The Overton Window for User Centric Identity

The Overton Window is a concept in political theory that "describes a window of majority acceptable ideas in public discourse, from a spectrum of all possible options on an issue. It provides a plan of action to make the options one would prefer acceptable to the public by priming them not with the leaders of the political movement, but with media spokespeople." It posits that a new idea in public discourse can be made to travel the following spectrum:

• Unthinkable
• Radical
• Acceptable
• Sensible
• Popular
• Policy

Its a powerful concept and its been used very effectively by certain parts of the American political spectrum.

I think the Overton Window concept can and should be applied for the idea that users should be in "control" of their digital identity (and Kim Cameron's 7 laws of digital identity in general) .  Bloggers and influential speakers will be the movers of the Overton Window for User Centric Identity. There will need to be a specific, intentional, strategic plan to change the concept of "user centricity" from being "Unthinkable" or "Radical" to "Popular" or even "Policy".  In fact, I think its already started - I'm just trying to put a name on it. Does it need coordination? I don't know.

I'm up for helping out. You?

Th

Comments

[Victor Grey]

The comments I generally hear are not on that continuum.
I think the range is more like:

* It will never work, users are too dumb.
* We don't need it, we've already got (whatever).
* It's inevitable, someday.
* It's inevitable, maybe soon.
* It's here -- get a clue.

Principle's the same though - urge the "someday" people into the "soon" column, and the "soon" people into the "clue" column...

[Gabe Wachob]

Its interesting - the window continuum is described in the context of to public policy -- but I think the spectrum could also be described in the way you mention.

Maybe the proposition (the "idea") is actually "user centric identity is good for users and is actually something they will want to use".