My Kp Community Wi-Fi in Australia
December 14, 2007 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Wireless, Bristol , 2 commentsWe have learned that once you start using this ‘Inter web’ thing openly - things happen. A good example is the response to this recent Connecting Bristol blog post
We invited suggestions about how to re-brand Wi-Fi in the city, to raise awareness of the potential benefits. Your suggestions for new names included, Bristol Wireless, Bristol Connect, Free Zone, Free Space, Connected, Bristol Unplugged, Bristol Wide Web, Wi-Fi Umbrella, the Information Exchange, Bristol Communications Hub, Unite Bristol and The Bristol Oracle.
Thank you for all of these ideas.
Two further suggestions stood out as being pretty quirky and interesting. The Bristol Blogger suggested we call the network ‘Collin’ which seems a thoughtful and considered way to humanize technology (like calling a TV channel Dave) and George Kaloudis sent us this message…
Hi There,
How about teaming up with us as free Wi-Fi sister cities? And brand it myKP to join our network…. My – KP, what’s the KP ? what ever you want it to be. Originally it stood for Kissing Point and place where people logged on to work and play in a friendly environment, but since our launch we’ve had a number of names adopted. Our gamers call it Killing Point and some of our other friends have coined it Kilpatrick …so its what ever you like.
Please see an invite to the launch of Australia’s first free community wi-fi project.
Cheers
George Kaloudis
www.mykp.com.au
We didn’t get to attend the My KP launch (apparently there is no bus from Bristol to Gilgandra in Australia) but George YouTubed it for us here and very interesting it is too to see council, community and business partners praise the benefits of Wi-Fi.
My Kp’s branding might cause us some difficulties (enough people already think we are nuts) but we have struck up a dialogue with George to explore ways in which Bristol and My KP might collaborate in future. We have discussed ideas such as common log-ins, partnerships with Google Apps and creating a wider community of linked wireless places who can share ideas and experiences.
Comments and ideas always welcome…
Councillor Commission Report Overlooks Technology
December 13, 2007 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Bristol, News , 1 comment so farThe newly published report of the Councillors Commission makes recommendations regarding the following,
- Encouraging people who are able, qualified and representative to be candidates to serve as councillors.
- Retaining and developing them once they are elected (or appointed under the Local Government Act 2000).
- Enabling them to secure public interest and recognition for the work they carry out for their communities.
The report does say something about use of technology on p.77 and there is a fleeting reference to e-democracy but unfortunately the only Recommendation is 39 c – ‘so that they don’t have to attend meetings in person’.
We wonder if the commission talked with the e-democracy team in ICELE – the Communities and Local Government funded centre of excellence for e-democracy?
I recently Chaired Bristol’s e-democracy Day and heard some excellent councillor speakers from Bristol and Bath talk about their use of Facebook, My Space, blogs, e-petitions etc. You can see the web cast here.
Extending the Benefits of Flexible Working
December 12, 2007 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Bristol, Events, jobs, Flexible Working, Homeshoring , 2 commentsCouncils and other public bodies are starting to recognise the benefits of home working for existing employees. Home working can lead to a reduction in peak time travel and if managed well, can bring about efficiency and environmental gains. However, not everyone wants to, or is able to work at home. So Connecting Bristol is also interested in promoting the benefits of working closer to home.
Nottingham, Bristol and other DC10 members want to ensure that flexible job opportunities are made available to communities that face digital and social exclusion.
At this up and coming Headstar Flexible Working conference on 23rd Jan 2008, Peter Goodwin Accelerate Nottingham and I will talk about our collaborative DC10 project built on the innovative Homeshoring model.
The aim is to radically transform the way that business and public sector organisations manage their customer contact centres, creating new ‘virtual employment opportunities’ for people who face difficulties entering the jobs market.
Research suggests that more than 1 million people in the UK work in customer contact centres. If just a small percentage of these jobs can be transfered into city neighbourhoods or rural areas, there is significant potential to boost neighbourhood renewal and other regeneration programmes.
Light Up Bristol 2007
December 4, 2007 Posted by Clare in : Bristol , 3 comments
17 - 21 december | 6.30 - 10pm | Free
This December, College Green will undergo a magical transformation into five nights of Winter Wonderland. Light Up Bristol, a from Bristol Media and the West of England Design Forum, will stretch across the whole of the Council House, College Green and the Cathedral featuring:
- Designs by some of Bristol’s leading creative talent
- Films projected 400ft across Bristol’s Council House
- Spectacular light show across the Cathedral and College Green
- Nightly snow blizzard by film special effects company Snow Business
- Festive winter warmers including Mulled Wine, Chestnuts and beers from Bath Ales
- Nightly live VJ finale from the world-renowned Anti VJ
