stephen blyth’s blog

We’ve been a bit coy of singing too loudly that a new website for the tangata whenua, community and voluntary sector is coming soon.

With major website developments timing can be fickle. It’s really difficult to be sure you have enough to show others.

But later next month, we’ll be unveiling CommunityCentral. There’ll be spaces people can set up to work together. This could be on a discrete project or as part of an ongoing network. And then there’ll be some news sources and big projects to keep an eye on.

This is just the start and the project aims to get people talking about what online tools will best support work in communities. Although we have yet to secure an ongoing source of funding, the aim is to keep growing and modifying CommunityCentral in response to what people working in grassroots organisations need.

To find out some more you can read our early marketing brochure (200 KB, PDF), read a few posts on the CommunityCentral blog where we’re talking about the development process, or listen to a recent interview.

Last week Ros and Michael from Collaborative Voices interviewed me as part of the their monthly radio show. The show keeps the not-for-profit and social service sectors up to date and informed. There is an mp3 file or your can listen on demand to the “NFP Computer Stuff You Need To Know” feature. If downloading the mp3 file, be warned it is a 25 MB file, so it’s best not to use dial-up.

Later in the year we’ll be doing a roadshow around Aotearoa sharing the website and getting feedback on where we should head.

I’ve been working on this project since November last year, so it’s great to be finally making visible progress. Get in touch with any questions or feedback.

The recent decision to open anyone to create any internet domain name has been widely reported as starting a potential boom on the Internet.

The release of an unlimited number of domains, currently restricted to just 21 top level acronyms, (including .com, .net, etc), will allow for unrivaled personal expression. Every family of individual could register their own name. The decision is due to come into affect next year.

What has been little reported is the opportunity the new name structure allows indigenous people to assert their identity. The NZ Maori Internet Society is delighted at the outcome.

“It has been a long time coming we just hope that associated set up costs for Top Level Domain names will be affordable not only for Maori but for all Indigenous Peoples worldwide” said Ross Himona on the NZMIS website.

Karaitiana Taiuru, from Otautahi, a stalwart of NZMIS and a representative on the global body (called ICANN) that makes the rules on the internet naming conventions. He was due to the attend at the 26 June meeting in Paris that opened the floodgates, but regrettably missed the historic event.

He believes that there are perils in the decision, but it’s good news for Maori and other indigenous people.

“While conglomerates may see gTLDs [top level domains] as a branding exercise, cultural based groups around the world now have an opportunity to be represented on the Internet regardless of their countries majority rule or impacts of colonisation,” he wrote on his blog.

Concerns have been raised about the new system to perpetuate new scams by criminals and allow for profiteering. See the “Domain name shakeup may bring new net goldrush“.

There will be rules and hurdles in the registration process, but there seems to be lots of optimism this will recognise the rights of people to assert their identify. Non-roman characters will be able to be used for the first time.

Although I won’t be racing out to be the first to register .blyth, I’m glad there’ll soon be a choice.

Beer brewed by European monks stands out for its flavour and strength. The trappist monastery appellation is strictly controlled, though there has been known to be some scrapping, and the seven breweries accredited with the label all brew their strong ales with distinctive flavours.

In Aotearoa we get most of the trappist bevies: Chimay, d’Orval, de Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren.

Until recently, a wee drop of the trappist was only available by the bottle.

That changed on 12 June. The Malthouse, in Courtenay Place, begun serving Chimay Blanch by the glass. Making world history, they’re the first to be granted such a privilege in this country.

It tastes fresh and supple, and unbelievably wicked (what were those monks thinking). At $12 a glass and family responsibilities, I won’t be having too many.

I don’t know how long it will last, so get in quick to try this heavenly nectar.

On Wednesday I finally decided how I’d rejig my computer set up. Because of the amount of work I do in front of a screen I thought I’d probably be more productive with a bigger one. Plus a couple of times recently, my presentations haven’t worked 100% because I included multi-media that can’t be handled by my iBook, aged almost four years.

It wasn’t until about 8pm on Wednesday that I got around to placing my order. I decided to get a refurbished laptop directly from the New Zealand Apple store. A major attraction is that refurbished computers come with a one year warranty, albeit a limited one. This provides a level of comfort that I couldn’t get if I bought a computer off an individual.

The next day I got several confirmation emails, one of which came with a TNT consignment number. I thought I’d track progress and write this up.

I didn’t get a chance. My refurbished computer arrived 3pm Friday - just over 40 hours after I ordered it. Wow!

