The participation site is aimed at providing the greatest degree of interaction possible between ICANN, ICANN constituencies and the wider Internet community, and uses the latest online tools to that end.
The site will contain a single Web page for each meeting taking place in Lisbon, where all relevant information for that meeting will be made immediately accessible (the schedule has yet to be finalized at time of writing so the site will be populated with this information over the next few days).
Chatrooms, Forums, Blogs
Those who register will be able to post in chatrooms and forums, as well as publish their own personal blog. The site is easily searched by date, subject or constituency; it also provides some basic information about the meeting, ICANN and its structure; and provides links to other related Web sites and useful resources.
A "hot topics" link outlines what the issues of most interest in Lisbon are likely to be and provides simple links to discover where each issue's related meetings will occur and when. News items from both ICANN itself and from the wider Internet, as well as the most recent comments and blog posts made on the site itself will appear in the left and right columns of each page.
ICANN will also accept questions on the site prior to the meetings which will be accessible to each meeting's moderator to review and include as they see fit. It is hoped this will supply those not able to attend the meeting with a more solid input method. Real-time tools to provide input while the meeting is in progress will continue to be available.
Intention and Feedback
The hope and intention of the participation Web site is that involvement in, and interaction with, the ICANN meetings will be greatly improved both for those at the meeting but most importantly for those around the world unable to attend.
