Hierarchy+of+Questions+BANKS

v What is “public space”? v How can a community communicate better to remediate perceived problems?
 * Could you give me a list of things that you think of when someone says, “public space”?
 * Are public spaces only physical spaces?
 * Can public space be a message board or Facebook?
 * Is the mall a public space?
 * Who usually owns public space?
 * Does the government own all public spaces?
 * Is a parking lot “public space?” What about the street? A mall?
 * Does public space have to “do” something or is it a “blank slate”?
 * What would you rather have in your neighborhood, an open field or a space that does one particular thing?
 * If the streets had much less traffic or that cars drove slower, would you feel like the street were meant for something other than driving on?
 * Do you talk about local events or gossip with people that live around you?
 * Are there people that you know that always want to talk about the building that just got torn down or the change in bus routes?
 * Do you know your neighbor?
 * Do you know the first name of everyone in your building?
 * Do you know the name of anyone that lives in the buildings that touch yours?
 * Who would you miss if they moved away from your block?
 * If you just found out about a piece of news that effected the people that lived near you (a building burnt down for example) what would be the first way you’d contact that person? In person? Text? Phone call? Twitter?
 * Do you have a cell phone?
 * Are you on any social media?
 * Would you say you //could// call, text or contact via social media, most of the people that you know that live nearby?


 * Version 2**
 * // Problem 1: // A multitude of praxis-based methods have arisen in the social sciences in the last few years but few cross-comparisons are available.
 * o // Question A: // What are the practical limits of the emerging array of praxis-based methods (e.g. PAR, critical making, critical technical practice)?
 * § // Hypothesis: // There is a positive correlation between deeply collaborative methods and resource usage (i.e. time, funds).
 * o // Question B: // Which methods are best suited for building and developing technologies of public space?
 * § // Hypothesis // : Professional expertise is mobilized as a cost-saving measure under the //a priori// assumption that work will be more efficient. Democratic participation is seen as inherently time-consuming and resource-intensive.
 * o // Question C: // What are the institutional, legal, financial, and cultural barriers to carrying out effective praxis-based methods?
 * § // Hypothesis // : New institutions of learning and making are necessary to maximize effective collaborative and participatory design.
 * // Problem 2: // Public space (which is seen as a useful community resource) is declining all across the United States in the face of decreasing capital investment in the public realm and increasing participation in online communities.
 * o // Question A: // What does good public space look and act like and in an era of decreasing public capital investment and increasing online communication? What technologies do you find in good public spaces? (E.g. sidewalks, Wi-Fi, shelter from inclement weather.) What technologies create good public spaces? (E.g. pedestrian-oriented streets, easy-to-use interfaces.)
 * § // Hypothesis: // Technologies of public space are technological artifacts that foster, encourage, or invite social action between individuals while also providing tools for expressing individual need and desire to the larger public.
 * o // Question B: // What is the relationship between online and offline social interaction in the public sphere?
 * § // Hypothesis: // Online and offline social action is not a zero-sum game. Participation in one may increase //or// decrease participation in the other.
 * o // Question C: // How can we provide technologies that liberate individuals from oppressive social monitoring and surveillance?
 * § // Hypothesis a // : Vending machines can provide needed privacy and anonymity and will this increase the purchase of condoms.
 * § // Hypothesis b // : Online voting and discussion tools are useful supplements to infrequent in-person community meetings.