Be NetSquared: Year 3
Want a N2Y3 recap? View attendee blogs, vlogs and comments at Be NetSquared.
NetSquared is an initiative of TechSoup
NetSquared enables social benefit organizations to leverage the tools of the social web.
- Home
- Project Gallery
- The human side of the digital divide
The human side of the digital divide
The Idea:
What will change in the world because this Project happens?
With this mashup, we will close the digital divide. However, though this is a lofty and important goal, this project takes the important step of connecting the digital divide to the larger issue of poverty. It's easy to talk about Internet access; politicians of all stripes agree that people should have access to the Internet, even if they disagree on what to do about it. In cities all across the country and at all levels of government, people or committees are discussing how to expand access to the Internet. This tool leverages the widespread comfort with that one issue to open much more challenging discussions about poverty, racism, community health, and financial justice.
What information will people interact with to make this change?
People's Production House has been conducting interviews with people from across New York City to document their experience of the digital divide. This mash up will put these stories in context. It will locate 1) the location-specific audio recordings on a map of the city, overlaid with 2) data on Internet access (as gathered by the FCC, BroadbandCensus.com, and through our own research), 3) Internet infrastructure (as gathered by the NYC Economic Development Corporation), and 4) poverty levels (from the US Census) or other factors associated with lack of access to information technology. Over time, we would add in 5) other redlined resources, such as banks or healthy food. This will provide a clear representation of the digital divide -- who it affects and how –– and tie it to other social issues. While this proposal is specific to New York City, I foresee it being used in many other cities, perhaps even internationally. It could be a great method of cultural exchange for people at any of the multiple edges of the growing network.
What else have you done in this Cause Area?
People's Production House teaches media literacy, media production, and media policy in public schools and to community organizations in New York, DC, and the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Mississippi. We have been working with a number of immigrant organizations to facilitate their involvement with the NYC Broadband Advisory Committee. Through interviews with their peers, they are bringing people into the process who cannot attend a public hearing held in English during working hours . In addition, we are working with a class of high school students to make a series of short videos about the physical infrastructure of the Internet. These wouldn't be in the mashup, but they will provide excellent context. If someone talks about having a fiber optic or a dial-up connection, visitors will be able to watch a short video that explains how that technology works. PPH's Policy Director has additional qualifications available by request (to him or a search engine).
Cause Area:
Cause Area Tags:
Project URL:
http://digitalexpansion.netSupporting Organization:
People's Production HouseFinancial support?:
NoCity:
New YorkState/Region:
NYCountry:
United States
The Assessment
What kind of help or resources do you need to turn your project idea into a completed mashup?
I need help with programming. We have a team of people gathering interviews. I and one other person are gathering data. But it will only be a list of links and clips without someone who can mash it up and create a form for us -- and others -- to upload new location-specific audio clips.
Mashup Data Sources
The Team
Host
Comments
No Programmers needed.
Making the net and computers available to the non techies is a noble cause. I applaud you. As for your need for a programmer, you might not need one. The Swamp Search allows for collaboration and sharing, like no other piece of software. I can help you and you cause. Good luck