Interesting findings from the Joseph Rowntree Fund about how computers and the internet are no longer seen as luxuries but are vital to working-age households for full participation in society. This is set in the context of the Minimum Income Standard which asks for public views on what is essential to everyday life for a ’socially acceptable’ standard of living. Read more on the article in the Guardian or the full report at JRF.

The DVN project has begun the interview phase of the project. We have successfully conducted over 10 pilot interviews. Researchers agreed that these were invaluable for getting a feel for interviewing and testing out our interview questions. We now move on to interviewing over 70 people based in Redcar and East Cleveland. Interviews will take place on a one-to-one basis in community venues and homes, with both men and women of a range of ages.

In line with current national figures for use of ICTs, three quarters of the sample, will use computers and the internet in the home and around 25% of our interviewees will be non- or early ICT users. This will give us a rich picture of contemporary internet usage and the reasons why some people don’t currently have or want access to computers in the home.

We are also exploring the ways in which ICTs are integrated into our everyday lives and households, focusing in on the benefits of internet use, as well as on potential challenges, including, online security and changes in the way that we access services. Our interviews will additionally explore the usefulness of local community websites for supporting social and digital inclusion, asking questions, such as, ‘How can we use digital tools to share local information?’ and ‘In what ways can online social networking support community activity?’. As our interviewing continues, we would like to thank those who have already taken part, and we look forward to meeting new people to discuss their views.

I went to Moorsholm last night for the second digital postcard evening arranged by Lynne and Steve. It was a great evening. Lots of people came to the village hall to look at the pictures and add their stories to the postcards. Some people brought old photographs of Moorsholm. The ways that the village has changed over the years are so interesting. Steve’s pictures of Moorsholm are fantastic and really capture the different places, activities, histories and memories that even a small village can have. Well done to both for organising these successful events. I look forward to developing this further for new areas of East Cleveland and online.

The research network has been busy preparing for interviewing in the third phase. We are currently finalising our interview materials and conducting pilot interviews with network members. Pilots are going well and the interview questions are working to generate the rich stories about ICT use that we had hoped to get. We really appreciate all of the work that CRs have put in to date on this and look forward to interviewing in local communities.

We have also prepared our interim report which is available to download in the document library filed under research report. Many thanks to Kathryn S for her brilliant work on the design. All comments on the report are welcome and do disseminate widely.

It’s an important day for the country with the general election, so it will be interesting to keep an eye on ICT and digital inclusion policy in the coming months.

We’ve had some really successful workshops on interviewing over the past month both in Carlin How and Saltburn. The research network training has covered interview skills, ethics, creating an interview schedule and thinking about who to interview. We have consumed around 10 packets of biscuits and in excess of 60 cups of tea and coffee by my calculations, all much needed by researchers starting a new phase of research. They have been great sessions, full of discussion and fantastic ideas. I’m looking forward to putting these into practice.

I have personally really enjoyed collaborating on developing the questions we are going to ask and thinking in depth about the different things people do with ICTs and the meanings they have for us in our daily lives. I’m really grateful too for all the hard work put in by the researchers on this.

We are starting soon with the pilot interviews with research network members and then we can look forward to starting work in the research areas.

This time on super-fast broadband http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consumer/2010/03/enabling-a-super-fast-broadband-britain/

It would be interesting to see the geography of this. Where can I find this?

Plus as the survey shows, ’speed’ is not always known or fully understood by BB customers, myself included in this.

‘The lack of mobile phone reception and broadband coverage in rural areas has become the No 1 issue in dissuading young people from staying on in the countryside, the chair of the Commission for Rural Communities has said.’ (Guardian 04.03.10)

Read the article

Is this happening in East Cleveland?

Is digital technology really the no. 1 reason/issue?

There are four unclaimed prize draws from the survey in Redcar, Carlin How, Saltburn and Skinningrove.

Click here to see if you have won.

INTERVIEW WORKSHOPS

At Carlin How Community Centre

Workshop 6 – Thurs 11th Feb – 1.30-3.30pm

Workshop 7 – Thurs 25th Feb - 1.30-3.30pm

Workshop 8 – Thurs 11th March - 1.30-3.30pm

At Destinations, Saltburn

Workshop 6 – Fri 12th Feb - 11-1pm

Workshop 7 – Fri 26th Feb - 11-1pm

Workshop 8 - Fri 12th March - 11-1pm

INTERVIEW PLANNING MEETINGS

Carlin How Community Centre: March 18th 1.30pm; March 25th 1.30pm

Destinations: March 19th 11am; March 26th 11am 

ICT WORKSHOPS with Steve (both at Destinations)

Monday 1st March, 3-5pm;  Tuesday 2nd March, 1-3pm

INFORMAL CATCH UP MEETINGS (both at Destinations)

March 5th 11am (1 hour) and 2pm (1 hour) (come to one or the other if you are available)

The survey prize draw for SKINNINGROVE has taken place today and the winning number is:

SK1

To claim your prize, please contact Paul Davies at 01287 626432 / 07597908306

or email: post@digital.village.org.uk 

Many thanks to all of those who took part in the survey. We appreciate your help.