Notwithstanding a niggardly problem using the migration assistant to transfer my existing user profile, settings and files, I’m wonderfully impressed at both the speed of delivery and excellent communication. The computer itself is pretty fast and solid (a good thing as I will be carting it around in my cycle pannier). I’m sure I’ll sort out my migration problem with a call to the Apple helpdesk, which was highly rated in a recent survey of suppliers by the Consumer’s Institute.

BTW: I purchased a MacBook Pro, with a wireless keyboard and Viewsonic 22in monitor (see a review from the Good Gear Guide) on order. The iMac which I’m replacing has worked seamlessly since the day I got it second-hand from TotallyMac. I wouldn’t mind hanging on to it, but three computers is a tad excessive. It’ll be up for sale on TradeMe shortly.

I’m sure I could find somewhere on the Internet everything I want to know about Google, plus tonnes I don’t. There are websites with search guides, how-to videos, gossip, a Google maps mash-up list and much more.

Next week I’m running a one hour training course on effective search techniques for people working as elder abuse and neglect coordinators. For a change I’ve turned to old fashioned print resources to learn more about Google search to share with participants. An added bonus is I’ll be able to pass around the books, which will help people who like to read things to learn that way.

Yeah, so I got a couple of books. Pretty hefty ones at that.

Michael Miller’s second edition of “Googlepedia: the ultimate Google resource” is a mammoth 822 pages. About a third of the book is devoted to searching, but virtually all the other Google applications and services are covered too. It’s designed for everybody internet user so has lots of diagrams and tips. Michael shares his opinions so it’s not too dry.

“Google Hacks: tips and tools for finding and using the world’s information” (3rd edition) published by O’Reilly is a very different beast. Apart from the first 80 odd pages on searching, I don’t know if the workshop participants will appreciate the other 420 pages. Its a technical book with scripting and code descriptions, guidance on how-to create your own maps and stuff like that. The amazing things you can do, well, it’s pretty overwhelming actually.

Sandy Berger has written a book for baby boomers, and their parents. “The Great Age Guide to the Internet” is for people new to computing and the Internet. The basics are covered really nicely. I’m particularly fond of the Blooper alerts - things don’t always go as predicted, so lets not be shy about that.

Over the weekend I’ll grab a copy of Netguide and ComputerWorld from the library to supplement these tomes. Plus, if Reuben Schwarz’s computer page in the Dominion Post is relevant, I’ll grab that too.

I’d love any other ideas for top search tips. Either physical or virtual, I don’t mind.

When I met Beth Kanter after having read her blog for several years she made a real impression on me. It wasn’t just her committed personal activism, wide ranging knowledge and willingness to share, so much as her phenomenal connectedness that struck me. Set loose on the keyboard and she connects with people, for just causes.

During a one-day workshop after the Connecting Up 08 conference a small group of 20 or so got see what it means to be really connected online.

It soon became obvious she has formed connections online with hundreds and hundreds of people. These might be people she’s worked with in depth, somebody she chatted to at a conference, or just someone who has accidentally found her online.

When she needs to, as she did when fundraising for the Sharing Foundation in Cambodia, Beth will (carefully) reach out to her networks. At other times she’ll ask people for help with research for an article or presentation she’s making, or as the example she gave us, ask what is the best sim card to use in Australia.

I have no doubt this is reciprocal. Beth is happy for people to know about what she is doing and is very open about this. She blogs in several places, has a twitter account anyone can follow, is on facebook, has an avatar on second life and is out there in numerous other places too no doubt.

The types of relationships formed transcend any easy description. Friend, colleague, fellow-professional, neighbour, supporter? It’s hard to know how to describe members of the online network Beth has built up. It probably doesn’t matter, but what it suggests is that when you match the internet medium with trust and reciprocity you get a pretty powerful combination.

There might be a drawback to all this. It would seem that Beth lives a very online life. Perhaps one which means you’ve got to be stuck in front of a computer. Interminably.

As I’m Twitter-averse and Facebook challenged, I don’t imagine myself joining let along creating such networks. Even though they could be immensely valuable, my introspective side flares up when I think about it. This ultra connectedness is not for everyone. Nor should it be, for the internet really is about people having choice. However, I do now really understand the potential of creating networks, particularly for organisations.

There are ways of managing the temptations of constant, ubiquitous connectivity. Beth talked about how she keeps things under control. She has at times designated Twitter Tuesdays, or Facebook Fridays. And it’s obvious she communicates on her on terms (ie seldom instantly unless the time is right).

