A New Year's DIP - 'Digital Inclusion Policy'

Captain Qahn's picture

SBC & The Art of Communication; digits, dipping, ducking & diving into the changes & challenges of the technology highway, that is the WWW and internet access for all.

The Importance of Digits "Expectations are growing on people to access information and services online and that in turn is increasing the pressure on large sections of society which don’t possess digital skills. As things stand, many vulnerable people are at risk of becoming excluded from the very services they need, as well as the online choices that could bring real benefits, socially and economically"

In 2013 Scarborough Council entered into a Digital Inclusion Partnership, Chaired by Cllr Donohue-Moncrieff the Digital Inclusion Partnership (DIP) Action Plan for 2015-2017, as explained.

With Govt. support Digital Inclusion statistics show that 18-21% of the UK's population cannot use the internet.  Trickled down to a local level; "A recent survey conducted by Yorkshire Coast Homes in 2012 revealed that 56% of their customers have no internet access. Furthermore, the 2013 research document written by North Yorkshire CAB revealed that across North Yorkshire, two thirds of residents over the age of 65 do not use the internet and according to CAB in 2013, a shocking 25% of under 65s still for whatever reason do not use the internet."

UK Stats extrapolated - Excluded: 37% of social housing tenants, 17% of lower paid, 33% of registered disabled, 53% aged 65+, 69% aged 55+, 6% aged 15-24 with 73% of those digitally excluded not in full time employment.

North Yorkshire Stats : 50% of disabled people, 37% surveyed by CAB do not have an email adress and a staggering 80% needed 'professional' help in completing the online 'lettings process' (housing).

Alongside HMRC, Benefits, Universal Credits, CSA, etc demanding digital applications, Jobcentre plus demanding digital applications the stats for Digital Exclusion appear staggering, yet convincing. 

Whilst the 'SWITCH' programme intends to drive people on-line they also recognise that the drive for digital inclusion is decelerating : "Around 7% of these have internet access but cannot use it. Currently, the number of people who have never been online is decreasing by about 3% per year. However, having been online does not mean people are digitally capable. The number of people who do not have basic digital capabilities is decreasing at a slower rate of about 1% per year"

Source: http://democracy.scarborough.gov.uk/documents/s65987/15287%20Appendix%20...  

Dipping : It should be noted that  "public services are responding to the Government agenda and working towards the £1.8 billion per annum in that it is predicted will be saved from the public purse."

Except it is no longer a 'public purse', is it?

Clearly any Local Govt 'DIP' is of financial benefit,  SBC's examples of digital cost savings, or 'result' can be found here : http://democracy.scarborough.gov.uk/documents/s65993/15287%20Appendix%20...  

Ducking: Self-service?   Ah, that is the Council's digitally enhanced service in 'helping your self'   see here for the inter-face: http://www.scarborough.gov.uk/self-service-quicklinks  

SBC has not only considered the cost cuttings but also the social and community needs, dressed up as Well Being Hubs : http://democracy.scarborough.gov.uk/documents/s65989/15287%20Appendix%20... With £50,000 funding made available for five Community Hubs of £10k each, alas this golden gate or opportunity for community groups to participate has now closed, with only two Well Being Hubs being successful 1. The Castle/Old Town & 2. Hunmanby Spring Cafe, both to be come internet bases run by volunteers for their communities.  Unfortunately the funding for a Gallows Close 'Community Hub' failed because it was at the  "wrong place & wrong time".   At the Members Meeting of 21st December is was requested that the funding 'opportunity' be re-opened and extended for future applications.   This community pot for volunteer groups to offer peer to peer mentoring was worked in conjuntion with 'CAVCO' ? Coast & Vale Community Organisation?  Nope, never heard of them, nor that 'Hub' opportunity?  That because it is all inclusive, innit ;-) http://cavca.org.uk/about-cavca/

Ergo "To promote any charitable purposes for the benefit of the public, principally but not exclusively in the local government area of Scarborough Borough and Ryedale District and its environs (hereinafter called the ‘area of benefit’) and in particular, build the capacity of third sector organisations and provide them with the necessary support, information and services to enable them to pursue or contribute to any charitable purpose.  And To promote, organize and facilitate co-operation and partnership working between third sector, statutory and other relevant bodies in the achievement of the above purposes within the area of benefit."

Yet another 'self-serving'  venture for the Streets ... for some, or indeed many vulnerable members of the public, strategic partnerships, the interlocking of Govt. agencies, Council, Police, Social Services, Ambulance, Health & CCG's is itself, debatable, or from an 'outsiders' view point bait-able.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLiKDlnVKtI&index=4&list=PLoCL7ZWIWKM6YQ...

