Public Participation and Information Technologies 1999
Published by CITIDEP & DCEA-FCT-UNL, edited by Pedro Ferraz de Abreu & João Joanaz de Melo
© CITIDEP 2000

Chapter 3
PP-IT and planning (at national, regional or local leve)

Is the WEB a Solution in Search of a Problem ?

Celso Nigro Engracia de Oliveira

Sao Paulo University School of Public Health-Environmental and Citidep-Brasil.
Av. Dr. Arnaldo 715 Sao Paulo SP Brazil 01246 904; Email : jaborandi@uol.com.br


The author describes an exercise undertook for evaluating the impacts, pros and cons, of up to date IT in gathering non quantitative information . The method chosen consisted in reproducing a PP consultancy program performed 8 years ago in Sao Paulo City as part of the many events in preparation for the Rio 92 Summit (5 Cities Consultation Project designed by the the University of Toronto for learning the public perception about the urban environment). The remaking of the Sao Paulo component of that endeavor now is exclusively digital, mainly trough the web, whereas back in 1991 mail, telephone and personal interviews were the tools. The idea is to compare ceteris paribus the two processes deriving conclusions regarding the many aspects involved such as cost, quality vs speed, difficulties, etc. The list of more than 40 institutions, from squatter associations up to the most powerful industrial organization was maintained and whenever possible the same individuals are being contacted in these institutions (around one hundred and twenty). After preliminary conclusions added to a pessimistic analytical introduction -- reflected in the rather skeptical title -- the paper submits criticism to the under- usage of computers in general in developing countries, and proposes new approaches to be discussed at the Conference. A feasible output would be CITIDEP members sponsoring the following step capable of introducing advance in the use of Information Technologies.