[Crossposted to DDN + AOIR, sorry for that!] Hello everybody, I'm doing research within the erea of internet and the digital divide (like many of you, i suppose ;-) ) Most of the literature treats the internet as one uniform medium. In reality, the internet exists of different applications like websites, usenet, listserv, blogs, email, IM, ... I was wondering if there exists some research about the consequences of this difference in use and it's relationship to the digital divide-theory. Most of the time, the digital divide is constraint to the difference in internet access, but the future will bring us perhaps only a difference in internet use (some only use general websites, while others use all different applications). The term 'digital divide in use' is somewhat what i'm looking for, but not exctly i guess. Also the term digital literacy is quite helpful ... Anyone more suggestions about literature? Or your opinion about this subject? Thanks in advance! Michaël -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: Deborah Elizabeth Finn [mailto:deborah.elizabeth.finn@gmail.com] Verzonden: za 4/06/2005 22:47 Aan: The Digital Divide Network discussion group CC: Onderwerp: [DDN] Bragging Rights in Boston (A version of this item is also available through my blog at <http://blog.deborah.elizabeth.finn.com/blog/_archives/2005/6/2/903714.html>; the blog version provides live links to more information about some of the people and organizations mentioned here.) Dear Colleagues, On Wednesday evening, the Boston 501 Tech Club had a record turnout of over 70 nonprofit techies! It was the largest gathering ever in the history of the regional 501 Tech Clubs. Here are a few factors that go into an event like this one: - We had a dedicated team of planners: Merove Heifetz of Earthwatch Institute (the outgoing convener of the Boston club), Beth Sousa of Families First (the incoming convener), Kathleen Sherwin of Tech Foundation, and yours truly. - The planners met several weeks in advance, to get acquainted in person, to brainstorm about desired outcomes, and to plan for the transition to a new convener. We then stayed in touch by email and conference call. - TechFoundation generously underwrote the cost of the venue, food, and drinks. Furthermore, Kathleen Sherwin, ably assisted by Colleen Higgins (also of TechFoundation), deployed her superlative skills as an event manager. - TechFoundation also generously underwrote my time as a consultant to bring various pieces of the puzzle together, and to do outreach to individuals and groups who may not have previously known about the Boston 501 Tech Club or considered attending one of its events. - The event was held outdoors at a time of year when most people crave a little fresh air and sunshire, and it didn't rain. - The venue was easily accessible by public transportation. (Parking was also available, which definitely counts for something in Harvard Square.) I'd summarize the most important take-aways in this way: - If you feed them, they will come. This costs money. - Events of this sort are labor intensive. Volunteers who have other full-time jobs can't be expected to do all the work. Hiring professionals costs money. - It's important for potential attendees to receive personal invitations (or to hear about the event) from people they know. However, it's also important not to overlook what we as the planners could take for granted: our region can boast of a first-rate talent pool of current and aspiring nonprofit techies. We have an abundance of philanthropic spirit, utopian vision, and technological genius here in Massachusetts. Rich in human capital, we desperately need the financial and institutional resources to bring it all together to serve the nonprofit sector. This new partnership between the Boston 501 Tech Club and TechFoundation may bring help to bring us to the tipping point. Go, team! Best regards from Deborah P.S. Full disclosure of financial relationship: I used to serve as TechFoundation's national nonprofit liaison officer and director of its Boston TechConnect program, and am currently working with TF on a consulting basis. Deborah Elizabeth Finn Boston, Massachusetts, USA deborah_elizabeth_finn@post.harvard.edu http://blog.deborah.elizabeth.finn.com/blog http://public.xdi.org/=deborah.elizabeth.finn _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to digitaldivide-request@mailman.edc.org with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.