1.

Project Title:

Enhancing Communication
       

2.

Project Address:

1, St. Luke's Social Enterprise Centre, 85, Tarling Road, London, E16 1HN
       

3.

Project Manager:

Mike Bowles
       
   

Telephone:

0171 241 2162
       
   

Fax:

0171 241 5007
       
   

Email:

mike.bowles@access-it.org.uk
       

4.

Organisation:

Computer Access
     

5.

Project Summary:

To enhance and increase the use of computer mediated communication throughout the Teleregion and to demonstrate the potential for online collaboration.
     

6.

Programme:

Obj 2

Priority:

3

Measure/s

3.2

 

7.

Start date:

Summer '99

Completion Date:

31.12.2001

8.

Aims of Project:
  • To encourage increased network activity by all sectors of the community.
  • To provide the infrastructure for deployment of a range of applications that support online communication and collaboration including those that require broadband connectivity.
  • To demonstrate, evaluate and implement alternative online environments supporting online communication and collaboration.
  • To develop networked applications supporting online communication and collaboration.
  • To provide a focus for exchange of information between the private, public, community, academic and voluntary sectors in East London.

9.

Brief Description of Project
     

Purpose:
 

The purpose of this project is to maximise the effectiveness of public investment in telematics and the Teleregion through increasing the local use of telematics. The project will achieve this through increasing the use of the network for many to many communication throughout the Teleregion area.

 

Activity:
 
  • Provide, manage and maintain a high capacity server to be based in Newham Council's server farm, connected directly both to the Teleregion backbone and the Newham Extranet.
  • Provide mailing list/web interfaced software along with web based management interface. Provide user training and support in its use.
  • Provide facilities for online chat server, real time video server and interactive white boarding.
  • Provide a simple means for users to publish information on the server
  • Meet Newham Online's server requirements including hosting of Newham's official Millennium Celebration web site at www.millennium.newham.net
  • Support the creation of collaboratively developed web sites.
  • Manage an announce list for the Teleregion and co-ordinate the collection of information so as to enable the production of a weekly information bulletin for Teleregion users.
  • Approach suppliers of products that support online communication and collaboration to arrange for trial implementations to be made available for evaluation by Teleregion users. Provide means for users to publish their evaluations.
  • Approach suppliers of interactive virtual environment and arrange for trial implementations.
  • Provide facilities for online development and experimentation by all sectors but particularly local SME's in the the Digital Media industry.
  • Provide limited facilities for national networking bodies such as Communities Online and Partnerships Online,
  • Publicise and promote the activities of the project both on and offline.

10.

Describe how the Project meets the objectives of the Priority/measure and Objective 2 Funding Agenda:
   

This project will maximise the effectiveness of public investment the Teleregion by increasing the use of its network. The ability to test and to demonstrate broadband applications to a large number of people (the Newham Extranet alone will provide broadband access to some 73,000 people via 13,000 networked computers by 2000) will be attractive to the private sector and increase the likelihood of private sector investment in Teleregion activity.

The project will expand usage of the network by supporting broadband applications and, more importantly, by focussing its efforts on many to many communication in addition it is likely to lead to the development and commercial introduction of networked telematics applications by providing the means for shortcomings of existing solutions to be explored and new opportunities identified.

.

11.

Synergy and Need:
 

a. What is the demand for this Project? How has this been determined?
 

This project has been developed in close co-operation with Newham Online. This organisation has demonstrated what can be achieved by facilitating communication between users of ICTs and has involved virtually all significant local users of ICTs. Computer Access supports more than 20 mailing lists run through the Newham Online partnership. These include lists for those developing the Newham Creative Network and the Newham Learning Grid both key networked "applications" of a very different kind to applications developed elsewhere in the Teleregion and both of key commercial importance. Newham Young People Online is a self-managing online community with web spinners and list managers as young as 12 years old. NYPO is already spinning off small enterprises such as computer recycling and is developing online skills amongst its members that will be fundamental to the growth of online enterprise.

Newham Online has also demonstrated that it is possible for organisations to link their WANs to improve local connectivity and, as shown by a recent network audit, broadband connectivity in Newham is set to expand rapidly. This expansion is now being enhanced by partnerships forming to develop particular bits of the infrastructure something that is inconceivable without the communication base that underpins Newham Online's work.

We have not carried out any research into the demand for online communication services in other parts of the Teleregion but are confident that there will be a steadily increasing demand for the services proposed and in any event Newham alone would ensure that this is the case.

b. How does this Project benefit local people and disadvantaged communities? (Priorities 2 & 4 only)
 

By facilitating communication and the formation of online collaborative groups and communities this project will enhance peoples' ability to help each other, learn, work and decide together. These activities are essential if the deployment of ICTs is not going to further disempower local people and communities. The skills that people acquire whilst working online in groups will be just as relevant to their future employability as is the ability to speak in public and work as a member of a team is currently.

