Methodologies, Tools and Toolkits
This section provides innovative methodologies, tools, and toolkits from the CommuniCity project, designed for city officials, technology providers, NGOs, and others. These resources empower communities and foster collaboration.
Methodologies
Theoretical frameworks and approaches for community engagement, especially with marginalised groups, participatory design, and social network analysis.
Tools
Specific applications and techniques, that aim to the provide the technological framework when working on socially innovative developments and procedures.
Toolkits
Comprehensive resources combining methodologies and tools for tasks like co-creation methodologies for marginalised groups, community needs assessment, and running pilots and open calls.
Building stronger, more connected communities.
Co-creation with marginalised groups Toolbox
By the City of Amsterdam
The process describes the development of a tech solution for marginalised groups in six different phases, from identifying societal challenges to adopting the tech solution.
Developing tech solutions with, by and for marginalised groups requires understanding and empathy. The issues are social, not commercial. It is not always easy to talk about poverty, unemployment, low literacy or discrimination, for example. These are sensitive issues, not easy to address, and it takes courage to be open about one’s own difficult situation in a society that tells you that if you are doing well, you are worthwhile. This therefore also requires different methods and approaches aimed at creating a trusting environment and respectful relationship in which the target group’s challenge is central, human centred. The process described below provides practical tips and tools for this.
Co-creation reboot cards
By the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
Just pick a card, read the question aloud, and let the conversation unfold.
Tech Framework
By Engineering, Porto Digital and CVC Computer Vision Center
The objective of CommuniCity’s technical framework is to provide a set of assets, such as specifications and software, to support the design and development of innovative solutions. This technical framework is to be implemented by the Piloting Teams, and experimented in the cities.
The main aim of the technical framework is twofold:
– Firstly, the assets help developers to speed up and simplify the implementation of the technological solutions that must be provided within the limited timeframe of the CommuniCity Open Call rounds.
– Secondly, tools must be provided to enable the interoperability between existent cities’ IT infrastructures/systems and developers’ solutions. Furthermore, to achieve replicability of developed applications and services across different cities involved in the CommuniCity.
Check out this infographic on the specifications, sandbox and toolbox.
Toolbox Demonstration
By CVC Computer Vision Center
This interactive demonstrator is a prototype designed for educational and demonstrative purposes within the context of the CommuniCity Project.
It illustrates how artificial intelligence can recognise human expressions and translate them into artistic representations, and for that aim, it uses a number of software components from the CommuniCityToolbox.
The demonstrator comes with an analysis of its contextualisation within the new regulatory framework provided by the European AI Act. The ethical and legal assessment of this demonstrator has been a collaborative effort between the Computer Vision Center (CVC) and the Observatory for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence of Catalonia (OEIAC), which has developed a self-assessment process used for this demonstrator.
Ethics and Inclusivity Framework
By Demos Helsinki
The CommuniCity Ethics and Inclusivity Framework is an empirically informed normative framework for cities interested in tech-focused piloting for urban innovation. Use this to assess if the CommuniCity approach suits your city and if your city is able to implement it ethically. Designed to support local authorities, and technology providers, this framework outlines principles and best practices for ethical decision-making throughout the innovation process.