Promoting IT/Internet

• See Voluntary Sector and IT page for initiatives directly involved voluntary organisations. UK Online Centres developments are also given there.
  
  
• Sustain IT carries out research, consultancy, training, events and demonstration projects to identfy and promote ICT with environmental and social benefits.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Check official moves at the e-Government Unit.
  
  
• Citizens Online# A charity "exploring the social and cultural impact of the Internet", but as they consider removing Flash makes their site "accessible to absolutely everyone" we have reservations. A source of internet statistics though.
  
  
• European Commission Information Society site.

Research, Access for All, Digital Sustainability

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

UK/Europe Focus

• Alliance for Digital Inclusion. Launched Oct 04, a cross-sector collaboration to address the issues.
  
  
• 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, autumn 03). 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
    
    
• comm.unity is a campaign from Business in the Community to raise corporate awareness of the digital divide. However, it no longer seems to be a main programme (May 05).
  
  
• 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.'

American based

• There is an article of the same name but different author (Bridging The Digital Divide: First You Need The Bridge By Jonathan Peizer, June 00) on MediaChannel, which is probably more interesting and accessible.

• Digital Divide Network is a coalition of non-profits and IT companies.

Global

• World Summit on Information Society is a two-part UN led gathering focusing on the application of these technologies to the benefit of human development. The NGO response by CONGO may be a good starting point to follow developments.
  
  
• Communication Rights in the Information Society International campaign sponsored by a groups of NGOs. Web site relaunched May 03.
  
  
• 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. They are also the lead NGO on the 'dotforce' - Digital Opportunity Task Force - which is an international partnership between all sectors. This in turn has led to Open Knowledge Network to help increase local ICT capacity and content in 'the South', but site has disappeared - see info on One World.
  
  
• Digital Dividend from World Resources Institute 'applying digital technology for sustainable development'. Exploring creative business approaches, using ICT to accelerate development. Lessons from the Field: ICTs in NGO Capacity Building (new 2003).
  
  
• 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.

Internet Freedom, Privacy and Problems

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

Global Internet Liberty Campaign.

An opinion piece on trAce,, the online writing centre, on the negative impact of PC manufacture (Nov 03).