And before you think Beth is baring all (something she has done, see the Beth 5.0 flickr photo set), when we go online it’s obvious we only present the parts of ourselves we want others to see. That is, we use a persona. It’s a word that came out during the workshop as another online survival gambit.

So, what was it that we actually covered in the workshop? The day long session was a practical how-to advice on using social media, including a chance for Beth to share some of her frameworks.

Beth introduced a common sense framework for community and voluntary organisations wanting to use new online tools. The three basic steps are:

1. Listen
2. Join the conversation
3. Experiment. Start by blogging.

Capturing what you learn as you go was considered pretty important. Beth suggested using a learning diary and saving material on a shared wiki or web page. Other participants suggested giving permission for team members to experiment with the web on the condition they report to the rest of the team.

The main point to underline is permission to explore social media in your own time, on your own terms.

You can take a look at the record of the workshop (and part instructional tool) at http://take-to-the-social-web.wikispaces.com.

My biggest takeaway (a north American colloquialism which stands in for “what I learned today”): online networks can involve new people and reinvigorate others to get active or give.

A loud happy yelp goes out to Beth, an avid dog lover. Thanks for coming all way down under.

Downstairs in my office I’ve got a webserver running. On Wednesday night it began hosting this blog along with some other websites, programmes and my email from its new possie. The only thing I know about keeping it going is how to switch the power back on if we have a powercut.

I appreciate the wonders of technology, but I’m not actually that keen to get my hands dirty. The server is only here because AJ departs for adventures in Europe early next month.

It was an effort to better cater for the webserver I wanted to get fast cable broadband through TelstraClear. I wrote earlier about some hassles I was having (see “Broadband tale of woe”) which meant I was without broadband for three weeks, surviving only on some inadequate, temporary measures and forking out over $200 to get a Vodem with a one month account.

Irony pervades the whole saga, as I am back with ihug after TelstraClear concluded it is uneconomic to connect my house to cable broadband, at the moment anyway. It’s something I wish they’d known before agreeing to take me on as a customer - it would have saved a lot of anguish.

After about eight humble apologies, I accepted an offer of compensation from TelstraClear, though it is yet to materialise in my bank account. The $12.50 for each apology I’m receiving makes me think they really did understand the inconvenience caused by the inept way the installation proceeded.

My conclusion that large hierarchical organisations are inherently flawed - not matter how many nice people work for them - has been confirmed. It’s not a saga I’d like to repeat, but I’m sure as long as bureaucracies exist, it’s bound to happen again.

It was a year ago today that I purchased the domain www.commonknowledge.net.nz. This calls for raising of glasses and toasts. Not so much to celebrate the first birthday of a domain name, but to recognise I’ve been self-employed for my first year.

Being self-employed has its up and downs but right now I’m feeling pretty positive about where my business is heading.

This month I’ve picked up a short contract with the State Services Commission to help facilitate the growth and development of the online participation community of practice. The notice for the workshop which will kick this process off, was emailed out yesterday.

My goal to specialise in working with NGOs is paying off as I’m currently working on five projects within the tangata whenua, community and voluntary sector.

Later this month I’m running a one hour training session on searching Google and how to learn about using the Internet. It’s definitely my smallest piece of work, but something that’s spurred me to learn more about the Google behemoth.

Yeah, so cheers www.commonknowledge.net.nz - many happy returns.

The first thing I noticed when I hopped off the plane in Brisbane was not the humidity but the air conditioning. Pretty chilly. It’s something I’ll have to get used to. Representatives from community groups meeting to talk about using ICT in communities are meeting at the Hilton. This means living in a sealed, air-conditioned environment for the next few days.

I’m going to run a business card collection post for the Connecting Up 08 conference (19-20 May 2008). Everyone I grab a card from I’ll throw up their name, a link and a comment, when I can get time.

The Hilton charges $26 for two hours wireless connectivity so I’ve popped out to a cafe where they have free wireless if you buy a cuppa.

