Local groups start to investigate the Net in Nottingham
by Jem Woolley
Coda was set up in 1983 to act as a community computing resource centre
for Nottingham. At the time personal computers as we know them know didn't
really exist and there was scepticism, even hostility, in the voluntary
sector. Computers were viewed as threats to jobs and harbingers of more
alienation in the workplace. Nevertheless, some people involved in community
and voluntary action realised that the clock wouldn't be turned back and
that, like any tool, computers were neither good nor bad in themselves -
it was the use they were put to that was important.
Our initial aims were to increase awareness of the positive potential of
computers and to enable easy and cheap access for community and voluntary
organisations. This was approached by combining a resource centre with training
programmes using a combination of funding - Nottingham City Council, European
Social Fund, TECs, etc. The last decade or so of computing history has been
characterised by increasing computing power at falling prices but Coda's
central idea is still relevant. Many groups now have their own computers
and are more comfortable with them, but they are often used as little more
than word processors and calculators.
There will always be areas of mystique and scepticism in computing and the
main ones at the moment are virtual reality, artificial intelligence and
the Internet. VR and AI won't generate too much interest at community group
level until they become much cheaper and more accessible.
The Internet is a different matter: it is fairly cheap to use and has enormous
potential for community development. Ideas can spread quickly with information
accessed from all over the world. Forums can be set up for discussion and
action. There is potential for decentralisation of power away from the traditional
centres.
The downside is the suspicion that the Internet is viewed with and, as usual,
this is partly based in reality and partly in fantasy. Most of the big media
stories concerning the Internet have been to do with pornography and security.
There are justifiable concerns about the ease with which images and text
can travel across national boundaries and into every home and office.
Ultimately this adds to the debate around censorship and has to be a matter
for legislation. Security of data is a similar problem. People who deal
with sensitive information always need to be aware of ways of protecting
it. If we want to make on-line computing a positive experience we need to
work out ways of minimising the negative aspects that will always arise
when a new technology develops.
Several groups in Nottingham are working towards a positive view. Coda itself
now has an Internet facility available at cost price and provides training
in this area. A forum has been started including Coda, Active Ingredient
(a group of artists), Nottingham Community Arts and representatives from
Trent University and Nottingham City Council. Working around issues of using
the Internet for artistic expression and dissemination, this forum aims
to increase public access to on-line facilities and encourage artists to
work in the medium.
Coda is also researching ways in which small groups could develop their
own web presence and go on-line. On a wider scale there is EMNET, and East
Midlands wide network of private, public and voluntary sector sites.
One thing is sure: developments in computing won't stop yet, if ever. Even
with all our justifiable doubts about the hype and the dangers of the Internet,
maybe because of them, it's vital to be involved and setting the agenda.
If we don't, someone else will.
Jem Woolley for Coda
Coda is Nottingham's Community Computer Resource Centre
Phone: +44 (0)115 952 6146
Postal: 7B Broad Street, Nottingham, NG1 3AJ UK http://www.emnet.co.uk/clients/c/CODA