Digital Inclusion Wales

Thanks All.

Paul.

At the recent Volunteering in a Digital Age Conference in September 2012, a word that was often used was ‘Play’. I couldn’t agree more with such a word – the chance to use and discover all the different things available online and their abilities is one that should not be overlooked. Everyone knows of the social networks like Facebook, Twitter and now the formidable Google+ with its hangout function (great when football clubs you support interact through this). But what do you use? What have you heard is the latest big thing. Name it, and challenge us, as members of this forum, to PLAY – you might know a website/tool/platform that is ideal to help break down a certain digitally excluded group and/or individual. 

Personally I would like to see more opportunity provided to allow new users to play with online technologies (gadgets). Yes, there may be resource implications, but when ever I wonder into certain stores I always see tablets/laptops out on display, and in game stores, there are consoles with the latest releases to try. Admittedly, a lot of the time there is restricted usage, no internet connections and a large percentage are damaged or won’t switch on – not a true opportunity to ‘play’ with technology.

I recently considered purchasing the Microsoft tablet; -I like to stay true to the company I grew up using. It would have been the first tablet I have purchased – but when you can not walk into a store and sit and play with it to see if it is suitable for you, then why would you take a risk and purchase it?  Where am I going with this? WELL, if someone who feels confident using technology is hesitant in spending the money on new products, without the opportunity of ‘playing’ first, why should we expect those who are digitally excluded to take the digital plunge.

(I am now waiting until January for the Surface Pro cost to be announced!)

The expectation can’t be on stores to offer the facility to allow play with all technologies, but what should potential customers expect? More stores like what a certain Apple provide, where you can wonder in, play with majority of their products and challenge their staff with any question. Is this possible? What about a “Gadget Play Centre”?

What is a ‘Gadget Play Centre’ I hear you ask (or while you laugh at the foolishness of such an idea).  Well in my world it would be similar to that of a Techniquest, but aimed at the 16+ age. They would house all the latest ICT products/gadgets from tablets, mobiles, PCs and have volunteers/staff that ask you questions about what you do day to day, and suggest what might be surprisingly useful and/or helpful to you, rather than you trying to think why it’s for me! 

The dreaded ‘Costs’?  Well, and challenge me, but wouldn’t such a centre be in the interest of service providers, software/ hardware companies, even organisations such as Post Offices, who are involved in the Go ON UK campaign, and Government; especially following the UK Government Digital Strategy that was recently launched. 

How would this large range come together? Possibly, by potentially pooling all the resources that these organisations / companies / service providers can spare and provide the mobiles / tablets / PCs etc! The places used don’t have to be new buildings that are state of the art but can range from small shops in local towns to larger buildings in cities. I am sure we all know of unused buildings/ facilities in our towns/cities that could be used for this purpose.

If we want to encourage and demonstrate the benefits of being online, surely we must also help demonstrate the technology itself.  Would it work? Does it even sound feasible? Maybe only in my world :)

So that time of year is fast approaching; what was once a time to sit down and write a letter to Santa, is now an online interaction in which you post a message and wait for Santa to post back (http://www.dearsanta.com) How times have changed and how this reflects the current generation. 

It was this time last year that I was setting myself the aim over Christmas of learning how to use Google+ and asking you to think how Social Media (SM) can be used more effectively to help tackle the digital divide. 

It was the growing use of SM by companies to interact and discuss products that was on the increase last year. This was demonstrated as recently as October this year when Microsoft launched the latest operating system, tablet and mobile phone with features being discussed through platforms like Twitter and Facebook, by live Q&A sessions. The ability to follow specific companies to find out about product releases and make complaints/comments is putting the power back in the hands of the consumers.  But, at the same time it provides companies with one of the best marketing tools for minimum costs. 

If you shop online these days nearly all sites offer the option to share through SM. Customer recommendation can be one of the strongest forms of brand promotion, and companies are looking to take full advantage of this.

