Digital Opportunities: Creating the Conditions Dave Harte Economic Development Manager Digital Birmingham [email_address] http://daveharte.com @daveharte

What kind of strategy do we need to ‘create economic success’ from digital technologies? Or: Where’s all this stuff heading?

What kind of strategy do we need to ‘create economic success’ from digital technologies?

Or:

Where’s all this stuff heading?

We know nothing about future technology use Why understanding policy is important Working across the digital divide Internationally recognised for keeping it local Summary, recommendations, next steps

We know nothing about future technology use

Why understanding policy is important

Working across the digital divide

Internationally recognised for keeping it local

Summary, recommendations, next steps

We know nothing about future technology use… McLuhan: Technologies were invented for one purpose, but get used for another. Shirky: Cognitive surplus

McLuhan:

Technologies were invented for one purpose, but get used for another.

Shirky:

Cognitive surplus

“ Here’s what 4 year olds know - a screen that ships without a mouse ships broken”

“ Here’s what 4 year olds know - a screen that ships without a mouse ships broken”

Cognitive Surplus is a market opportunity is where public service broadcasting is heading is something out of which we can build a new economic sector is sexy right now is about users rather than technology

is a market opportunity

is where public service broadcasting is heading

is something out of which we can build a new economic sector

is sexy right now

is about users rather than technology

“ Someone working alone, with really cheap tools, has a reasonable hope of carving out enough of the cognitive surplus, enough of the desire to participate, enough of the collective goodwill of the citizens, to create a resource you couldn't have imagined existing even five years ago.” (Shirky)

“ Someone working alone, with really cheap tools, has a reasonable hope of carving out enough of the cognitive surplus, enough of the desire to participate, enough of the collective goodwill of the citizens, to create a resource you couldn't have imagined existing even five years ago.” (Shirky)

Tim Berners-Lee

A digital opportunity: Cognitive surplus + Raw Data = new and exciting area of the digital economy

Cognitive surplus + Raw Data =

new and exciting area of the digital economy

My raw data

The Policy Context Creative Britain We’re better than anyone else, well done. Digital Britain Let’s get the plumbing right. Ofcom PSB review People value quality. Public service broadcasting can be online.

Creative Britain

We’re better than anyone else, well done.

Digital Britain

Let’s get the plumbing right.

Ofcom PSB review

People value quality. Public service broadcasting can be online.

The Policy Context Power of Information Power of Birmingham group Public sector meets active citizenship Push to free up data

Power of Information

Power of Birmingham group

Public sector meets active citizenship

Push to free up data

Transforming Public Service “ 4iP are hugely interested in investing in ‘good-for-you games’ that can change how we live and understand real world problems. But let's not get all serious, we want to invest in games that are fun that have an undertone of public serviceness ” (Daniel Heaf – 4IP)

“ 4iP are hugely interested in investing in ‘good-for-you games’ that can change how we live and understand real world problems. But let's not get all serious, we want to invest in games that are fun that have an undertone of public serviceness ” (Daniel Heaf – 4IP)

Digital Inclusion matters “ Increased awareness would lead to more people engaging in digital participation. Building awareness of what it is possible to do quickly and easily online could encourage greater participation.” (Ofcom Citizen Participation research)

“ Increased awareness would lead to more people engaging in digital participation. Building awareness of what it is possible to do quickly and easily online could encourage greater participation.”

(Ofcom Citizen Participation research)

Hacking the City Timely Information for Citizens Pilot project ‘Birmingham Open City’ National & International profile from getting it right locally

Timely Information for Citizens

Pilot project ‘Birmingham Open City’

National & International profile from getting it right locally

A new digital workforce Knowledge workers are the region’s best resource In SMEs In public sector Networked Emphasis on show and tell Institutions need to follow their lead builds links between sectors

Knowledge workers are the region’s best resource

In SMEs

In public sector

Networked

Emphasis on show and tell

Institutions need to follow their lead

builds links between sectors

Summary There’s a significant change happening in users – cognitive surplus – they are shaping the market. National policy-makers want to see innovation in the public sector – the region can a centre for excellence in this.

There’s a significant change happening in users – cognitive surplus – they are shaping the market.

National policy-makers want to see innovation in the public sector – the region can a centre for excellence in this.

Creating the conditions What regional policy-makers could usefully focus on: Bringing the pipes Bringing the people (users & workers) Supplying the cash points (investment & infrastructure) Brokering the links

What regional policy-makers could usefully focus on:

Bringing the pipes

Bringing the people (users & workers)

Supplying the cash points (investment & infrastructure)

Brokering the links

What kind of strategy do we need to ‘create economic success’ from digital technologies? One that sets out a road map for digital opportunities (the conditions) That understands the role of failure That admits there are lots of unknowns That has the power to influence That is dynamic and flexible That we all own

One that sets out a road map for digital opportunities (the conditions)

That understands the role of failure

That admits there are lots of unknowns

That has the power to influence

That is dynamic and flexible

That we all own