Using The Internet For Participatory Design

"In these days of far-flung project teams and interested parties spanning the gamut from clients to community activists, gaining consent on projects as they move forward could mean the difference between a lukewarm and an enthusiastic reception. For many practitioners, the Web is proving to be an excellent platform for communication of this sort. Architects and planners say that providing Web sites that solicit comments on proposed projects has enabled them to create interested communities where none existed before. 'More and more, citizens expect to have a say in public and private investment decisions that impact the public domain,' observes Berkeley-based urban designer Bruce Race, FAIA."