An example I’d like to share with you is when I recently purchased tickets to a gig.  After payment I was given the option to post this to a SM platform and within an hour it had 6likes and several comments……. and importantly for the seller 2 of my friends had also booked tickets – all because I clicked ‘Share’. Have you had a similar experience? I’m sure someone can beat 6likes and 2comments. :)

You imagine if you are a large company that sells thousands of products an hour/day and if everyone used that ‘Share’ button? The potential reach is incredible and helps highlight how difficult it is for companies with a limited online presence to be competitive. 

I know these days when I am asked what I would like as a gift for Christmas, I go straight to a search engine, type in what I want and send the URL via email or text message to those who asked.  Therefore those like me that have an online presence are more likely to find what they might want, probably a lot cheaper, saving relatives money and ensuring you get the right gift…..not another pair of socks!

Bellach, mae’r adeg honno o’r flwyddyn yn nesáu’n gyflym; yr adeg, ers talwm, y byddem yn eistedd i sgwennu llythyr at Santa, ond heddiw, adeg i ryngweithio ar-lein, postio neges ac yna disgwyl am ateb gan Santa (http://www.dearsanta.com). Dyna sut y newidiodd yr oes ac arferion y genhedlaeth bresennol. 

Summer of Sports

What better topic for my latest blog?! It has been a few months since I last blogged on the explosion of Social Network Status updates, and a thought has since occurred. I couldn’t help but notice the large spike in Sport related status updates in recent months. The Go ON UK Give an Hour Summer of Sports Campaign which ran from 30th June to 13th July made me think about how many major sport events have happened since the April blog. Whether it was the last day of Premier League action in which a last minute goal won the title for Manchester City or the drama in the Champions League final in May. One fact is, you didn’t have to watch these matches in person, on the television or online to know the results, because as a social network user the chances are you would have been kept informed throughout.

…..and then there was the…… London Olympics 2012; which through technology could be viewed live through phones, TV’s, game consoles and tablets. We could even follow events, commentators and competitors through social media platforms. So if you are a social media user, it is now almost impossible to avoid finding out the result of a major sporting or significant news headline. This compares to the situation of a mere 4 years ago when you needed to trawl websites as well as waiting for the content to be written/created.

Twitter revealed that the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics on July 27, produced over 9.5 million tweets, which surpassed the total for the entire Beijing Olympics in 2008. This demonstrates how far and how fast Twitter has evolved as a platform over four years. In London, it was common to see athletes during interviews thanking their followers or a # (hashtag) reference being made; recognition of the role social media now plays in athletes maintaining a relationship with the public, as well as in promoting a public image.

With the Paralympics now underway, it will be interesting to see whether these spikes in social media activity continue, as athletes continue to inspire through sporting excellence. Either way, moments like these need to be grasped to encourage those that are offline, most of whom are likely to be older and/or disabled, to see the benefits of the internet, and exploit the technology available. It would be interesting to see how many people have been encouraged to go on the internet for the first time as a result of the ‘summer of sport’.

When Twitter statistics are revealed in a couple of weeks, will it be the Olympics or Paralympics which had the largest Social Media impact?... I think the Olympics will edge it, but by a smaller gap, than may be anticipated!  What do you think?... and what role do you see social media playing in future major events - sporting or otherwise?

Haf y Campau

…..ac yna fe ddaeth ……Gemau Olympaidd Llundain 2012. Drwy ddefnyddio’r dechnoleg ddiweddaraf roedd yn bosibl eu gwylio’n fyw dros y ffôn, ar y teledu neu drwy gonsolau chwarae neu gyfrifiaduron llechen. Gallem ni hyd yn oed ddilyn y digwyddiadau, y sylwebyddion a’r cystadleuwyr drwy’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Felly os ydych chi’n defnyddio’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol, mae bron yn amhosibl erbyn hyn osgoi gweld canlyniad digwyddiad chwaraeon mawr neu bennawd newyddion pwysig. Mae hyn yn wahanol iawn i’r sefyllfa gwta bedair blynedd yn ôl pan oedd yn rhaid cribo gwefannau a disgwyl i’r cynnwys gael ei ysgrifennu/ei greu.

