5 Essential Apps for Activists

February 10, 2013 in Rants & Raves, Thoughts. Closed
Tags: activists, Android, applications, apps, iPad, iPhone, online activism, politics, smart phone, social media, tablet

Smart phones, tablets and an assortment of mobile devices are becoming more and more prevalent. You need only look at the statistics to see that more people are using their mobile devices to stay connected with their friends and family. And to accommodate this growing trend there are literally millions of applications (apps) for your mobile devices.

There are some amazing applications available for activists which helps you not only keep connected but allows you to be an activist while you’re out having coffee or attending a local rally.

This isn’t the first time I’ve blogged about applications for activists, but with a growing number of requests to list my top 5 apps for activists, I couldn’t ignore the calls anymore. The applications I have chosen enable activists to share stories, pictures, videos, information, calls to action and cover events in real-time online. I have also chosen them based on their ease of use and useability.

And the applications all have been road-tested in the field.

So here are my 5 essential applications for activists in no particular order:

1. Audioboo

Audioboo is an excellent tool to capture speeches, statements and even do things like vox pops. The application allows you to upload content to your account which can be shared through the most popular social networking sites. The quality of sound is very good and there is background & white noise reduction applied while recording. In fact it is quite good given that it uses the mobile devices built-in microphone or a microphone you attach (of course high quality microphones will help produce better quality audio to upload).

The content uploaded to a user’s account can then be embedded into other websites, blogs and social media sites, and you can even download your content. It is fantastic for capturing the sounds of events and getting the thoughts of people involved in a rally or event you’re attending. Audioboo also allows you to upload audio files to your account from your computer, not just your mobile device.

You do need to have an account with Audioboo but setting up an account is entirely free and so is the application.

2. Qik

Qik enables you to capture and stream live video from your mobile device. The quality can be sketchy especially if it is a live stream however with some patient and practice it is possible to shoot some excellent video. The application allows you to save videos without making them live or public so that they can edited.

The applications enables direct sharing with other video-hosting sites like YouTube to further increase the reach of your event/rally videos; as well as allows you to share videos through your favourite social networking sites. The content uploaded to a user’s account can be embedded into other websites, blogs and social media sites.

This kind of application means that supporters can be in-touch with the action as it is happening if they can’t attend a particular event or rally.

It is a free application but you do need to set up an account with Qik, which is also free.

3. Cover it Live

This application gives the user the ability to provide real-time updates to your blog, website or Facebook without producing multiple posts or updating the same one over and over again.

In setting up a Cover it Live session, it is possible to set up a range of features that can be automated or made available to you when you’re on your mobile device. And if you happen to get swept up in the moment you can even start a Cover it Live session through your mobile device and within seconds you’re up and covering the event or rally live.

Other excellent features of Cover it Live include the ability to bring in comments from Twitter; pictures and videos can be used during a Cover it Live session, from your mobile device at the time; comments can be published and responded to in real-time; and Cover it Live sessions can be embedded on websites, blogs and Facebook.

This kind of application means that supporters can be in-touch with the action as it is happening if they can’t attend a particular event or rally and they can leave your comments of support.

You do need to have an account with Cover it Live but setting up an account is entirely free and so is the application.

4. Photo sharing

There are plenty of photo-sharing sites and sharing pictures from events and rallies with friends and family is a great way of sharing your passion.

Pictures convey a thousand words and are popular content on major social networking sites. Providing pictures from an event and rally can provide people a sense of involvement and can see how much support a campaign has. Pictures convey energy and activity, helping bring more attention to your campaign or cause.

The major photo-sharing sites like Flickr, Photobucket, Pinterest and Instagram come with your own applications. The applications let you upload pictures directly from your mobile device which can then be shared across the major social-networking sites.

The applications are free to download but you do need to have an account with the sites, which are also free set up.

5. Blog Tools

Blogging is a very important tool for any activist. They give activists the opportunity to support your favourite campaign or cause and an outlet to give expression to your support. Plus blogs give activists a digital headquarters for pictures, audio, videos and Cover it Live sessions.

There are any number of sites, like WordPress and Blogger, which let you set up a free blog to be up and blogging in a few minutes. And there are applications which can help you keep blogging when you’re away from your computer. The applications generally allow you to write and publish (or schedule) posts with media like pictures, video and audio from your device, approve and respond to comments, and check basic statistics.

Applications for blogging sites are free to download and within moments you’ll be up and blogging from your mobile device. You’ll need to have an account with the blogging site, of course, but this is free too (there are some exceptions).

Have I missed something?
If you think there’s an application I’ve left off the list leave a comment. I’d love to know which one and why you think it should be in the list of 5 essential apps for activists. If you’re wondering why this list does not include Twitter and/or Facebook apps, it’s because I’m assuming these are standard apps for most activists anyway.