Anyway, on with the business card post. In no particular order:

• Ron from Group 61 is wants to learn about how to find volunteers using websites. His organisation runs a befriending service and organises outings for people with mental health issues.
• John Y G Fune is Director of the Information Technology Resource Centre owned in whole by Hong Kong Council of Social Services. He has built the centre up from scracth, now employing 30 staff on a heap of programmes.
• All the way from the Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboringinal Language Centre, Bruce was recording stories of his people and wanted to learn what part the web could play in this.
• Flying Arts “offer professional development workshops and exhibiting opportunities for regional and remote visual artists and communities”. Ann said she hadn’t met most of the people she communicated with.
• The IT industry in India put 10% of their income into a charitable foundation. Rufina Fernandes, CEO, of NASSCOM Foundation, runs both digital inclusion programmes and is developing ways to support not for profirt organisations, of which there are at least a million.
• Today is Vyria Paselk’s first day in her new role supporting partners of the San Francisco based TechSoup Global.
• I’ve already written about the Doing IT Better initiative in Victoria (see my post from 30 August 2007). Today I met Dean Lombard, an ICT Projects Coordinator, with the Victorian Council of Social Services, who is working alongside Larry Stillman to support NGOs to get online.

Here goes on part two, from the second day of the conference:

• Des Naude works with Charity Computers in Canberra providing practical support to individuals using techies from disadvantaged backgrounds trained by the organisation
• As the clubs and student development manager at UNSW Hannah Baral is looking for examples of mobilizing younger people with social media (see Beth Kanters post relaying this question).
• At the same time I finished my talk on wikispaces, Louise Arkles finished talking about the PhilanthopyWiki, run by Philanthropy Australia. It’s an online encyclopaedia and archive of knowledge on philanthropy in Australia.

Here’s the third and final instalment:

• I almost spent more time talking with Terry Stokes from Lasa about beer than community ICT, so I thought I should link to a couple of the top breweries pouring in his home town in Wigan: Thwaites and Timothy Taylor.
• Jan from Dragons Abreast, an organisation promoting breast cancer awareness and education, primarily, through the sport of dragon boat racing, gratefully received a grant for computer hardware recently, but no money for installation or maintenance. What to do?
• I missed Nigel Sanderson’s session on FundraiseOnline, but we’ll catch up in Wellington. The New Plymouth based company has just expanded to Australia offering its website to keen athletes raising funds for charities.
• Back in 2004 I worked alongside Amodha from Infoxchange in Melbourne. She presented about the service-to-service software package designed specifically for health and welfare providers.
• Darrell Burkey is President of Computing Assistance, Support and Education in Canberra. His positive feedback on the Wellington e-rider IT service really boosted my confidence we’re on the right track.

There are more than 300 participants so I didn’t manage to get around everyone, but I did manage to have lots of good yarns.

My demeanour as an ihug customer has changed from happy and unflappable to disgruntled and frazzled. I’m in the middle of a broadband tale of woe.

It all started when I decided to switch ISP from ihug to TelstraClear. Faster cable broadband was the carrot, and slightly cheaper pricing a not unwelcome bonus.

TelstraClear’s customer service department were polite and efficient. A concern my existing adsl broadband and phone number might be cut-off before the cable was installed was met with a swift reassurance. “Sir, the old doesn’t go until the new is working”. Oh, how I wish I’d got that in writing.

The technician turned up on the appointed day. That’s when things started to go seriously wrong. Once upon a time a TelstraClear cable arched majestically to the house. But, aha, when we found a mangled cable it was obvious this was no longer the case.

Just install a new (ugly, thick black) cable and all will be sorted. Not that quick. There are already too many cables on the nearest lamp-post and a more thorough investigation is needed to determine whether the pole can take another one. Scott left before I could offer him a cuppa tea.

Two days later I found out new wiring in the neighbourhood is needed, which first takes permission from the lines company.

“Sir, you won’t be able to get cable broadband until at least 30 May.”

In the meantime, my account at ihug was already cancelled. There is a long explanation of porting and provisioning and so on and so forth. My efforts to get them to temporarily reinstate my account have fallen on deaf ears. As the jilted party, ihug have taken their loss of me to heart and they don’t want to talk to me. I no longer exist.

This leaves us unable to make toll or mobile calls, and without broadband. Dial-up from TelstraClear is keeping a modicum of connectivity, but the disruption has been painful. Downloading big files, accessing some websites and sending email, forget about it.

This doesn’t really seem fair.

I wondered if the Telecommunications Disputes Resolution service could help. The answer: no. Well, not in the short-term. Consumers have to give telcos six weeks to respond to complaints before you go to the service.

I’m going to use a Vodafone mobile data plan so I can work from home. This means Vodafone (who now own ihug) will profit from the comedy of errors (which I can say in my good humoured moments) or sheer incompetence and ineptitude (which pops out in my darker moments). It’s an irony which I will treasure.