Wrth i’r Gemau Paralympaidd fynd yn eu blaenau, bydd yn ddiddorol gweld a fydd y prysurdeb hwn yn y cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn parhau, wrth i’r athletwyr barhau i ysbrydoli drwy ragoriaeth. Beth bynnag am hynny, mae angen achub ar y cyfle i annog y rheini nad ydynt ar-lein, gyda’r mwyafrif ohonynt yn hŷn neu’n anabl fwy na thebyg, i weld manteision y rhyngrwyd, a defnyddio’r dechnoleg sydd ar gael. Byddai’n ddiddorol gweld faint o bobl sydd wedi cael eu hysgogi i ddefnyddio’r rhyngrwyd am y tro cyntaf yn sgil ‘haf y campau’.

On 23 August 2011 the Digital Inclusion Wales Stakeholders’ Forum was born. At the time, it was a leap into the partially unknown for the Digital Inclusion Unit, but through working with Communities 2.0, the website started to evolve.  

As Phase 2 of the Communities 2.0 project begins, it feels the right time for a refresh of the Stakeholders’ Forum website. Cosmetic changes do not offer much, and the end product is still essentially the same, albeit a little shinier. Upon reflection, and bare in mind the website is still young (8 months old) the look feels out of date compared with that of a social network/forum which aimed to create an environment for interaction.

Does this speak volumes about how quickly user perceptions of social media, technology and expectations move in the current digital age? It was only in December 2011 (all of three months ago) that I read an article about Facebook’s suggested ‘Timeline’. Back then this idea seemed inappropriate – why create a never ending web page of a user’s history back to when they first joined? Is this really necessary? However, as from April 2012, the timeline is [to be] a default for most Facebook users. How many hours have individuals spent trawling back through their digital past erasing what they now deem inappropriate? What did it achieve? … The result is a near identical content based site, but with a different layout. It is a reflection on the influence that social media can hold over individuals that they spend large amounts of their time updating their profiles to ensure that they are as developed as the platforms allow.

Until now, the Stakeholders’ Forum website has not experienced any slow evolving – or quick - changes. Nor does it currently have the sort of ‘hold’ that certain social media platforms have over their members to keep profiles updated and share digital statuses. Although visits and content posted has been far greater than originally expected, the same cannot be said about stimulating stakeholders’ discussions or in their sharing experiences and views.

When planning began around the establishing of our website, it was based around how do we moderate content and keep discussions flowing, bearing in mind the perceived social media life span of 8-12 hours until a topic/thread is viewed as dead. Six months on, and now the debate is about how do we maintain these discussions and capture the outcomes of having such a forum in a way that can help others understand and exploit the ideas that are already out there on how to bridge the digital divide.

Should we ask stakeholders’ to share their experiences through a blog or post a question on the homepage that asks for comment? – or is the process of needing to ask for comments going against the norms of social media and forums? Previous blogs have asked for stakeholders’ views of the website and for their experiences in becoming proficient in using social media and technology, but they have elicited little response. 

A thought occurred while I was writing this blog…..  when people post a status on a platform such as Facebook or Twitter, they are not expecting someone to comment/reply, or even a retweet, but some, if not all, are hoping for it to be noticed and, to a degree, for someone to respond. 

So how can we adopt a similar approach in gaining people’s interaction? While it may be a challenge, it is one that to which the Digital Inclusion Unit looks forward. 

Why not update your status on the DIW Forum!? 

The blog (here) highlights how the ICT challenges the voluntary sector faced back in the 90's in terms of lack of knowledge, skills and strategic thought are still the same challenges us Circuit Riders face with organisations today.

The big difference now is that our efforts are more focussed on strategic and effective use of low- or no- cost internet-based technologies that are much easier to understand and implement. Thankfully for the users, the need to learn 'computing' and 'networking' is long gone and staff and volunteers can put their energies into front line work rather than battling with technology. 

The article also mentions how Lasa's Circuit Rider programme impacted on the development of Communities 2.0 saying it had a: "significant effect on the development of circuit riding on Wales, where a similar training programme has been running as part of a larger European funded programme of ICT development."

What do you think the future of Circuit Riding in the UK holds? Do the improvements in technology remove the need for specialist strategic support? Are there better models of ICT support delivery we should look to adopt?

