Project PICOLA (Public Informed Citizen Online Assembly

Robert Cavalier
Carnegie Mellon

     Full text: Not available
     Last modified: March 10, 2005

Abstract
PICOLA (Public Informed Citizen Online Assembly) is a fully integrated, multimedia online tool specifically designed to complement Jim Fishkin’s protocols for deliberative polling. It contains both a user mode and an administrative console.

PICOLA currently supports a registration process, interactive displays of multimedia information, audio or text asynchronous forums, audio-based synchronous discussions (with video-based moderator windows), windows for Netcasting (of Expert Panels), and polling/survey capabilities. Initial design and development has also begun on a Mobile PICOLA utilizing cell-phone and PDA devices.

Various beta versions of PICOLA have been used in conjunction with PBS’s By the People Project on America’s Role in the World and have supported a test deliberative poll conducted by the CMU Alumni Association.

The presenters will demonstrate some of the features of PICOLA and discuss its current and near-future development path. Further information on PICOLA can be found at caae.phil.cmu.edu/picola/