Helen Milner discusses rethinking the digital divide in her presentation at the National Digital Conference 2012. She notes that internet use is exploding everyday, yet a divide still exists between first generation and next generation internet users. Next generation users, who are younger, use multiple internet applications and devices, while first generation users are older and less active online. Milner advocates growing confident and independent internet users through 3,800 community partners and 500 access points that provide training and support. She argues that technology should help people achieve goals, like digitizing public services, rather than be the goal itself. The key is combining local partners, technology, and scale to connect people and help close the digital divide.

1. Rethinking the digital divide
31 May 2012
Helen Milner
CEO - Online Centres Foundation
National Digital Conference 2012

2. Pubs A barn
Community centres and events
Cafes
… and churches, libraries, mosques, youth groups, mobile
3,800 Community Partners + 500 Access Points

3. A “Bigger Life”

4. The internet makes you happier than
money
The BCS research found that:
‘IT has a direct positive impact on life
satisfaction, even when controlling for
income and other factors known to be
important in determining well-being’
Source: The Information Dividend: Why IT
makes you ‘happier’, BCS, The Chartered
Institute for IT by Trajectory Partnership,
September 2010

5. Everyday use is exploding: a bigger divide
Percentage UK population use of the internet
Source: ONS up to Q3 2011

6. Internet Users in 2011
All users Next gen user First gen user Ex-user Non-user
100
80 73
% of the population
67
60 59 54
40
40
32
35
28
20 13 23
06 5 5
2003 2005 2007 2009 2011
OxIS 2003: N=2,029; OxIS 2005: N=2,185; OxIS 2007: N=2,350; OxIS 2009: N=2,013; OxIS 2011: N=2,057

7. Next Generation Users
• Use at least two internet applications on
their smartphone (eg email and weather)
And,
• Own at least two of the following devices:
tablet; reader; or three or more computers

8. Next Generation Users by Lifestage
Next generation users First generation users
100
91
80
% of current users
60
60 52 51
48 49
40
40
20
9
0
Students Employed Retired Unemployed
Current users. OxIS 2011: N=1,498

9. Next Generation Users by Content Production
Next generation users First generation users
% of users who do more than never
100
80 75
64
60
48
43 41
40 31 31
19 21
20 16 16
10
0
Visit social Post photos Post videos Own a Write Post
networking personal a blog 'creative'
sites website work
Current users. OxIS 2011: N=1,498

10. Offline & Online
First generation & Next generation
Nevers (8.2m) & Littles (14.5m)
No/Narrow use & ‘A Bigger Life’
Goal is to grow confident and
independent internet users

11. 88% people feel more confident
79% think they are more independent
after they have got help to use the
internet
UK online centres progression survey
Oct – Dec 2011

12. The question is not how can we use
technology …..
… it’s what do we want to achieve
and can technology help us to
achieve it?

13. Such as digitising public services

14. 1m online for £30m: Saving £157m
Through UK online centres
1 April 2010 – 30 May 2012
1 April 2010 – 27 April
2012

15. Local
+ Technology
+ Scale

16. th is:
e do
W

17. Local partners do
this:

18. The magic ingredient is PEOPLE

19. Thank You
helen@ukonlinecentres.com
@helenmilner on twitter
Slideshare.net/helenmilner
www.ukonlinecentres.com
www.go-on.co.uk