Merseyside Digital Development

A new government-backed initiative called ‘myguide’ is aiming to address issues of digital and social exclusion by helping people use the internet effectively.

The service will launch next year and should open up the advantages of the internet to the 16 million people who are currently not online either at home or at work.

It offers a simplified interface to the internet through which users can set up email accounts, browse the web and search for information without having to navigate the hurdles that too often put newcomers off.

The system also contains a number of tools to help those with particular physical or mental difficulties make full use of the internet.

The project has cost £30m, funded by the Department for Education and Skills. It followed research showing that although an increasing number of government services were available online, it was clear that very serious rights issues would come up if access to the internet continued to be out of reach for a sizeable sector of society.

The people not online comprise mainly of people with physical or cognitive disabilities, older people, those with specific cultural needs and people with low basic skills – often the very people who would be most in need of the government services.

It was apparent that if the digital divide could be reduced the government would be able to offer more of its services online, which are often cheaper to deliver, easier to utilise and more straightforward to monitor.

Diana Laurillard, Chair of Learning with Digital Technologies at the University of London, said:

“Web technology, far from being a barrier, can be an enabler. But it won’t just happen by itself.

“As a pilot manager for the London pilot of myguide I have had a chance to see the system in action in community centres, colleges and libraries around Lambeth and Southwark. It’s reassuring to see people, who may have tried the internet in the past and come away frustrated, get a great sense of achievement when they first successfully receive an email or search for some information.”

You can view the myguide site here. Please note it is still being developed, so not all features are currently available.