Today’s conference reminded me of some of my innovations in the 90s

I was inspired by Negroponte’s book ‘Being Digital’ to explore the Internet … and develop projects to help others to do it … before it became monopolised by big business.

A friend Dave and I would use the Commodore Amiga (much more than a games machine) in the late 80s and gopher to visit US Sheriff’s offices wanted lists.

It got me thinking. As Negroponte stated in ‘Being Digital’ we were going through a revolution as significant as the invention of the printing press.

Often my thing was ‘how do we engage people so they’re actively involved?’

Here was a great inspiration

….

My senior role in government with Kirklees Council — who were very supportive of ‘wild thinking’ — had already provided me with the opportunity to innovate.

Here was another possibility: a creative challenge ..

Cyber Coffee Mornings.

Within a year of the introduction of the world-wide-web we hit the local community and throughout the teams in government introducing them to this revolutionary new way to access the internet.

Invading these community events with lengths of phone leads, modem, over head projector, LCD panels (what we’d use before digital projectors became available) and a Toshiba laptop.

Cyber Citizens

Was the group that took it to the wider community.

The innovative projects came thick and fast.

We were the first Social Services (social work) department in the U.K. web site in the country and electronic information service

Disabled People’s Electronic Village Hall an idea borrowed from north Europe. This was a community project to promote access to learning about computers, becoming confident and surfing the net.

To help all this along we had ..

An EU — European project to share experiences between Athens, Crete, Manchester and Kirklees.

An exciting time

I initiated the projects but they worked because people got involved including students from the university to make them a success

I was also privately sponsored by Pedigree Petfoods (MARS) to provide a workshop to veterinary nurses throughout the country.

…

Footnote

Reflection

For many this was an opportunity to make money

But not for me … as usual my motivation was to serve the community.