This article, Homeless people left out by high tech, in my local newspaper, last week, touched a nerve. The disconnect between Government online system designers and the end-users of those systems is often all too real. It needn’t be that way. Navigating complex online systems can be a challenge for many of us, never mind the homeless, […]
How Government System Designers Can Effectively Communicate With Poor People
Patients as Partners: Shifting The Balance of Power
“Yes, doctor.” It’s easy to agree with your doctor. After all, she knows what’s good for your health. Right? You do, too. Right? Discussing one’s personal health, in a collaborative way, can be a very difficult conversation. Call to action Last month I participated in the Patients as Partners Provincial Dialogue conference in Vancouver. I was there offering […]
Public Art: A way to increase local interactions, connections and conversations
Do you know your neighbours? Anything that increases interaction opportunities with neighbours, or strangers, I figure is a good thing. Public art is such a thing. From silos to interactions Even in dense urban places, our life can feel like a silo. Yet, once we get past our inward-looking tendencies, and open up to interactions […]
Funny Bones: Street Collaboration
We can learn a lot from good buskers. Take Funny Bones, a Japanese and UK duo, who performed at the Victoria International Buskers Festival recently. They were my favourite act. I love summer festivals! Here’s a Funny Bones promo clip (5 minutes duration): (Can’t see it? click here to watch on Youtube) With my business […]