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Appendix Four
IDTV Pilot
The 6 month IDTV pilot project launched on 7 September 2004 was designed to test the potential of technology as a medium for the delivery of public sector information and services. This involved placing material from 6 partner organisations on the Sky platform.
The partner organisations were;
- the Scottish Executive
- West Lothian Council
- Dumfries and Galloway Council
- Young Scot
- StartHere
- NHS (Health Scotland)
The pilot was closed down on 2 April 2005 pending a full evaluation (which is now almost complete and will be published on the Scottish Executive website in due course). The total cost of the pilot was £375,000.
Home Computer Initiative
The Scottish Executive has established a Home Computer Initiative Framework Contract on behalf of Scottish public authorities. The Framework enables the leasing of PCs, software and peripherals by public authorities to their employees. The aim of the scheme is to increase access to home computers in Scotland by significantly reducing the price of acquiring a PC.
Following a European procurement exercise three suppliers were identified to participate in the Framework Contract. These are BT/Dell, Club IT/ HP and Fujitsu Siemens.
The scheme reduces the cost of acquiring a PC and peripherals through a combination of bulk purchasing power and the use of a tax efficient salary sacrifice scheme.
- A public sector employer can offer its employees a computer for home use and allow the employee to pay for it over 36 months by having their monthly gross salary reduced. The amount will be dependent on the chosen computer package.
- The employee does not pay income tax or National Insurance contributions in respect of his/her salary sacrifice. They make a considerable saving on the already discounted computer packages.
Participating employees are able to choose from a selection of the latest specification desk top computers, laptops and other qualifying peripherals with different pricing menus. The package also offers operating software, a 3 year warranty, home delivery and a low cost technical helpline.
Angus 50+
The project aim is to provide information and increase awareness, usage and uptake of IT/ internet access in the 50+ age group in Angus. Objectives are a branded smart-card, a 50+ publication, a website with local content (health and transport) and support for ICT learning via community education workers. This is a 2 year project that began in April 2004 and will end in April 2006. Funding is mainly by the Scottish Executive with funding in kind provided by other partners in the form of services (Angus Council) and access to training (Angus College). Total Scottish Executive funding for this 2 year project is £460k.
Key players are Angus Council, Age Concern Scotland, Microsoft, Tayside Police and NHS Tayside. The project is on course to have achieved 250 learners by the end date and the take up by residents in sheltered housing has been very encouraging. More recently, the project has received support from BT with broadband being provided in some venues.
Accessibility has been a prime focus of this project and the project findings to date have been of interest to others looking at similar issues.
Renewing Local Democracy (E - democracy project)
The project is investigating the use of information and communications technology to facilitate the renewal of local democracy through the development of a community e-democracy model supported by e-democracy tools. This is a 2 year project that began in February 2004 and will end in January 2006. Funding of £169k has been provided by the Scottish Executive for the project.
Key players are Stirling Council in partnership with the Association of Community Councils for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park area, Stirling Assembly, the Association of Scottish Community Councils and the International Teledemocracy Centre at Napier University.
The toolkit developed is currently being piloted by 6 Community Councils, all of which have their own websites and associated tools. At the end of the project ownership of the websites and equipment will pass to the community councils piloting the project. Following evaluation, potential for national rollout will be considered by the project steering group.
Community Hub project definition
This work aims to cost and assess the potential of a different approach to the provision of public services and digital inclusion in low income communities. The project proposal is for a set-top box which would provide personal computing access via TV screens to a low income/social housing community in West Lothian.
The emphasis will be on digital inclusion and social cohesion, e-government, home care and home learning. Funding of £93,750 has been provided by the Scottish Executive for this project definition. Funding is for the financial years 2004/2005 and 2005/2006.
Key players are Open Hub, West Lothian Council and the Scottish Executive. The Scottish Executive will use the results of the project definition to assess whether there is potential for the project to contribute to universal access to the web and benefit the digitally excluded.
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