An introduction to the myguide Project in Resources
Email to a friend- Accesskeys
- Skip to Navigation
- Skip to Sub Navigation
Paul McGahon, member of the Cross-Government Digital Inclusion Team, describes how myguide has busted the myths surrounding digital exclusion, and how it can now help local authorities and partnerships bring inclusion to their communities.
In Brief
The digital divide increases social, economic and educational disadvantage for millions, and hampers efficient public service delivery that increasingly relies on web channels. The myguide project therefore brought together a unique partnership of government, industry and third sector expertise to tackle the key barriers of accessibility, usability, motivation, skills and confidence. Exhaustively researched and tested, myguide combines access technologies with customer-focused design that directly challenges traditional internet complexity. The result is a “brilliantly simple” and hugely successful step-by-step tool for people to use the Internet on their own terms and to access online services and opportunities. It is now a key element of the national Digital Inclusion Strategy and is being delivered as a cross-government and cross-sector resource.
Why
There are 17 million adults affected by digital exclusion, affected as much by lack of motivation, skills and confidence as by lack of access. Research shows the divide is not narrowing and will not be impacted by demographic or market changes in the coming years. The divide is also deepening, with increasing relative disadvantage that is both social and economic, particularly important in today’s challenging environment. myguide was established to help overcome some of the barriers to effective use of the internet for these groups and thus open up access to its benefits. These benefits include access to online public and commercial services and to learning and employment opportunities.
What
myguide innovatively combines existing technologies and accessibility solutions with carefully developed and tested design solutions, resulting in a “radically simple” step-by-step tool for using the internet. Launched last year it offers a free easy-to-use email service and search tool in an uncluttered, ad-free environment. Users can personalise and save their accessibility settings and choose to have the text read to them where appropriate. Guidance modules enable customers to learn about different uses of the Internet – how to use online public services for example, search for jobs or shop and bank online.
How
It can be used as a self-service facility by the web novice or with the support of a family member, friend or carer (www.myguide.gov.uk) but is also designed as an ‘open use’ development tool which can be used by public and third sector organisations such as such as Digital Unite, NIACE, Age Concern and RNIB. In particular it will be supported by the UK online centre network, with many centres providing community access in the most disadvantaged areas in England. The user base supported in this way tend to have relatively high proportions of users from low income groups, with no formal qualifications, not in employment, older people or disabled.
Realising the Benefits
For an impressive nine out of ten users, myguide provides not only high levels of customer satisfaction but also high levels of impact. Evaluation research shows that:
• They develop Internet and email skills and indeed most become frequent Internet users
• They develop increased confidence and motivation to try new things
• Most importantly it has a real impact on their lives whether social and family, and/or motivation to go on a training course or find a more satisfying job with consequent economic benefits
• Significantly given the customer base, one in three users is sufficiently motivated and confident to go on to buy their own computers.
Equally important is that the guidance modules are designed to help each individual realise the benefits that are most important to them. For example, learning how to shop, research or utility-switch online can result in annual household savings of several hundred pounds. Modules in development will focus on financial and health related resources, and will help parents engage in their children’s education and ensure safe use of the Internet for their children.
Behind the statistics
This is of course about people not technology. And behind the statistics are stories of real people that are a reminder of the transformational power of inclusion:
Shaun had lost a home, a job and his family before he went to use myguide at a UK online centre: “I’ll admit when they first sat me in front of the computer I was clueless – but when they showed me how to search and use email using myguide, it was as if someone had flicked on a light switch. I first came here with just the clothes I was wearing. Now I’m back on my feet again and … getting an education. I’ve got a whole new lease of life, and more importantly my kids have got their Dad back.”
At 60 Vanessa had lost everything in a business venture and ended up living in a car. Using myguide to brush up her skills she set up a CV and found both somewhere to live and a job: “Being thrown on the scrapheap makes you realise how easy it is to get there and how hard it is to get back up again. The internet has been a vital tool for me.”
Significance
What all this means is that as long as the digitally excluded can be motivated to take that first step, myguide can ‘convert’ the vast majority of users to confident beneficiaries of the web. And given its customer base myguide has already busted the myth that there are whole sections of the population that will not be able to adapt to or benefit from the modern, digital world. It is therefore a key element of the national Digital Inclusion Strategy. The challenge now is to ensure that as many people as possible benefit from this proven tool by raising awareness. This can be done if national and local public service organisations promote it and use it a resource to enable inclusion and channel shift for their customers.
If you have used myguide and have any comments please get in touch at our DC10plus blog