The Digital Economy Programme

John Hand, HeadDigital Economy Programme

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

Napster 99-01 music sharing.• Traditional industry caught by surprise• Reaction was to treat as threat and fight to close down• Early example of ‘on-demand’ media and file-sharing• Debate was always whether it hurt or actually stimulated further sales

On demand Media and Broadcast• BBC iPlayer• IP TV

Public/Private broadcast – YouTube•Open to all•Quantity and choice •Even used by Government (DIUS website)

TRANSPORTThe increasing complexity and volume of the transport system provides particular challenges:

• How do people decide which way to travel?

• How do we avoid congestion?

• How do we influence peoples behaviour?

Transport Direct is an initiative led by the Department for Transport aimed at providing end to end information for travellers, anyone can plan a journey, door to door and be presented with all the options.

• How do we make this accessible to all parts of the population?

• Do we understand how to use this to drive behaviour?

In December 2007 a survey from think-tank Demos warned that older people who are not able to use the internet risk becoming increasingly isolated.

in August 2007 a major independent inquiry supported by Age Concern revealed that mental health problems affect many more people in later life than previously believed, with one in five people over 80 living with dementia.

HEALTHCARE

Computer Interactive Reminiscence and Conversation Aid (CIRCA)is a project led by Norman Alm at Dundee University it uses ICTto allow people with Alzheimer’s to draw on long term memoriesto engage in conversation with friends, relatives and carers.

Impact: onset is slowed and patients are able to live independently for longer

THE CHALLENGE

• Understanding the benefits and opportunities of using new Information Technology to:– Society– Business– Government

• Ensuring that we can use the newest technology at the soonest opportunity to the biggest impact

• Understanding the needs of companies, people and organisations, with research into not just the technology, but also understanding how people use technology, what the impact is and where it fits

AIMS

• Deliver research that is driven by real need with the ability to have impact

• Create a new community of researchers who understand the technology, but also how people use it and what the impact is

• Provide a focus for the interaction between the research base and the key stakeholders

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

RESEARCH CLUSTERS AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES• One year feasibility studies, funded with aim of

stimulating activity (£2M)• Research Clusters (£2M)

– Priorities from Workshop– Driving consideration of key issues in Community– Considering Follow on

• Information Driven Healthcare (£2.3M)– Scoping Grand Challenges for the impacts of better

use of information in Healthcare

New Investment(over £120M) 08/09 to 10/11

CENTRES FOR DOCTORAL TRAINING• 6 Centres funded at £34M• Each centre will support an

intake of 10 new students per year for five years for a four year PhD

• Focus on impact of technology to user

• Over 100 companies have provided support for the 6 Centres

RESEARCH HUBS

• 3 Centres, £36M

• Changing culture

• Strong industry buy-in

• Partnership fund

DESIGN IN THE DIGITAL WORLD• £5M Sandpit

• Drive adventurous research

• Designers, computer scientists, journalists, psychologists, philosophers, engineers, ethnographers and many more disciplines

• Mentors from BAe, Conran, GE

• Seven projects and one network supported

FUTURE PLANS

• Work with stakeholders to identify key challenges

• Partner in delivering research to address those challenges

• Continue to build the community, using the Hubs and DTCs as a focus

So where can we work?

• Involvement with the Hubs

• Clusters – follow on activity

• Sandpits and other consortia building activities

• Workshops

• Give me your details!

Questions?