Web-based communication has reached a new level in its omnipresence—and blogging has perhaps reached its zenith. The new White House website has been remodeled along with the personal quarters as the Obamas moved into residence, and the new site is sharp. It’s sophisticated, easy to navigate and intuitive—all trademarks of Obama’s savvy election site, Obama For America. While the design of the new White House isn’t quite as airy and avant garde as the President’s own site, it is still clean and modern, and features great font work.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of the new White House site is the White House Blog. It’s been steadily updated since 12:01 Inauguration Day, and so far the pace hasn’t slackened—it’s going steady at approximately an entry a day. It features speeches, videos, events, task forces and more. Most historically, the blog team is posting pending legislation to the blog, to allow the public time to review and comment. This allows for greater transparency—we now have a better idea of what our government is doing on our behalf. It also takes advantage of the opportunities of web communication, to allow greater interaction between the governed and the government.
Since this technology is already widely accepted and well understood, it’s a logical step towards integrating government with the world of American tech innovation. And it will be fascinating to watch how it changes this country’s discourse.
To read more about the new White House website and blog, check out this great article from Slate and an interesting entry from The New York Times on-line.
