COMMUNITY INTERNET
.... or when will ordinary people get
a look in?
Presentation by David
Wilcox, Editor, Communities Online. Newtel, October18 1996.
The presentation covered:
My interest stems from
- Journalism - I worked for a local paper in Reading, and the London
Evening Standard. The media can stand on the side of `ordinary people' -
but often it re-inforces elites. So can the new media enable the readers
to become the writers?
- Partnerships and community participation, where I have worked as a
consultant. We need new methods to communicate across public, private and
voluntary sectors, and ways to empower the smaller partners and citizens.
Can the new media help?
What are your questions....
The audience provided a range of questions around he cost of getting online,
public access, integrity of information and other issues dealt with below.
Top
What is the Internet
The Internet
- An international network of computers
- Small users connect via modem (which connects the computer to an ordinary
phone line), dialling in to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP
is permanently connected to the Internet. Once connected, you are part of
the Internet.
- Cost is usually a local call added to the phone bill like any other,
plus a flat rate charge from the ISP.
Service providers
- Straight connection: e.g. Demon. [[sterling]]10-[[sterling]]15 a month
flat rate.
- Compuserve and other providers like American Online.: connection plus
information. £6.50 per month, free time, then time charges.
- Bulletin Board Systems with 'gateways' [[sterling]]0 up. These are
computers often run by enthusiasts which users can dial into and share information
with other users. They may also have a `gateway' to pass email and other
content to the Internet, or may be separate systems.
The functions of the Internet
- Private email - one to one
- Public email - mailing lists and conference areas
- File libraries and transfers of files
- World Wide Web - text graphics and linked pages
- Databases
Top
Does the Internet matter
Three views
Techno-doom.
The impact of new technology will be something like a combination of the
internal combustion engine on town and countryside, TV on our leisure, and
the black death on our health - mentally at least. It will destroy the national
state, destroy many jobs, and glue our children to the screen downloading
porn. This view was ably presented by Ian Angell, LSE Professor recently
in The Independent and on BBC2 in the programme on globalisation.
Techno empowerment.
For the first time anyone can be an international publisher. The kid is
the back bedroom is as powerful as the grey suits. The Internet can be used
to rebuild our communities by democratising communication and provides great
opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Techno weary.
The Internet is over hyped - rather like CB radio. If you do use it regularly
you will soon fall back to basic email. Top people in the industry use meetings,
phone and pieces of paper. See Clifford Stoll in Silicon Snake Oil for this
view.
Which is right?
- Smart money in the computer industry is going towards the Net
- Message carriers and producers joining -e.g. BT and Rupert Murdoch
- Activists are using the Net to organise campaigns
- Soon be consumer services - TV set top boxes as well as PCs
for Internet access
- Local community information and communication systems developing
- Every Single Regeneration Budget application has to have an IT component!
Top
Community networks
10 years experience in North America
- First, local Bulletin Board Systems, then Free-Nets providing Internet
access, now community networks
- Networks are providing access, information, communication, and support
- They use volunteers, operate as non profit distributing organisations,
and are now being challenged by commercial networks providing a mix of ads
and public information
In the UK
- Rapid growth of local Internet Service Providers - some with local
content
- Local authorities putting up public information on the Web
- Entrepreneurs creating 'virtual towns'
- Some free BBS and Intranet systems (Intranets are closed systems using
Internet software)
- Umbrella sites providing Web space for non profits
UK Communities Online
- A forum for exchange of experience on community applications of IT
- Contributing to 'IT for All', the Government's promotional campaign
to be launched in December 1996
- See Communities Online Forum at http://www.communities.org.uk
Top
Where's the real value?
The obvious and immediate
- Private email is great - if you can manage the increasing flow of
messages
- Public email fosters communities of interest
- Web puts content into the public domain permanently
- The medium is fast, non hierarchical, crosses boundaries
The vision
- Connect the whole community
- Provide information - a common knowledge base
- Support communication, networking
- Create new employment opportunities
Top
Towards Community Internet
Principles
- Commitment to affordable universal access
- Public information and officials online
- Communication not just information
- Room for dissent
- For citizens as well as consumers
In practice
- Independent space
- Training and support will be needed
- Built bottom-up as well as top-down
- ... created by a Community Internet Partnership
- Financially sustainable
The approach
Make development transparent - use the medium
Top
Page prepared by David Wilcox
October 27 1996