programs.
Strengths
- MindMixer, as an online collaboration forum, encourages participation from anywhere at any time, allowing citizens to participate who may otherwise be discouraged by time or location constraints.
- Anyone can submit ideas, regardless of past participation history or social status.
- The simple voting system democratizes the collaboration process and the most salient ideas rise naturally to the top.
Limitations
- As with any online forum, participants need a base knowledge of computers and internet discussion sites, which may discourage less-technologically aware citizens to participate.
- Often a problem with open-source online forums, citizens can use the website to discuss anything, occasionally taking advantage of the platform and using it counter-productively.
Applications
- Data analysis and collection
- Decision-making
- Dialogue
- Engagement and outreach
- Implementation
Other Examples
- Burbank California
Sources
- MindMixer, http://www.mindmixer.com/, accessed 9/21/11.
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Submitted By:
h.orcutt
Last Updated: October 3, 2011, 11:55 am
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