2. Welcome Ted Cassidy MBE Head of Regional Partnerships De Montfort University Chair of the Board, Phoenix Square
3. Amplifying Today Tweeting? Use #ampleic. Sessions will be filmed and put online after the event. The innovative social media group Amplified are with us to capture and amplify the conversation using Audioboo, Flickr, Twitter and blogging.
4. Project Summary Sue Thomas Professor of New Media IOCT & Humanities, DMU Thilo Boeck Senior Research Fellow Centre for Social Action, DMU
5. Amplified Leicester A city-wide experiment to explore diversity and innovation build a network across diverse communities create, share and develop new ideas use social media like Facebook and Twitter as an amplifier Commissioned and supported by NESTA, an independent body with a mission to make the UK more innovative.
6. Inspired by research Transliteracy (DMU) The ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks.
7. Inspired by research The Amplified Individual (IFTF) Highly social Highly collective Highly improvisational Highly augmented
8. Amplified Individuals possess an unusual set of skills Examples: High Ping Quotient: responding & reaching out to others (esp in social media networks). Mobbability: ability to work in large groups; to organize & collaborate with many people simultaneously. Longbroading: thinking in terms of higher-level systems, massively multiple cycles, and the very big picture.
9. Inspired by research Social Networks Social networks tend to magnify whatever they are seeded with Social networks are creative and what these networks create does not belong to any one individual. It is shared by all those in the network Social Capital ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ The notion of ‘glue’ and ‘resources’
11. Inspired by Leicester In 100BC the Belgae settled here followed by Romans, Danes & Normans Today, population <300,000 40% ethnic minority background About 240 faith groups across 14 different faiths 16% of people in Leicester prefer to speak Gujarati, 3% Punjabi, and 2% Urdu. 81% prefer to speak English One Leicester Summary of key facts: 2008
12. Project Objectives Develop a transferable model for amplifying a diverse city’s grassroots innovation capacity through connecting diverse communities through key individuals Provide practical examples of how collaborative technologies can be exploited in a city context
13. Resources Partners NESTA (Funder) DMU Institute of Creative Technologies Phoenix Square Leicester Mercury Harvey Ingrams LLP Citizens’ Eye People Uniqueness of Leicester Project Team Advisory Group Participants 43 applied 30 selected 24 still active
15. Advisory Group De Montfort University Harvey Ingram LLP Institute for the Future of the Book iQubed Lord Judd of Portsea Phoenix Square Sleepydog Unleashing Enterprise
16. Participation was free of charge and by application Open-minded, enthusiastic and curious. Interested in working and sharing ideas with other people Willing to try new activities and technologies Able to take part in the whole programme Able to access the internet regularly A resident of / working in the city of Leicester Proficient in English. Over the age of 18. No formal qualifications needed.
17. The opportunity to learn how to: Manage the stream of information which bombards us every day Generate, share & develop new ideas quickly Make the most of different kinds of capital – social, economic, creative, personal Think like a futurist Organise and collaborate better Be persuasive in different situations ….and more
19. Six Month Programme Fortnightly private meetings of 3 hrs + group lunch Focus on qualities of Amplified Individual Practical workshops + visiting speakers e.g. JP Rangaswami, Chief Scientist, BT Duncan Wilson, Arup Foresight Andy Miah, Prof in Ethics & Emerging Technology Chris Meade, Institute for the Future of the Book
20. There was an ongoing spirit of collaboration within the group
21. They said… “A fantastic opportunity to participate in a diverse group of people to hopefully achieve lasting positive amplification of our city.” Gary McCarthy “I could share my knowledge with others inside and outside the project”. Sarah Eaton “Amplified Leicester has re-awakened my desire to push the boundaries of communication and innovation in whole new direction.” Darren Hines “I learned that you often know more than you think - you just don't know it.” Farhana Shaikh
22. Research Findings Group Process Most of participants (70%) consider themselves to be a mixture of ‘offline and online’ person. A quarter of the participants consider themselves to be a mostly ‘online’ person. The majority (65%) of participants found the group work most useful. 35% finding a mixture of online and group work as being the most useful processes.
23. Amplification Participants have been developing new skills that enable them to thrive in an increasingly complex and collaborative work culture. Participants identify substantial improvements in their amplification. Some of the strongest shifts can be observed in influency, multi-capitalism, cooperation radar, signal/noise management and longbroading.
24. Diversity Two elements of diversity: The personal dynamics and group dynamics between diverse people which reflects issues of cohesion The fluid and deep diversity which nurtures a group to be innovative. Our project suggests that these have to be differentiated.
25. Trust 85% of the participants would say that the trust between members is average to high. 15% say that it is low (we explored this further in individual interviews) Trust within the group/ trust between group and advisory group and project team is an important element
26. Moving Forward Social networks grow and evolve. All sorts of things flow and move within them Through social networks people can transcend themselves and their own limitations Dissemination and contagion
