RESOURCE EXTRA

Information Society

Updated 21/1/13

The following aspects of the Information Society:

Voluntary and community sector IT use - take-up and possibilities, including UK Online centres.
Digital Futures - review and discussion of sector IT issues.
For ways of getting onto the web, go to Web Services.
You may also find Computer Services, or local facilities referenced on the Local Contacts page, useful.
Web Site Acccessibility for how to avoid exclusion by design.

See Voluntary Sector and IT page for initiatives directly involved voluntary organisations. UK Online Centres developments are also given there.
Wired Up Communities Practitioners Toolkit.
In Scotland, the Scottish Executive's Digital Scotland initiative seems to have run its course (Jan 06). It aimed to ensure that Scotland obtains and retains maximum economic and social advantage from information and communication technologies.
Citizens Online A charity "exploring the social and cultural impact of the Internet". Also a source of internet statistics.
European Commission Information Society (legal) links.

The social effects of the the internet is the subject of a variety of research.

Get IT Together (BT with various voluntary sector partners) promotes digital inclusion amongst disadvantaged communities across the UK.
iSociety was a project of the Work Foundation, now closed, looking at '"the impact of ICT in the UK", particularly in relation to everyday life.
Digital Futures (direct link dead). A major report published by Forum for the Future, plus a book (Earthscan, ISBN 1 85383 789 X, £19-99, March 01). Looks at the interaction between e-commerce and wider internet use against sustainable economic development. See our review page.
The Virtual Society? programme coordinates studies being done across 25 British, 2 foreign universities. Various papers, and as at June 00, slide show of Defining the Digital Divide presentation to Citizens Online, 23/5/00
- See also Inclusion in the Information Society - The Distinctive Role of E-Gateways on the Voluntary Sector and internet page
Foundation for Information Policy Research is 'an independent body that studies the interaction between information technology and society. Our goal is to identify technical developments with significant social impact, commission research into public policy alternatives, and promote public understanding and dialogue between technologists and policy-makers in the UK and Europe.'

Communication Rights in the Information Society International campaign sponsored by a groups of NGOs.
Information Technology, Globalization and Social Development is the title of a paper given to a 1998 UN conference by Manual Castells (Professor of Sociology plus City & Regional Planning, at Berkeley) - find it via UNRISD section on Information Technologies and Social Development. A fairly readable summary from this leading commentator, who has also written detailed books (key one is The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture).
Oneworld is a partner in the Digital Opportunity channel. Also see info on One World about Open Knowledge Network.
Simputer The 'simple computer' project aims to supply low cost PCs which avoids the third world illiteracy barrier.
UNITeS is the UN Information Technology Service, which aims to create a global volunteer programme to bridge the digital divide between the industrialized and the developing world.

Electronic Privacy Information Center For once a US based website which understands what 'international' means!