Today the first book that I ever contributed to came out. Its full title is “The Politics to Go Handbook: A Guide to Using Mobile Technology in Politics”. It officially launched at the Politics to Go Conference held at George Washington University.

This handbook introduces some of the latest mobile technologies, examines their current uses and political successes, considers future possibilities and challenges and offers simple how-to guides for implementing these new technologies into campaigns. The publication features ten diverse chapters of forward-thinking articles and practical guides written by 50 expert authors, totaling 131 pages of informative reading that will help you take your next campaign to the next level. The Politics to Go Handbook is available as an Adobe PDF document, and as a podcast (.MP3 format, runs 30:54, 10 MB).

Although I was not able to attend the event I had the pleasure of many conversations over the phone with Julie Barko, Editor, Politics to Go and Deputy Director, Institute for Politics Democracy and the Internet.

Here’s the official media release:

For Immediate Release, August 8, 2005
For more information: Kathie Legg
Phone: 202-994-1003

DAVID HARPER TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE POLITICS TO GO HANDBOOK, NEW PUBLICATION ON MOBILE TECHNOLOGY AND POLITICS AT GW’S INSTITUTE FOR POLITICS, DEMOCRACY & THE INTERNET

Washington, Aug. 10, 2005 – David Harper, founder of Winksite.com, will author a section in Politics to Go, a handbook on the political uses of mobile technology that anthologizes over 50 of today’s top names in technology and politics. The Politics to Go Handbook is published by the Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet (IPDI) at The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.

“The Politics to Go Handbook will serve as a manual for using mobile technology in the political realm,” said Carol Darr, Director of the Institute, “not only for candidates, but for issue advocacy groups, nonprofits, civic groups, political consultants, lobbyists, local governments and citizen activists.”

It also draws on the experience and expertise of experts from around the globe to describe the mobile political audience, predict how mobile tech will be used in future elections and discuss any roadblocks that may occur.

The publication will be released at an event hosted by IPDI and sponsored by Wired magazine on September 13, titled Politics to Go: How Mobile Technology Empowers Just-in-Time Politics. The event will introduce some of the latest mobile technology techniques, examine the current uses and political successes of mobile technology and discuss future possibilities and challenges. It will feature a gadget lab and sponsor display area. Two panels of visionaries, analysts and practical implementers will discuss these issues and facilitate an open question-and-answer dialogue with the audience.

The Politics to Go report release, panel discussion and hands-on event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, September 13, 2005. Breakfast will be served. The event is free and open to the public.