There has been increasing discussion about ways to expand participation in the Occupy Movement beyond those who are physically participating in the occupation camps. The internet offers an approach to that issue. Facebook, Twitter and Daily Kos have played a useful role in spreading information about the movement.
Many people feel that there is a need for specific software that attempts to replicate the general assembly consensus building process. Now there is at least one attempt to do that.
Open Assembly
It's Time for an Open Source Democracy
The Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Together Movement needs a General Assembly for the internet. Open Assembly is a website designed to help decentralized groups make decisions. Through innovative user verification mechanisms we will ensure that only those committed to real world activism have a voice. Together we can create policy ideas, vote on the best, and author a collaborative manifesto.
Online Working Groups
Learn More
Online working groups give you the ability to form an Open Assembly in your area with activists verified through referral. This allows you to quickly form a Group, and can create subgroups as internal small working groups. You can create polls for the group and focus the discussion with a platform election.
I just registered and am exploring the way it works. My initial impression is that it is usable and user friendly. What actual impact it might have will of course depend on how many people adopt it and participate in it.
It appears to have just come online. Most of the content that has been posted is by the developer. Like any other application people will have to use it to see how well it really works.