Joseph Peters
Ottawa, ON - Canada
Ascentum

Biography:

Joseph Peters is a founder of Ascentum, a professional services firm with expertise in intermodal consultation and dialogue. This unique
service blends online and traditional techniques to best meet the needs of a particular consultation or dialogue initiative. Joseph has served
as an advisor to many federal government departments, the House of Commons, the Senate, the Romanow Commission, as well as the private sector to assist them in developing and delivering consultation and engagement initiatives. His work focuses primarily on public policy issues, but consultative approaches are more commonly used to develop collaborative strategy and visioning initiatives.

Ascentum created and markets dialoguecircles.com, a comprehensive and adaptable toolkit for online consultation and dialogue.

What's a recent movie you've seen and enjoyed and why?

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. May ruin the movie for you if you didn't see it. Don't read further. If we are the sum of our
experiences, what happens if we use technology to forget those that we'd rather not remember? While superficially desirable, it shows the short sighted and devestating consequences of such an approach. Good acting, unique plot with a puzzle. Perfect for a 2 hour movie escape.

What is "community" and why is it important to you?

Community is people sharing, understanding, and exploring together. I believe that communities need to be returned to their former glory,
where people come together to make a positive difference in each others lives. It happens more in small communities, in rural areas, or farms, but not as often in urban society. Maybe technology can be a way tobreak down some of the barriers to restoring the glory of communities.

Pick a favorite technology and explain how it makes the world a better place?

My blackberry. Before I say why, let me just acknowledge that this is an issue that can be very divisive. My opening argument is that
everything designed for good and be manipulated and used for evil (just think of vbscript and email viruses). I love the fact that my phone, my email, my calendar and address book live in harmony. I had a cell phone and a palm in the past that experience moments of harmonious
interaction, the palm ended up collecting dust. I like that I can be anywhere and be connected. I like that I am more organized. I know
that it is changing the world, because the phone is now the ubiquitous device that everyone is trying to enhance. Devices like the blackberry
have pushed development further. Does everyone need a camera phone, probably not. Is it fun if your 18? Probably yes? Getting back to the ranch I also think that blackberry (and even phone) etiquette should be mandatory with purchase.

2-3 questions or issues that you hope we'll address at the "Deepening Online Deliberation" meeting?

Why can't the US governments in all of their forms start to follow the lead that the EU and Canada have taken in the area of online
deliberation? What is at the root of resistance? What are the baby steps that are needed help build momentum? Why does the right in the US
see this as a left only approach?