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In
planning your online initiative you will need many technological
and other tools.... and it may be that quite a few of
them are already in your area.
The
project leader should assess the full range of resources
already available - in schools, libraries, community
centers or other locations. The problem may lie in the
access to and co-ordination of these resources rather
than simply in the lack of new equipment or of new facilities.
Access points and equipment are not the only resources
that should be considered. Community information, training,
technical and other support services, and the presence
of tech champions within the community should also be
taken into account.
A
thorough audit would look at:
- public
access sites
- discounted
or low-cost dial-up access opportunities
- sources
of technical support (tech assistance & training)
(include virtual, phone, and on-site support - plus
online information) (include volunteer, intern, and
low-cost sources)
- training
labs
- hardware
& software recycling opportunities / laptop lending
programs
- community
web sites or portals (commercial, e-government, or
voluntary sector) (Explore integrated approaches)
- online
I & R databases or databases that could be made
available online
- community
publishing resources (hosting, website design and
development)
- community
voicemail
- community
asset mapping initiatives
- e-democracy
efforts / online fora and conferencing
- videoconferencing
sites
- undressed
broadband capacity that could be shared with the community
- local
tech champions
- local
institutions and facilities willing to open their
walls
- sources
of e-commerce support
- community
information brokers /knowledge managers /facilitators
- local
mechanisms for awareness - building (local media,
special events, conferences, PR and promotional materials)
- tech
policy development and advocacy opportunities (both
online and off-line)
- community-of-interest
networks outside the locality that could provide resources
- community
networking or social exclusion funding sources for
start-up/demo projects
- potential
resources for long term sustainability
Questions
to ask:
-
where is there duplication?
-
what do each of these need to be more effective?
- where
are the gaps in service?
- where
are there opportunities for collaboration?
- what
structure needs to be in place in order to use these
resources in an integrated, ongoing way?
Exercise
- do a matrix of providers against these services.
Terry
Grunwald
Routemap
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