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Tech Weekly: Martha Lane Fox on digital inclusion, Arduino explained
We meet Britain's digital inclusion champion, Martha Lane Fox, and find out why everyone loves Arduino with the hackers and modders of Tinker.it. And Vic Keegan gives his thoughts on what went wrong after the 1980s computing boom
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Bobbie Johnson's your guide this week as we hobnob with Britain's digital inclusion champion, Martha Lane Fox. After co-founding Lastminute.com in 1998 she went on to become one of the most high-profile figures of the dotcom boom. After stepping down from her day-to-day role with the company in 2003, these days she juggles work with her chain of karoake bars and a charitable foundation, as well as a role as an adviser to the British government. In that advisory role she has responsibility for Digital Inclusion strategy – which is examining how technology can help people who are currently in the poorest parts of society. The taskforce she leads issued its first report this week looking into the benefits of inclusion, and Charles Arthur met Martha to find out more.
Kevin Anderson also catches up with the hackers and modders of Tinker.it! to find out why everyone loves Arduino – the electronics boards that allow you to create your own electronic devices.
Not only that, but in the wake of BBC drama Micro Men, we'll also hear Vic Keegan's thoughts on what went wrong with Britain's computer industry after its 1980s boom. There's also a look at this week's news headlines and we hear what you've got to say about last week's show.
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User Comments
CharlesArthur
14 October 2009 9:50AM
@cyberdoyle yes, the audio quality was a bit ropey; difficult when recording in a Soho basement. But certainly still learning on the microphone side.
The question about why people don't go online is key - and your experiences sound quite useful. You should tell the Digital Inclusion Task Force!
cyberdoyle
14 October 2009 12:32PM
I have been telling them. constantly. One day they will either listen or find out for themselves. Grassroots info is the key to solving the issues. And grassroots people all say they want better broadband before they will be bothered being included. Currently the experience is too dire in many areas of this non digitalbritain.
cyberdoyle
13 October 2009 7:32PM
One tiny little criticism, hold the mic closer to the person you interview, Martha is quietly spoken lady and it was hard to hear her at times.
But great interview. Well done.
One point I would like to make after hearing it is that the main reason people aren't online is that they hear bad stuff from their neighbours a lot of the time. In the same way you can show people good things and enthuse and engage them and get them included, the opposite also applies.
Too many seriously bad connections in the UK due to obsolete victorian copper lines. This country needs fibre to the home, and just doing that will make the internet such a joyous, rewarding, profitable and economic experience that soon all will join in. Once the broadband in the uk is ubiquitous and value for money, easy and accessible all the innovation and engagement will happen.
Until then champions like Martha are fighting a battle that is pointless.
I have been doing this job for 6 years. If the connection is good I can get someone engaged in half an hour. Without that connection or with a poor one I am wasting my time. As a volunteer I have no pay other than brews and cream cakes. My reward is to see the benefits that being online brings to everyone. Young, Old, Rich, Poor, charity, business, beggar man, thief. the world is there waiting for digitalbritain to do its stuff.
It can't do IT on copper.
chris