Filed under: Red Jotter Work | Tags: digital, digital britain scottish unconference, glasgow, revolution
Since the Lord Charter’s Digital Britain report was released in January there has been lots of mixed opinions, recommendations and criticism flying around. Charles Leadbeater’s response “The Digital Revolution: the Coming Crisis of the Creative Class” is definitely worth reading.
On Friday night, 23 people met up in Glasgow to attend “Digital Britain Scottish Unconference”. I went along as I am very interested in how digital can transform the design and delivery of services in Scotland. The group, made up of mostly creatives, agreed early on in the evening that the report is narrowly focused and misses the point – clearly it is a government intervention that is uninformed.
What is practical and needed in Scotland? We cannot predict technology – the report tries to do this. The policy is being determined by people who don’t understand digital media.
We discussed the differences between the UK context and the Scottish context. There are two things that hamper the quality of life in Scotland – public communications and distance. Firstly, we need infrastructure – re-distribution of enterprises and creation of new industries and new employment. Secondly, we need better healthcare – education in remote areas. Why do young Scots feel they have to move to go to college? Why do I feel isolated from my network because I am not in London? What should we be encouraging?
I wonder if the civil servants involved in compiling the report use the internet in the way we do? Recently, Kate Andrews and I explored the power of online social networking, and demonstrated the tools students use to move ideas forward, form networks with practitioners around the world, and build a reputation before and after graduation : The Studio Unbound. This is interesting as the topic of graduates and skill sets cropped up in the discussion several times.
It is not about money it is about providing a service. We need to know exactly what people want from the internet! We do not need to re-invent the wheel, we need to develop existing services for a digital age. I liked the phrase Kate used whilst talking about the challenges we face – “digital is difficult to touch”.
Sarah and Andy have shared their views on the event. It was an interesting discussion and I met interesting people. At times, the conversation focused a little too much on creatives talking about social media but I am very excited to have met like minded individuals who are passionate about using digital to better Scotland.
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quote: ‘I wonder if the civil servants involved in compiling the report use the internet in the way we do?’
Comment by cyberdoyle May 10, 2009 @ 6:21 pmI am sure they truly don’t! I often think they rely on their secretaries to do all the digital stuff for them whilst they are busy fiddling expenses and other interesting things.
Therefore some politicians don’t know the hassles that lesser mortals have to cope with. Such as second hand equipment, hand me downs and very dodgy connections and dehli help desks.
They then have to engage in consultations with ‘experts’ and these gurus tell them that 99.6% of the country has a broadband connection. What utter bolloc*s. The majority of the country has less than a meg, which can hardly be used at peak times. rural areas have been severely disadvantaged, and mobile/satellite can’t fill the gap.
Many of the unconferences so far have spoken on social media and forget that unless the infrastructure is brought up to date then their work will have no showcase and soon it will be impossible to access many applications unless you live in a city. We have had the best from the 1st gen broadband network which has been supplied through the copper phone lines. Now it is time for a next gen solution which has to be through fibre. Fibre is cheap. You can send 2 meg or 2 gig through it. Fibre is the eNdGAme, the futureproof solution for a truly digital britain. Inc Scotland!
chris
I am glad you have blogged your thoughts, very interesting and another angle coming from the unconferences. Well done.
Hi Lauren,
I work with Rosemary, who was at the unconference on Friday night! A very small world indeed!
Hope to see you at the next one!
I will be up in the Dee for the Degree show next week – hope to see you there!
Lauren :)
Comment by Lauren Duffy May 11, 2009 @ 11:23 amGoodness it is a small world :) Lovely to hear from you. Hopefully see you soon L x
Comment by redjotter May 12, 2009 @ 8:25 am[...] to the point, relevant, salient chat. I’m well enough networked (heck, I organised the Scottish Digital Britain Unconference) that I think we can get three top speakers willing to give their time in return for some [...]
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