Comments on: Bridging the digital divide is about strengthening human networks not internet access.

By: Podnosh Blog » Archive » Birmingham Bloggers met.

Podnosh Blog » Archive » Birmingham Bloggers met. — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:23:59 +0000

[...] The evening also gave me a chance to catch up with Stuart Parker who has written here the blog post I would have written Had I said anything on this site about government plans to spend £300 million of laptops and broadband for the poorest. (For some of my thoughts see here and here.)Steve Cooper came for the first time and thought we were pretty friendly but expressed soemthing I’ve heard a few times: [...]

By: Steve Dale

Steve Dale — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:28:51 +0000

Hi Nick,

presentation went ok (I think), but audience seemed a little stunned by it. They were from local authorities who mainly focus on online consultation. I think they may have felt a bit uncomfortable at the end when they realised there were significant gaps in their consultation strategy!

By: Bridging the digital divide is about strengthening human networks not internet access. « North Birmingham Social Enterprise

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:35:18 +0000

[...] Social Enterprise, social media. Tags: debate, digital divide, nick booth, podnosh, social media trackback Another extremely relevant debate sparked by Nick Booth (Podnosh) this time addressing the issuesof the digital divide. This is a subject which is at the very heart of what I believe the NBSE project will look to address. I agree with most of what is being said in that the focus should be on the communities not the technology but I do have some fears that the wrong people will be rushing to throw their weight behind any potential progress. [...]

By: Stuart parker

Stuart parker — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:14:16 +0000

Hey Nick,
Caught onto this one a tad late fer various reasons. This is exactly the kind of thing I was struggling to get across at the last bloggers meet. The trick is to almost forget that the tools are computers / IT / technology / internet and just source and adapt to address the motivation / skills / engagement issues. I think the approach to delivery must differ from traditional methods of learning for a few a few reasons. One would be the rate at which the whole social media / internet platform is evolving and another stems from a hint of a fresh approach to acquiring new skills, especially within the adult sector.

We have been here before and I see similar warning signs to the original internet boom where there was a lot of hype and interest but very little action and quality.

By: Nick Booth

Nick Booth — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:00:57 +0000

Thanks Steve – how did the presentation go? Dan, its always great to hear from you.

It occurs to me that there is a strange journey here. We need to persuade the public sector to first understand the technology around social media and then tell them it’s not about the technology – it about relationships and how people fit into their online/offline community.
It is an exciting prospect!

By: dan mcquillan

dan mcquillan — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:48:52 +0000

Agreed, it’s not about the access.

I used to develop sites for refugees & asylum seekers; and the driver there was the content. If it was stuff people needed, they figured out how to get to it.

Who will drive the innovative use of all these social web tools? Maybe not silicon valley or the well-connected suburbs, but the people who are tackling society’s grittiest needs.

Note that, according to experentia, it’s recent immigrants who are driving advanced mobile phone use.

By: dan mcquillan

dan mcquillan — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:48:35 +0000

Agreed, it’s not about the access.

I used to develop sites for refugees & asylum seekers; and the driver there was the content. If it was stuff people needed, they figured out how to get to it.

Who will drive the innovative use of all these social web tools? Maybe not silicon valley or the well-connected suburbs, but the people who are tackling society’s grittiest needs.

Note that, according to experentia, it’s recent immigrants who are driving advanced mobile phone use.

By: Not live-twittering The Big Debate | Paradise Circus

Not live-twittering The Big Debate | Paradise Circus — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:30:30 +0000

[...] Nick [...]

By: Steve Dale

Steve Dale — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:28:12 +0000

Pretty spot on Nick. Internet access by itself will not breach the digital divide. You also need motivation – seeing some benefit or interest in getting connected, and skills and confidence – the ability to make effective use of the (internet) technology. Providing a free broadband connection to the socially excluded is not the answer unless you also address the motivation and skills aspects.

As a matter of facts, I’m presenting today on this very topic at http://limehouseusergroup.co.uk/london.html

By: links for 2008-06-09 | DavePress

links for 2008-06-09 | DavePress — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 23:35:56 +0000

[...] Bridging the digital divide Nick Booth: “We can’t bridge the digital divide simply by providing internet access.” (tags: digitaldivide inclusion participation) [...]