Today was the closing date for submissions to the Bristol B-Open competition and I am delighted to hear that we have had 11+ proposals for innovative open data projects from Bristol companies. The expert panel (and me) will be shortlisting over the next couple of weeks. Fingers crossed we will be able to commission 3 really good ideas!

I only returned from leave on Monday and I was interested to get an update from Mark N (our open data project manager) about the requests for council data that we had received during the application process. It seems that not all council colleages share Councillor Mark Wright’s view that “Bristol City Council only has two forms of data – that which is confidential and that which can be shared”. We have other categories of data – “that which we sell” and “that which is expensive to collect and therefore we can’t just give away”! It is easy to dismiss then latter argument (whose money is it anyway…) but I have been troubled by the former arguement.

The example I was given relates to traffic accident hotspots. We had a request for this data but Mark was told that we could not just give it away as the Council sells it. My own view is that BCC has some sort of ‘moral’ responsibility to make this data available even if it means relinquishing an income stream, but in these austere times, I wonder what other people think… should the council (and Government) maximisize the revenue that might be gained from selling data, or should we give it away on the basis that we can encourage use for the greater good? #opendata #beopen  Any views?

Chris Quigley, founder of Bristol based eDemocracy Consultancy Delib has been speaking to the Guardian about his involvement in the online activities of both the Obama administration in the States and the Coalition government here in the UK.

Chris is a firm believer in policy crowdsourcing and has recently been working on the Treasuries Spending Challenge and the Your Freedom initiative.

Barbara Janke, the leader of Bristol Council, has been producing regular video updates exploring a range of issues and concerns across the City.

The latest video in this series looks at the opportunities which should emerge in Bristol’s property sector as the City begins to emerge from recession.

The UK’s Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox has launched an ambitious manifesto aiming to bring the whole of the UK workforce online before the end of this Parliament. She hopes to achieve this vision by making the most of the skills, networks and equipment we already have by recycling kit, joining up existing infrastructure and exploit the assets and the skills that we already have.

In setting out the compelling reasons why we need to enable and encourage everyone to enjoy the benefits of being online Martha Lane Fox says;

We need to be ambitious, ‘think internet first’ when we design services, and put the needs of the hardest to reach at the heart of industry, charity and government. There is a social and moral case to make sure more people are online but there is a clear economic case too. We will all be better off when everyone is online.

Clay Shirky was at the Watershed this week presenting his theory of Cognitive Surplus. The event was very well attended in Bristol, but was also live webcast to an audience at the Corner House in Manchester (who showed their appreciation by twittering a round of applause at the end).

People of all ages from across Bristol came together for a free computer training event in May, with the bonus of free fish and chips.The Micro-chips and Mega-bites Event took place on Friday 21 May, 4-6pm at Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) as part of the Digital Neighbourhoods Programme.

The event celebrated the annual Silver Surfers’ Day. As this year’s theme was intergenerational, KWMC asked everyone to bring an older or younger relative and spend time swapping skills and interests, teaching each other how to use digital technology. Participants ages ranged from 10 – 75. The free food was a ‘well done’ to those who came to learn something new, and a ‘thanks’ to their relatives and friends who were there for moral support and to help them learn.

Feedback on the event was very positive and included one participant who said;

“I enjoyed learning new things and just having fun with everyone around me.”

and another who said;

“I improved my general knowledge of the internet and set up a free email.”

For more information about other workshops, including the Computer Drop-in training on Wednesdays 10am-3pm at KWMC, please contact Makala tel: 0117 353 2895.

A short video will be online here soon showing the event, and interviews with the participants. Other project case studies are available now at http://www.youtube.com/southbristoldigital

We want Bristol to be a truly inclusive and connected digital city where anyone who wants a computer at home can have one and where help to get connected is easily available.

We realise that this is a considerable task as 15% of Bristol residents say they have never been on line.

To help achieve our vision we will create a citywide scheme to make available a free (or low cost) recycled computer, and advice about affordable Internet connectivity, to individuals and families who are on a low income or who experience other disadvantages.

We are also looking to encourage businesses across the city to follow Bristol City Council and the Bristol Partnership, and commit to contribute their redundant ICT to the Reuse Scheme. If you represent a business and would like to contribute your redundant IT equipment to benefit individuals and community groups across the city please let us know.

If you would like to register your interest in receiving a refurbished computer you can use one of our forms below. Once the scheme is up and running in the Autumn we will get in touch and let you know how you can apply. Your contact information will be treated confidentially and will only be used to keep you informed about the computer recycling scheme

If you have a friend or relative who isn’t yet online, it might be worth asking if you can fill out a form on their behalf.

If you have a working email address please use this form

If you  don’t have an email address please fill out this form

Silver Surfers’ Day is a nationwide campaign to encourage older people to get online by experiencing how they can benefit by doing so.

The scheme is coordinated by Digital Unite and it is expected that at least 1,500 Silver Surfers’ Day events will take place. These will range from informal sessions for ‘family and friends’ groups, to professionally-organised sessions in libraries and other publicly-accessible centres.

If you know someone who might benefit you could show them the Silver Surfers Day website or let them know that further details can be obtained by phoning 0800 100 900.

South Bristol Digital Neighbourhoods (SBDN) invites people to join them for an afternoon of fun, family-focused computer training, topped off with a free fish and chip supper.

Friday 21 May, 4-6pm, Knowle West Media Centre

Everyone is invited to bring an older or younger relative to Knowle West Media Centre and spend an hour swapping skills and interests, teaching each other how to use digital technology. Our trainers will be on hand to help too. Afterwards, young ‘micro-chips’ and older ‘mega-bites’ can enjoy a delicious supper from the local chip shop.

This event is part of Silver Surfers’ Day 2010, a national event to promote the use of digital technologies by older people.

For more information please contact Makala (makala@kwmc.org.uk / 0117 353 2895) or Rachel (rachel.clarke@kwmc.org.uk / 0117 903 0444)

Booking is essential. Visit: www.micro-chipsandmega-bites.eventbrite.com

The University of Bristol is promoting a scheme aimed at placing recent graduates with suitable organisations in ways which provide a meaningful and useful experience for both the graduate and the employer. The scheme is particularly focused in the Government’s priority areas which include;

• low-carbon products and services
• digital industry
• life sciences and pharmaceuticals
• advanced manufacturing
• professional and financial services
• engineering construction
• commercial opportunities presented by the ageing society
• small businesses (49 employees and under)

The University of Bristol Graduate Internships apply the following criteria;

• Internships will be 8 to 10 weeks in duration.
• University of Bristol graduates will be targeted, although other graduates may apply.
• Financial assistance will be provided to enable the employer to provide the graduate with a salary.
• Employers will be expected to contribute to ensure that graduates are paid to at least the level of the National Minimum Wage.
• Careers support will be offered to participating graduates, to include a pre-internship briefing, tailored support according to individual need and a post-internship review.

To find out how you, as a recent graduate, or your  business, could benefit from the scheme contact Emily Austin, Head of Employer Services (0117 9288231), or email emily.austin@bristol.ac.uk