It has been four months since the launch of the ‘Digital Inclusion Wales Stakeholders’ Forum’ and I am thinking more about how to take the site forward as the Christmas period draws closer. For some, this may seem the wrong way round as Christmas is normally a relaxing, festive, time; however, I have set myself the challenge of using the Christmas period to get to grips with Google+. (Google+ is the new social network site from Google)

I am one of many who have grown up through the ages of social networking, be it from MSN Messenger, MySpace, YouTube, Bebo…. into (what seems – the world-dominating phenomenon that is) Facebook. But where does the social networking landscape go next? Is the future of a ‘Social Network’ to be a platform that incorporates music purchases, shop purchases and the ability to Skype with contacts or will it be a more advanced platform for texting to individuals’ mobile phones? The vast majority of new mobile phones have applications built in to serve social networks; where contact details would previously only contain a landline number and mobile number, it now offers the contacts’ latest tweets, status updates, email address, mobile messaging numbers – but how much information is enough?

What is next for social networks? How long will it be before you are able to order your Chinese takeaway on a Saturday night by tweeting the number of each dish to the restaurant, or Facebook messaging a pizza company your order before collection? Are we currently aware of what other countries are able to do on these platforms and to what extent they are exploiting them? 

Social networks work, because they are adaptable to everybody’s needs….. 

So can social networks be used to reduce the digital divide? Are there advantages of using social networks? If so, what are they? Is it the case that by using a social network to help spread a message, you can reach a wider audience than might do a stand-alone website? 

I currently have a theory that, by using a social network platform linked to a website, it can help reach an audience who may not otherwise be aware, and so help reinforce the website. All it takes on a social network site is for a friend of someone who you know to like/follow a page of a site for it to then also automatically show on your page. (Confused, well it is not easy to explain or initially understand!) OK. Let’s try and explain: ‘everybody’ knows that if you want to search for something on the internet, one word normally springs to mind…… Google! So how can a similar level of brand recognition be achieved by using a social network to create an identity, say around digital inclusion in Wales? By having an identity, does it help those who have never used technologies, or are more apprehensive around them, feel at ease or slightly more confident in the end result than perhaps a less recognised name/brand would achieve?

Have you or your organisation tried this approach, and if so to what extent has it succeeded or failed? Have you, through the use of social networking, been drawn to a page/site because someone you know, or someone who your friend knows, has followed or liked the page/site?

Please share opinions, views, failures and successes. It is through such sharing that we can improve and develop an understanding around all things Digital.

I wish you all a good and enjoyable Christmas, and I hope that my first success of 2012 will be grasping how Google+ works and to share with you how best to use such a platform and build an identity for Digital Inclusion in Wales.

Mae pedwar mis wedi mynd heibio ers i ‘Fforwm Rhanddeiliaid Cynhwysiant Digidol Cymru’ gael ei lansio, ac rwy’n meddwl mwy ynghylch sut i ddatblygu’r safle hwn wrth i’r Nadolig nesáu.  Gall hyn ymddangos o chwith i rai, gan fod y Nadolig fel rheol yn amser llawen i ymlacio; ond, rydw i wedi gosod her i mi fy hun i ddefnyddio’r cyfnod hwn i ddod i ddeall Google+. (Google+ yw safle rhwydweithio cymdeithasol newydd Google) 

Rwy’n un o nifer sydd wedi tyfu yn yr oes rhwydweithio cymdeithasol, boed hynny’n MSN Messenger, MySpace, YouTube, Bebo... i (yr hyn sy’n ymddangos fel ffenomen sydd wedi cydio ar draws y byd) Facebook. Ond beth fydd nesaf i rwydweithio cymdeithasol? Ai bod yn llwyfan sy’n cynnwys prynu cerddoriaeth, prynu o siopau a gallu defnyddio Skype gyda chysylltiadau fydd dyfodol ‘Rhwydwaith Cymdeithasol' neu a fydd yn llwyfan uwch i anfon negeseuon testun (i ffonau symudol unigolion)? Mae rhaglenni wedi’u cynnwys yn y rhan fwyaf o ffonau symudol newydd, sy'n caniatáu defnyddio rhwydweithiau cymdeithasol; yn y gorffennol byddai ond yn bosib cynnwys rhif llinell gyffredin a ffôn symudol, ond nawr gall gynnwys trydar, statws diweddaraf, cyfeiriad e-bost, rhifau anfon negeseuon i ffonau symudol y cysylltiadau – ond faint o wybodaeth sy’n ddigon?

