Real-Time Multimedia Policy Analysis of Using Video and Audio Recognition from Radio, TV, and User-Generated Content

Background

Real-time multimedia content analysis, video and audio recognition for radio, TV and user-generated content for governance and policy applications have very important multidisciplinary implications in terms of technological and governmental aspects. In order to develop successful applications, we have to take into consideration the requirements, limitations, current developments and trends from both fields. Due to different viewpoints, research initiatives may not match stakeholders’ interests in every case. On the one side it is a political question, and on the other side mature applications or ideas are missing as to how people/governance can process large amounts of data (multimedia and user content). The question is how to integrate technology and governmental requirements. According to Mohanty & Nayak (2008), Information and Communication Technologies are necessary to improve the efficiency of government organisations; and there is a clear and evolving need for monitoring and analysis for policy life-cycle. Information Technology and governmental processes have a bi-directional influence on each other. On the one hand, technology is capable of shaping electoral mechanisms or political situations: “The Internet and social media in Kenya, which played a central role in this year's elections by allowing Kenyans to question candidates, took on a new function” (Abshir, 2013). On the other hand, as (Kim, 2011) showed in a Korean use case, policies and regulations have an impact on how broadcasting and telecommunications operate, as well as the convergence of electronic media changes the regulations.

When targeting the extraction of information relevant for the policy generation process, important issues of quality and quantity arise. Getting qualitative feedback on various actions, and preparing for structural, political changes (which occurred in the last years the user-generated data, and citizen involvement) is a key issue in policy modeling and governments. Analysts in governance and policy modeling need feedback to close the loop from generating policy proposals over the implementation to the impact assessment, and Information Technologies can support effective and faster policy making processes by extracting data.