The Benefits of Being Online

Sarah GrahamUK Online Project Officer

sarah.graham@newcastle.gov.uk0191 2774115

Format of the Seminar Background information on the UK Online Project

Useful web addresses for more information

Group / Individual Exercise

Go-On website and video

Six benefits of being online

Time for any questions at the end

Background

Martha Lane Fox appointed to lead the Digital Inclusion Task Force

In October 2009, they published findings which demonstrated the economic benefits of being online:

10 million adults in the UK had never been online

4 million of these adults were socially excluded

40% were unemployed, 40% were over 65 years old

Background The 1.8 million children currently digitally excluded could earn

up to £10.8 billion in their lifetime if they were to become digitally literate

People who are digitally literate can earn an average increase in their lifetime earnings of over £8,000

The government could save £900 million a year if digitally excluded adults were online and communicating with the

government instead of face to face

Background

Quote from Martha Lane Fox:

“I think it is really important to show the economic argument behind getting people online. By being online there are

massive savings for people personally, rich rewards for their career prospects and also big savings for the government.”

Useful Web Addresseswww.go-on.co.uk

www.raceonline2012.org

www.newcastle.gov.uk/libraries

Newcastle City Library is a UK Online Centre and part of the Community Capacity Builders Project, working with partner

organisations throughout the region to get more people online.

Aim is to have everyone online by 2012, in time for the London Olympics. At the present time, 8.7 million still to go…

Group / Individual ExerciseIn groups, or individually if you prefer, try to come up with at least

3 benefits to you personally of being online.

If you are already online, think about what you use the internet for…

If you are not online, think about what you could use the internet for…

Please take around 10 minutes to

come up with three main ideas!

Go-on Video

Video recording extolling the benefits of being online!

www.go-on.co.uk

Staying in Touch

Emailing Skype Facebook Twitter Forums Blogs

Saving Time and Money

Online shopping

Buying cinema tickets

Buying music Buying groceries

Have Fun

Playing games Socialising (web chat, forums…) Catching up with TV programmes Looking up interests and hobbies

Find Information

Latest news

Opening / closing times of local venues

Local events and happenings

Bus and train timetables

Learn More

Research an area of interest

Journal articles

Online courses

Wikipedia

Find Work

Online job searches Organisation websites Online applications CV Email alerts

Any Questions?

Thank you for coming to ‘The Benefits of Being Online’!

Sarah GrahamUK Online Project Officer

sarah.graham@newcastle.gov.uk 0191 2774115