Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Challenges

At the start of the workshop session, everyone was asked to reflect on the North Argyll Islands Digital Community. They were asked to record on flip charts:

  • strengths
  • weaknesses
  • opportunities
  • challenges

The flip charts are summarised below. Some comments were duplicated by people saying 'I agree'. There are shown as (x2)

Strengths

  • Great opportunities for bringing communities together
  • Got people using computers that have not used them before
  • Although disks are excellent, students find them difficult to follow
  • Increase access to information
  • Empowering people - individually and communities
  • Representation

Community champions discussed developments with Gerry Wilson (left) head of IT Infrastructure at Argyll and Bute Council.

At the start of the workshop everyone considered what had been achieved so far in development of the Digital Community, where work has concentrated on the challenging tasks of distributing nearly 2000 computers to residents on 13 islands, and creation of initial learning centres and courses.

Richard Warwick (right) has established the 2000Friends website to provide online help to community champions and other involved in the project.

Weaknesses

  • User resistance
  • Very scattered resources
  • Computer crashes
  • PC memory problems (x2)
  • Printer problems
  • 'I sometimes think that I know nothing, Mr Fawlty'
  • Lack of user interest due to length of time between receiving PC and start of support
  •  Summer weather - i.e. light nights - gardening etc -  too busy to attend classes
  • Tourist season on islands - people are too busy running accommodations
  • School closures
  • Lack of technicians
  • Problems with PCs
  • Disaffected non-users

Opportunities

  • True community spirit and strength
  • Commercial promotion
  • Linking many diverse people and organisations
  • Certificate
  • Meeting lots of other island people

Challenges

  • Time
  • The fact that you cannot train only mentors when some people really need one to one help (x2)
  • Basic tutoring training classes before mentor classes
  • Realising your own limitations (time and capability)
  • Inspire people to realise creative potential of the PC
  • Course books difficult to follow
  • Very different attitudes and aptitudes

On to Scenarios and action planning >>