It can take some effort to overcome
suspicion about new technology. Groups in Nottingham are now taking a
positive view.
When Nottingham's Community Computer Resource Centre - Coda - was set
up in 1983 personal computers as we know them know didn't really
exist and there was scepticism, even hostility, in the voluntary
sector. Computers were viewed as threats to jobs and harbingers of
more alienation in the workplace. Nevertheless, some people involved
in community and voluntary action realised that the clock wouldn't be
turned back and that, like any tool, computers were neither good nor
bad in themselves - it was the use they were put to that was
important.
Now many groups have their own computers and are more comfortable
with them, although they are often used as little more than word
processors and calculators.
There will always be areas of mystique and scepticism in computing
and the main ones at the moment are virtual reality, artificial
intelligence and the Internet. VR and AI won't generate too much
interest at community group level until they become much cheaper and
more accessible.
The Internet is a different matter: it is fairly cheap to use and has
enormous potential for community development. Ideas can spread
quickly with information accessed from all over the world. Forums can
be set up for discussion and action. There is potential for
decentralisation of power away from the traditional centres.
The downside is the suspicion that the Internet is viewed with and,
as usual, this is partly based in reality and partly in fantasy. Most
of the big media stories concerning the Internet have been to do with
pornography and security. There are justifiable concerns about the
ease with which images and text can travel across national boundaries
and into every home and office.
Several groups in Nottingham are working towards a positive view.
Coda itself now has an Internet facility available at cost price and
provides training in this area. A forum has been started including
Coda, Active Ingredient (a group of artists), Nottingham Community
Arts and representatives from Trent University and Nottingham City
Council. Working around issues of using the Internet for artistic
expression and dissemination, this forum aims to increase public
access to on-line facilities and encourage artists to work in the
medium.
Coda is also researching ways in which small groups could develop
their own web presence and go on-line. On a wider scale there is
EMNET, and East Midlands wide network of private, public and
voluntary sector sites.
One thing is sure: developments in computing won't stop yet, if ever.
Even with all our justifiable doubts about the hype and the dangers
of the Internet, maybe because of them, it's vital to be involved and
setting the agenda. If we don't, someone else will.
http://www.emnet.co.uk/coda/
Coda is Nottingham's Community Computer Resource Centre
Phone: +44 (0)115 952 6146
Postal: 7B Broad Street, Nottingham, NG1 3AJ UK
www.partnerships.org.uk/articles/coda1.html