Chicago's TowText App Expands: Urbanfruitly & Oakland Answers Showcase Civic Tech
Tony Webster, creator of the innovative TowText app in Chicago, aims to expand his idea to other cities. Meanwhile, Urbanfruitly and Oakland Answers, born from civic hackathons, demonstrate the potential of collaborative projects to improve urban life.
Webster's TowText app, launched in Chicago, notifies users within 15 minutes if their car has been towed. It provides impound lot details, thanks to the city's standardized data-collection policy and real-time vehicle relocation updates. Webster now hopes to bring this useful service to other cities.
Urbanfruitly, a peer-to-peer network for urban gardeners and neighbors to exchange produce, was created at the Hack For LA event. It has the potential to be applied to other cities and product offerings, serving as a small business incubator. Similarly, Oakland Answers, a collaborative project involving over 70 participants, applies a search engine-like interface to commonly-asked questions about the city's municipal code. It returns answers in plain language, making it easier for residents to understand and navigate local regulations.
The real work after a hackathon occurs in the following weeks and months as participants refine their projects. In Oakland, the city government played a crucial role in the development of Oakland Answers. Involving local officials in civic hackathons can help solve real-world problems and improve project effectiveness. This collaborative approach has proven successful in various cities, including St. Louis, where a phone-based system called Continuum matches homeless people with nearby shelters using minimal open data.
Tony Webster's ambition to expand the TowText app to other cities highlights the potential of innovative solutions to improve urban life. Meanwhile, collaborative projects like Urbanfruitly and Oakland Answers, born from civic hackathons, demonstrate the power of community involvement and open data initiatives. As these projects evolve and refine, they stand to benefit cities and their residents in tangible ways.
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