The Digital Inclusion Task Force headed by Martha LanE Fox, today released thier Manifesto for a Networked Nation. Some interesting points…..but an awful front cover!!

The document can be found here http://raceonline2012.org/manifesto

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.

A very interesting evening was had at Loftus Library this week hearing the story of the East Cleveland Image Archive and seeing some wonderful old pictures. For anyone who doesn’t know, the project began as Loftus Digital Village but grew so big that is seemed highly appropriate to rename it the East Cleveland Image Archive. You can see for your self the wealth of images by clicking here.

Many of us have seen these pictures but the story came alive in the hands of Librarian John Hannah. John described linkages between people and places, past and present in a way that was  fascinating.

Others with an interest in history and heritage such a the Skinningrove History Group and the Mulgrave Community Research Project were present and we discussed ways of knowledge and resource sharing. The community archives is here in it’s infancy – www.thedigitalvillages.com

The presentation from the evening is below and you can view the images along with their descriptions and comments here

Well done to Lynne and Steve on getting superb results for the UCPD modules they took earlier this year. Both are “A” Grade students in Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging respectively. Both have also submitted their next modules so are well on the way to a full UCPD.

Really well done, a great achievement.

Results are on your e-vision emails for anyone else who is expecting results.

http://tvcm.co.uk/ironage/octorama-purchase-delivery/

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.

You can see evidence of both theory and practice in the development of the “Iron Age to Digital Age” event Theory here and Practice here.

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.

Just got in from a great night in Moorsholm Memorial Hall showing photos of the village and inviting comments for the Digital Postcards.
More to follow.

Digital Postcards At The Local

The Toad Hall Arms was the first venue for the two planned “Digital postcard open evenings”.

With a running slide show featuring the homes, views, animals and interesting locations of Moorsholm it stimulated interest and conversation with the local residents.  It also encouraged some written comments to go with some of the images.

Amongst some of the visitors were two Lockwood Parish councillors Mike Jefferson and Vic Davison together with local resident and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Councillor Steve Kay. They were very impressed with the photography and this resulted in an invitation to do a similar project in Lingdale/Stanghow.

Overall it is fair to say that the evening was a success.

Enjoying a pint after viewing the "Digital Postcards" of Moorsholm ( Left to right Mike Jefferson, Steve Kay and Vic Davison)