NOTE: I am not associated in anyway, directly or indirectly, with the applications mentioned in this post or the businesses that developed them or any of your associated entities. This post has been produced based on my own use of the applications mentioned in this post.

Related posts you might be interested reading:

 8 Apps for Activists (July, 2012)

11 iPhone apps for activists (Jan, 2011)

7 iPhone apps for activists (Feb, 2010)

The political landscape in 2013

January 24, 2013 in Federal Election, Rants & Raves. 2 Comments
Tags: ALP, Australia, ballot box, commentary, democracy, Greens, Liberals, personal opinion, politics, voters

If you haven’t noticed by now, this year heralds a federal election year. For the next few months we will see the first rounds of the election shadow boxing before the election date is finally announced. There are some screaming for the government to go to an early election while others want the government to go the full distance. Given the most recent polling results it seems the government is on its way back from total oblivion. However politics is a strange beast and anything can change between now and whenever the election is called. Under our federal electoral system, only the Prime Minister truly knows the dates for issuing the writs for an election to be held (after the Governor-General has given their consent).

However after the last couple of years of significant negativity in our national politics, the political landscape in 2013 looks very interesting, to say the least. The often repeated statements by the Coalition that the minority government has failed Australia are at odds with reality. The Coalition’s commentary has been the usual negative critique of the government that had, until more recently, been repeated by the mainstream media is likely to continue this year. There are many successes this government has had with the support of the Australian Greens. And at the same time some of the worst this government has come up with has been done in concert with the Coalition, like the return to the worst policies for assisting asylum seekers.

However, while the government is in some serious trouble, it seems to me that the Opposition is in even bigger trouble in reality.

Commentary & thoughts on Technology in 2013 Federal Election

January 9, 2013 in Federal Election, Thoughts. 2 Comments
Tags: Australia, ballot box, commentary, democracy, online activism, online organising, personal opinion, political technology, politics, technology, voters

NOTE: This piece was first published on the Cafe Whispers blog

The New Year is upon us and it heralds the start of a year in which a federal election will be called. Many are calling for an early election while many others are calling for the 43rd Parliament to go the full distance. There is no doubt that I am one of those that prefers to see the Parliament go the full distance and run its course before the Australian people head to the polls.

One of the exciting aspects for this year’s federal election, whenever it is called, will be the part that technology plays in federal election campaign; both the build-up and the campaign proper.

The shift in how people are accessing the internet and using social media will see a similar shift in how content is delivered in the federal election. Of course the shift I’m talking about is the increasing use of mobile devices to access the internet and social media; including to text and call friends.

Political parties might seem like archaic and antiquated organisations but they are sophisticated and look for anyway of gaining an electoral advantage. Given the explosion in the use of mobile devices to access social networking sites, watch videos, catch up on news and stay connected, political parties will definitely be delivering content designed for mobile devices. It will be interesting to see if political parties will ensure they have accessible mobile sites rather than solely concentrate on ‘apps’.
This is important as apps can be limiting and more likely to only be used by the ‘true-believers’ in respective parties. Mobile sites offer in many ways more flexibility for content to be delivered without creating a ridiculously large app to download. Though there are some very real advantages to using apps.

However in my opinion the more important thing to watch will be the consolidation of the various technologies to take advantage of data-driven voter engagement.

This might be a bit of pipe-dream at the moment as most organisations are constantly looking for the latest & greatest new social media tool. Rather it would be excellent to see organisations campaigning in the year’s federal election using the plethora of amazing online and social media tools that already exist to boost their campaigns and improve engagement with supporters and voters.

2013′s federal election campaign will see the most sophisticated use of voter data ever. It might not be done very well or produce the results Australian Obama fans are looking for but this year’s federal election will see the most sophisticated use of voter data to engage and connect with voters on more personal levels rather than the usual robotic method used.

Unfortunately I doubt that these things will be fully realised. While there is evidence to suggest that political parties and strategy-driven NGOs are moving to improved mobile sites and apps; using existing technology in a more coordinated fashion and using more data to connect with supporters and members, given the experience of 2012 I see there will be little change in how technology will be used.

Rather than using it to reach out in intelligent ways to voters, the technology will be largely used to promote television and radio commercials with little integration with the rest of the campaign. No doubt there will be the usual Flash-games and make-your-own banner/poster options and a range of ‘viral’ videos that will only be seen by the most dedicated members and supporters. And there will be the usual attacks and counter-attacks.

Of course there will be the usual rise in fake social media accounts to troll others and relentlessly repeat campaign messages, stupidly watering down the willingness of interested people to get more involved.

However, I’d be happy to be proven wrong.