Why? 

Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;

The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to shew when you are there."
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"
Mary Howitt 1804 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boTKLuI7nzM&list=PLoCL7ZWIWKM6YQoPiRDSji...

Diving into the Wonders of the Web, falling prices, about £75 is the price of Chrome Books, Kindle the Big Local & with Blackberry Pie - Wi-fi access can be cheap from as little as £1 or £2 per week. However these are for browsing only ie for users to read and absorb.  The mobile telephone networks offer browsing, apps, games, music, etc data data data, but try filling in a form with one. A form that would or could decide if you can afford to eat, heat or seak a roof over your head.

So, whilst SBC is doing it's very best working within a Digital Inclusion Partnership, and is very aware of how exclusive, excluding and isolating not being part of the WWW can be, they are producing in conjunction with Yorkshire Coast Homes a Get On Line Guide to be published in Spring 2016, including  motivational & trust issues, this is self-funded btw not from the public purse.   So well done them.   

Some questions still need to be answered:  

Cllr John Ritchie suggests that;  The National Agenda needs to understand that the 'Digital Revolution' is built for 'Digitally Native People'.  Is this future proof?

Erm "This fly is a major problem for us: It will ruin our batch, and we need to destroy it and every trace of it so we can cook. Failing that, we're dead. There's no more room for error, not with these people." Breaking Bad.

OK - habits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vULsGEm4x4s&index=3&list=PLoCL7ZWIWKM6YQ...

Coventry University Scarborough Campus - Curriculum - http://www.coventry.ac.uk/cusc/

Yorkshire Coast College - http://www.yorkshirecoastcollege.ac.uk/16-18-course-areas.php

 

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12 Comments

Mortal Mindy's picture

WP: Digital Diss - Techno Skeptics

https://www.washingtonpost.com/classic-apps/techno-skeptics-objection-gr...

'Astra' strange name for a techno skeptic, hmmm interesting, bites ;-)

"They dream of a co-op model: people dealing directly with one another without having to go through a data-sucking corporate hub."

"We’re in a new Machine Age. Machine intelligence and digital social networks are now embedded in the basic infrastructure of the developed world.

Much of this is objectively good and pleasurable and empowering. We tend to like our devices, our social media, our computer games. We like our connectivity. We like being able to know nearly anything and everything, or shop impulsively, by typing a few words into a search engine.

But there’s this shadow narrative being written at the same time. It’s a passionate, if still remarkably disorganized, resistance to the digital establishment.

Techno-skeptics, or whatever you want to call them — “humanists” may be the best term — sense that human needs are getting lost in the tech frenzy, that the priorities have been turned upside down. They sense that there’s too much focus on making sure that new innovations will be good for the machines."

"...information is valuable. A frequent gibe is that on Facebook, we’re not the customers, we’re the merchandise. Or to put it another way: If the service is free, you’re the product."

"She (Astra) says she’d like to see more government-supported media platforms — think public radio — and more robust regulations to keep digital powerhouses from becoming monopolies."

Amazing Amazon ...  Athens. Terminator. Is Astra for real? Astra for President...

Crawls back into cave.

Oooh.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/11/08/which-of-the-...

Capt. 'Bob''s picture

Drones Dragonions

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/14178170.North_East_landowners_cal...

"NORTH-East landowners have urged the Government to act to stop flying drones snooping on people.

With consumer spending on drones expected to hit an all-time high this Christmas, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is calling for regulators to update privacy rules.

Consumer drone sales rose by 24 per cent ahead of the Christmas shopping rush in December 2014, with electronics dealer Maplin Direct reporting domestic drone sales of more than 10,000 units over a 12 month period.

The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, is concerned that current drone-use regulations are not robust enough to ensure that privacy is maintained considering the growth in drone availability and popularity as gifts in recent years.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said: “We don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun over Christmas, but the growth in the availability of drones with high resolution cameras for consumer use, rather than industry, presents a significant risk to privacy and requires action.”

"The CLA responded to the consultation through its sister organisation, the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO), arguing for further controls on privacy, data protection and future regulation to give good guidance on what circumstances individuals can expect privacy in relation to both residential properties and privately owned land."

"The Civil Aviation Authority has produced a "dronecode" telling users not to fly higher than 400ft, or near aircraft or airfields, and always keep eyes on the drone.

The law also stipulates that drones fitted with cameras must not be flown within 50 metres of people, vehicles, buildings or structures, or over large gatherings."