27. The Model A trusted collaborative space where deep diversity flourishes, ideas flow, and social media connects.
28. Process Step one: Cocoon The Consciously Amplified Group Step two: Emergence From the Amplified Group to the Amplified City
29. Emergence Today we go public Our new online community is hosted by Amplified Leicester participants at www.amplifiedleicester.com Fortnightly free talks start next week with Josie Fraser asking ‘Is Privacy Dead?’ Our miniprojects are reaching into the city and invite your participation
30. “A great experience to realise that so many can get together through varying mediums to influence and change things. Amazing. Certainly changed my life.” Ian Davies
31. Miniprojects Introduced by Ishi Khan-Jackson Leicester Guerrilla QR code project (Sarah Eaton & Mike Wilkinson) #Leicester on the Map (Ben Ravilious) The Leicester Family (Farhana Shaikh)
33. What is a QR code? Been around since 1994 Very popular in Far East Encodes information URLs Geographical location Name address, vcard Text SMS message
34. Here are some examples Providing information Location and Environment
35. Why are QR codes exciting? Increase in mobile internet Interest in Geo-location applications Bridges the real and virtual worlds Cheap and easily accessible Big internet players are starting to use them
36. Back to the beginning.. Starting point – An Amplified Leicester exercise Social media use to develop the idea Usage of QR codes End point Mini-project proposal
37. Mini-project Small pilot project Delay due to legal queries Other concepts developed The CQART demonstration The Foursquare venue poster Pilot proved QR codes potential but more impact required
38. Leicester Mercury Interest Approached Keith Perch Editor Leicester Mercury Advisor on Amplified Leicester Board Keen Social Media User One Project identified for collaboration
39. Walk of Fame Project Series of plaques showing nine famous Leicester people Unveiling on St George’s day 25th April 2010 Cultural Quarter Business Association Interested Awaiting a response from City Council
40. Leicester On The Map An independent online PR network to promote the City of Leicester Ben Ravilious Director, Ultimateweb Ltd Campaigns Manager, Leicester Civic Society
41. Our Pitch “A cultural treasure trove that’s waiting to be explored” – OneLeicester.com “A place with big ideas. A place where businesses thrive. Where communities come together. A place where people want to live.” – Prospect Leicestershire “Leicester is a city bursting at the seams with arts, culture, festivals, attractions, shopping and food and drink.” – GoLeicestershire.com
42. Our Moaning! “Leicester is a terrible place to live, the city centre is a no go zone and most people there have no ambition” “It is such a badly-run, filthy, dangerous and generally disgusting place (the sink-estate capital of the world)” (both comments on Leicester Mercury articles)
43. What Can We Do? Don’t just leave it to our official promotion agencies Individuals talking up the city are an essential part of the toolkit Think about how you would describe Leicester to a visitor
44. Using Social Media Fast becoming the way to organise campaigns Allows quick collaboration with a large number of people Works best as a grass roots rather than top-down medium Huge variety of tools available
45. Ways to Promote Leicester Amplify positive new stories and campaigns for Leicester via your networks. Expand your own influence on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc Challenge negative stories, comments or opinions about Leicester Pass it on!
47. Leicester on the World Map (Twitter/ Google Maps mashup by Ben Marsh, developer of #uksnow site)
48. Over to You Become an online ambassador for your city! www.LeicesterOnTheMap.org.uk Thanks to: - Prof Sue Thomas + Amplified Leicester team & participants, Howard Swift & Nick Carter (Prospect Leicestershire), Simon Gribbon (Leicester Shire Promotions), Ben Marsh, Jennifer Jones, Farhana Shaikh, Laurel Davis-Lyons (Hopwood PR), John Coster (Citizen’s Eye), Sarah Harrison (City Centre Director) Ben Ravilious ben@ultimateweb.co.uk
49. Leicester Family Mini Project Farhana Shaikh, Writer and Editor with Sharon Bown, Extended Schools Coordinator
50. Leicester Family Mini Project A social media project exploring the realities of family life in the city
53. Book: Pilot Edition Launching today Crowdsourced via social media Consists of photos, written word and video Layering of past, present & future
54. Future Plans Extend pilot out to schools and community groups Reinforce social media links with face to face contact Host family craft day Open to ideas
56. Participant Panel Sharon BownCountesthorpe Cluster of Schools Ian Davies Photographer & Writer Laura Horton Regional Equality & Diversity Partnership Inspector Bill Knopp Leicestershire Constabulary Joy Marsden Joy Marsden Training & Development Simon Parker Leicester Libraries & Citizens' Eye
64. Participant Panel Sharon BownCountesthorpe Cluster of Schools Ian Davies Photographer & Writer Laura Horton Regional Equality & Diversity Partnership Inspector Bill Knopp Leicestershire Constabulary Joy Marsden Joy Marsden Training & Development Simon Parker Leicester Libraries & Citizens' Eye
65. Keynote Andrea Saveri 'Amplified Leicester and the Resilience Imperative' Introduced by Professor Andrew Hugill Director, Institute of Creative Technologies De Montfort University
66. Amplified Leicester and the Resilience Imperative Andrea Saveri Amplified Leicester Showcase, April 15, 2010 Phoenix Square Digital Media Centre Leicestershire, UK Saveri Consulting 2010
67. Saveri Consulting 2010 A Call to Action To develop flexible response capacities… …for a new, complex problem space.
68. Saveri Consulting 2010 Water Global Consumption Financial Crisis http://www.flickr.com/photos/andresrueda/3027534098/sizes/o/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/julien_harneis/589759829/sizes/o/
106. Thanks to.... NESTA The team: Thilo Boeck, RavinderKaur, Ash Brown, Lisa McNicoll & BhartiMistry Phoenix Square The Advisory Group The Amplifiers – Josie Fraser & Steve Lawson And, of course, the participants!
107. Thank you for coming this afternoon. We hope you have found our work to be informative and inspiring. Please join us now for drinks and canapes in the Screen Lounge
Editor's Notes
Group Amplification, creating a strong Group Identity, Trust, collaboration has contributed to the cohesiveness of the group and an overall spirit of collaboration