What would you design for your MP and why?
Last week I was asked to respond to a new iPhone App that allows constituents and MPs to communicate more effectively with each other. After an animated brainstorming session over lunch we came up with a few radical ideas that could really help MPs understand their constituents and visa versa.
The one we went with in the end was an ‘Insights Holiday’ within their own constituency where MP’s will discover the issues affecting their constituents on the ground. Imagine if your representative could come and stay at yours for a week and genuinely see how the other half live!
Some of the other ideas that didn’t quite make the grade were:
A Policy Translator Megaphone This device would automatically convert incomprehensible policy jargon into plain English. This amazing megaphone would even explain how specific policies may impact on your life directly, although we aren’t quite sure how this will work yet!<\\p>
A Window Into The Constituency This would take the form as a physical space or confessional permanently located in a public area, shopping centre or similar. This space would allow members of the public to record video messages directly to their MPs which may be viewed by the greater community live and online.
Also discussed were concepts for a sandwich board style coat which an MP could wear to relay upcoming policy decisions to the community and a pair of shoes that would help MPs to really step into the shoes of their constituents.
Look out for these ideas in your constituency soon!
