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ISCN Global Mixer: Smart Village App
Key take-aways
Ownership is important: to stay independent of third-party providers or developers, it is essential for cities and communities to own their app
Real open source: The source code of the app is freely available and ready to use
Wide range of features for different use cases: The Smart Village App offers a wide range of functions which allows cities and communities to customize the app to meet their specific needs
The Smart Village App is a comprehensive solution to make information in rural areas more readily available to citizens. The app includes functions such as citizen services, integration of Open Street Maps, news, appointment bookings, etc. Furthermore, it is embedded in an institutional framework allowing for replication with lower barriers and faster procurement processes.
The founder of the Smart Village App, Philipp Wilimzig, presented the app in this episode of the ISCN Global Mixer and highlighted the benefits that using an app as a communication platform can bring to cities and communities, such as easy accessibility through smartphones, direct communication trough push-notifications and location-based services.
One important use case for the Smart Village App is citizen participation. It includes several features that help municipalities stay in touch with their citizens. These range from simple event calendars to digital participation surveys and forum discussions.
According to Philip Wilimzig, the open source approach is key to the success of the Smart Village App. It allows the municipalities to remain independent and avoids vendor lock-in effects. It also leads to more transparency and a verifiable quality. Moreover, it makes it easier for communities to interact and develop new features together.