ELO? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-QYww2Bi_Q

Pirates.

ATBE : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OfsVfP2Wpo

Mortal Mindy's picture

BT - Banana

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35388756

"BT should be forced to sell the country's leading broadband provider because of poor performance, a report backed by 121 cross-party MPs has said.

The report, commissioned by ex-Tory chairman Grant Shapps, said BT's Openreach service had only partially extended superfast broadband despite £1.7bn of government money.

It should be sold off to increase competition, the report added.

BT said Britain had better broadband provision than most EU countries.

Openreach, a BT subsidiary, operates the main system of cables which connect homes and businesses to the internet."

Erm, so after £1.7b of public purse investment MP's want to sell it off ... figures into a smash n grab aka robbing B'Stards

Cable & Wireless .. Talk Talk ... "BT owns the largest network, rivals lease space to transmit phone calls and data ... BT then buys space on its own network to put it on an equal footing with rivals, BT may have the incentive to disciminate when selling network space to itself" 

http://www.alphr.com/smartphones/1000170/bt-merges-with-ee-2

"Another potential downside of the deal is the looming spectre of price increases. £12.5 billion is a lot of money, and although some of it will be paid in the form of shares, around £7 billion will still need to be paid by the company."

Taxation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_xfouK5KRc

Capt. 'Bob''s picture

Apple joins the Tally Ban

Apple's arrogance on C4 in spinning it's consumer protection policy is matched by it's facilitation of  'dark'  forces ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35601035

Silk Roads:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-35604785

Freedom 251: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/BJP-MP-raises-concerns...

Wot ever next 'thought' police?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35583355

'Yo-Go'  the new app for places you don't have to go go ... No. 

http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/local/relocation-for-tourism-centre-...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysvNOmDMVvk

Ooo Arr ... David Tennant

Captain Qahn's picture

FOI - Reviewed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35693236

"After 10 years, we took the decision to review the Freedom of Information Act and we have found it is working well," he said.

"We will not make any legal changes to FOI. We will spread transparency throughout public services, making sure all public bodies routinely publish details of senior pay and perks.

"After all, taxpayers should know if their money is funding a company car or a big pay-off."

http://www.yorkshirecoastradio.com/news/local-news/1901591/decision-on-y...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVm2dbMdXRs

 

Benefitz Betty's picture

The Joy of Reading - Tools

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35707956

'Libraries lose a quarter of staff as hundreds close'

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/14280222.The_joy_of_reading_is_cel...

http://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-scarborough-evening-news/20151022/2817...

Should your library be closed or subscriptions are simply out of order .... dig out your old library card, or just guess, 000xxxxxxxx  log in and tune up :-)

http://library.pressdisplay.com

Library.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccJJ0uxigVA

Oh, Ok. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIl0UEwMnCA

Captain Qahn's picture

Language In A Box

https://www.rt.com/op-edge/345063-internet-mousetrap-shut-freedom/

"The Internet is the nervous system of a mass control and surveillance grid governing economic, informational and social life. Its chaotic freedom drew everyone in. Now that we’re all plugged in, the door can come down behind us.

In its early years, the Internet was like the Wild West. It was a rugged, shooty-killy kind of place where things were slow and life was cheap. But it was also possible to make a load of money, and governments let things slide while the pioneers performed the huge task of clearing the land.

Now that work is done. The fields are fenced. The plots are allotted. Everything is owned and has a number. The roads are now so wide and so smooth you can drive round large bits of it in an automatic convertible and scarcely feel the bumps...."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36604583

Oh Dear ... nope, never had time for a film ... movie?  

ps ... Do not think that the British nor the Northern Europeans, will ever be passive towards aggression, intimidation, 'racism' or 'Romans'.

Decimation. Or is Eight the new 10?

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pgJByML5xY

Branches ;-)) Oh, did I forget to mention the franchise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3kE0rvAJhM

Captain Qahn's picture

Referendumb ...

Thank fooook for Scotland, mind I was worried Wales was unable to count .... 

the Sheep have hit the SNooooze...   Trolls at large

Wot a sad individual. Most peculiar ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfSpU0vEh4M

Waiting for the brummy ...

Belfast !!! Yo, get in.

Ah, so ... quiz of the week? With Farage ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrDHFEYOKIk

Oh,OK: lots of angry English people ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMPM1q_Uyxc

A vote against the establishment ... mind, tis a UK target map ... Boston? where is that?  Is that Boston on Spa?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6xDiPubxVU

Shrinking ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36610302

Awwes...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-36601532

Schucks : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-36602959