As expected, IGF Remote Participation looks to increase exponentially compared to the already impressive level that we witnessed before and during IGF Hyderabad. Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter (IntGovForum, #igf) are among the main foci for remote community connections, with Flickr (/group/IntGovForum) and YouTube (/user/IGF) providing visual empowerment.

One of the main surprises (or at least significant observations) was the growth of the Youth participation element which may have even outstripped (in dynamics if not total membership) the regional and community participation. Look for that only to increase as we near Sharm el-Sheikh!

With increased technological abilities (both in the capabilities of the hardware and software, as well as general familiarity with the hardware and software resources), we should be able to avoid some of the scattered instances of technical issues that arose last year. Speed issues should be minimized, interruptions and disconnects more rare, and those frustrating and baffling moments of total blackout will hopefull never occur.

On the other hand, perhaps we have been too conservative in our aspirations…no doubt there exists some creative ways to make the more sophisticated technology serve a value-added purpose in the remote participation scheme. Flawless remote participation in the larger webcast is undeniably a desirable (and reachable) goal, but I wonder if we can dare to think outside the box a little? Perhaps additional layers of remote participation groups? After all, we have Hubs, Dynamic Coalitions, and MAGs…why not an extra infrastructure of individually interconnected access groups with the means and stated necessity for directed discourse?

On a more pragmatic note, I am beginning to feel some concern that there are so few indications of new remote participation projects in advance of IGF Sharm el-Sheikh 2009. I can’t help but feel that I have been left out of the loop, that there are big things of which I really should be aware going on somewhere…