The Net is recognised in the US as having great political importance as it gives a cheap way for people to express their views and campaign. Projects such a Minnesota eDemocracy have shown the impact of representatives and the public sharing the same online space to discuss issues. This project will enable local people to learn the skills need to use the Net to improve their position both individually and collectively.

Through the use of the Millennium web site as a demonstration of what is achievable a high public profile will be given to the activities of this project thereby making many more people aware of the opportunities offered by telematics.

 

c. What are the implications of Match Funding not being Approved or forthcoming:
 

All match funding is approved.

 

 

 

 

12.

Project Costs
   

How will the Project costs be met?

1999

£(000)

2000

£(000)

2001

£(000)

Date of Confirmation of Commitment

Objective 2

ERDF

21,500

19,500

19,500

N/A

LB Newham

7,800

7,600

3,600

26.2.1999

Internet Vision

9,000

18,000

18,000

26.2.1999

Newtel

1,000

2,000

2,000

26.2.1999
         
         
         

TOTAL

39,300

47,100

43,100

  

 

What will the money be spent on? (List main items of expenditure with costs):

Expenditure

(Detail)

1999

£(000)

2000

£(000)

2001

£(000)

Salaries

14,000

28,000

28,000

Server & software

15,000

6,500

6,500

Maintenance

2,800

5,600

5,600

Premises

500

1,000

1,000

Site design & implementation

6,000

4,000

0

PPS

500

1,000

1,000

Other o/h

500

1,000

1,000

TOTALS

39,300

47,100

43,100

GRAND TOTAL

129,500

    

 

      

 

 

 

13.

Project Outputs
 

Description of Output

(see enclosed definitions)

Total
   

Private sector contribution

45,000

Number of SME's assisted with telematics (by being provided with web site design, support and services >5k)

1

Jobs preserved

1

Businesses assisted with telematics (through enhancement of their ability to use the net for communications in addition to publishing - The project has the potential to benefit all SMEs with internet connectivity in the Teleregion area)

200
   
   

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

Additional Information for Applications sent to Teleregion
  1. How will the proposed project development be made available for public use and access?

    2. The server that will host the service will be attached to the Teleregion and the Newham Extranet. The latter is being made available in all Newham schools and Colleges, the University of East London, Doctors surgeries, Libraries, housing offices and many other publicly owned buildings. Broadband access will be available from all these areas from registered users. Broadband access will also be available from the other Teleregion nodes and any linked networks. Dial up access will be made available to all Teleregion clients. The particular application that will be used as a demonstration of the services available will be the Newham Millennium web site which will be heavily promoted throughout Newham.

     

  2. What is your exploitation plan for ensuring the viability of your project beyond the period of grant-aided support?

It is likely that in Newham the Network Service Provider company that is being established will eventually required a dedicated facility for itself and it anticipated that at that stage of its development the organisation will be able to fund its requirements. With respect to services to other areas it should be noted that Computer Access has existed as an organisation for 17 years and as this project is central to our core mission we believe that we will be able to secure resources from other sources. However it is probable that we will also develop value added services that will go some way to meeting the costs of the core activities detailed.

3. What evidence is there that you have the skills and capacity identified and available for your project to succeed? Wherever possible name organisations, units or individuals.

The partners in this Newham Online project are :-

Computer Access - Mike Bowles, Technical Manager, has been managing the server and lists that underpin Newham Online's development for the last two years and supports the lists and web sites used by Newham Online. CA has undertaken a number of European funded projects and helped establish the Teleregion.

Internet Vision - Manar Hussain is the Managing Director of this company and developed the Omniforum software used by Newham Online. The company has extensive experience of database managed web development. It was set up in '95 and its clients include The Economist, BBC, The Local Government Management Board, Rank Xerox, The Guardian, Shell & ITN. For a recent project undertaken by Internet Vision see www.upmystreet.com

LBN's Central Computer Services will ensure that the server is securely housed. Danny Budzak, LBN's web & database editor will lead on this project for LBN drawing in other resources as necessary. Danny runs the Councils existing web site.

NewTel - is a community based telematics project. Peter Chauncy will be responsible for co-ordinating user testing and evaluation of the services offered.

Newham Online - Richard Stubbs is Director of Newham Online and Chair of UK Citizens Online Democracy. He will act as an advisor to this project and has extensive experience in computer mediated communication.

Di Robson Arts Management - Is responsible for organising Newham's Millennial Celebrations and overseeing the Council's £1 million investment in this. Chris Westwood is responsible for the Millennium Web Site that will provide the main source of information about the celebrations and will subsequently be published as a CD Rom.