Beth nesaf i rwydweithiau cymdeithasol? Pa mor hir fydd hi cyn y byddwch chi’n gallu archebu eich bwyd Tsieineaidd ar nos Sadwrn drwy drydar rhif pob pryd i’r tŷ bwyta, neu anfon neges Facebook at gwmni Pizza i archebu eich pryd cyn i chi ei nôl o’r siop? Ydyn ni’n gwybod beth mae gwledydd eraill yn gallu ei wneud ar y llwyfannau hyn, ac i ba raddau maen nhw’n manteisio arnyn nhw i’r eithaf?

Mae rhwydweithiau cymdeithasol yn gweithio am eu bod nhw’n gallu addasu yn unol ag anghenion pawb... 

Felly ydy hi’n bosib defnyddio rhwydweithiau cymdeithasol i leihau’r bwlch digidol? Oes yna fanteision i ddefnyddio rhwydweithiau cymdeithasol? Os felly, beth ydyn nhw? Allwch chi gyrraedd cynulleidfa ehangach drwy ddefnyddio rhwydwaith cymdeithasol i ledaenu’r neges, na fyddai’n bosib ar wefan unigol? 

 Mae gen i theori ar hyn o bryd y gellir cyrraedd at gynulleidfa, na fyddai'n ymwybodol fel arall, drwy ddefnyddio llwyfan rhwydwaith cymdeithasol wedi'i gysylltu â gwefan, gan helpu i gryfhau'r wefan felly. Yr unig beth fyddai ei angen ar safle rhwydwaith cymdeithasol fyddai i ffrind rhywun rydych chi’n ei adnabod hoffi/dilyn tudalen ar safle iddo ymddangos ar eich tudalen chi yn awtomatig. (Wedi drysu? Wel, dydi hi ddim yn hawdd esbonio na deall hyn i gychwyn!) Iawn. Gadewch i mi geisio esbonio:  mae ‘pawb’ yn gwybod mai un gair sy’n dod i’r meddwl os ydych chi am chwilio am rywbeth ar y rhyngrwyd fel rheol... Google! Felly sut mae’n bosib cael yr un lefel o ymwybyddiaeth brand drwy ddefnyddio rhwydwaith cymdeithasol i greu hunaniaeth, er enghraifft, ynghylch cynhwysiant digidol yng Nghymru? A yw cael hunaniaeth yn helpu'r rheini sydd erioed wedi defnyddio technolegau, neu sy'n fwy pryderus yn eu cylch, i deimlo'n gyfforddus neu rywfaint yn fwy hyderus gyda'r canlyniad yn y pen draw, na fyddai enw/brand llai adnabyddus yn ei wneud?

Ydych chi neu eich sefydliad wedi rhoi cynnig ar y dull hwn, ac os felly, i ba raddau mae wedi llwyddo neu fethu? Ydych chi, drwy ddefnyddio rhwydweithio cymdeithasol, wedi cael eich denu at dudalen/safle oherwydd bod rhywun rydych yn ei adnabod, neu rywun mae eich ffrind yn ei adnabod, wedi dilyn neu hoffi’r dudalen/safle?

Rhannwch eich barn, safbwyntiau, methiannau a llwyddiannau.  Drwy rannu gwybodaeth fel hyn, fe allwn ni wella a datblygu dealltwriaeth am bopeth Digidol.

Gan ddymuno Nadolig da a llawen i chi, a gobeithio mai fy llwyddiant cyntaf yn 2012 fydd dod i ddeall sut mae Google+ yn gweithio a rhannu'r ffordd orau i ddefnyddio llwyfan o'r fath gyda chi, a chreu hunaniaeth ar gyfer Cynhwysiant Digidol yng Nghymru.