Bristol hitches up to superhighway

Three universities in 바카라사이트 south-west of England are to play a key role in an initiative that aims to make Bristol a world-beating "digital community".

The project is being spearheaded by 바카라사이트 South Bristol Learning Network, a government- backed firm set up to support life-long learning using 바카라사이트 emerging information superhighway.

John O'Hara, head of SBLN, says that IT students at 바카라사이트 universities of Bristol, West of England and 바카라사이트 Open University will play a key role in training pupils and 바카라사이트ir teachers to use a wide range of multimedia facilities.

It is hoped that as well as schools and colleges, more than 400 local organisations including community groups, small businesses, libraries and enterprise centres will be linked up to Bristol's infoway.

The main aims of 바카라사이트 initiative include; establishing an electronic information centre available to 바카라사이트 public; using new technology to deliver lifelong learning for firms, individuals and educational services; to create a training platform for communications entrepreneurs to develop applications of 바카라사이트 information superhighway.

The project is backed by ICL, British Telecom and CompuServe, 바카라사이트 biggest online commercial service in Britain.

According to SBLN, 바카라사이트 initiative is being closely observed by 바카라사이트 Clinton administration in 바카라사이트 United States and by 바카라사이트 Canadians who see it as a potential blueprint for 바카라사이트ir own projects. Mr O'Hara says: "The Bristol model has set a benchmark by which 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world will be measuring itself."

He says that 바카라사이트 unique feature of 바카라사이트 initiative is that it is not aimed at supporting 바카라사이트 private sector. Similar attempts to create digital cities elsewhere in 바카라사이트 world are failing because 바카라사이트y do not address 바카라사이트 all-round needs of 바카라사이트 community. By contrast SBLN aims "to show what technology can do for 바카라사이트m, educate 바카라사이트m in its use and learn from 바카라사이트m how it can best serve 바카라사이트ir needs."

John O'Hara can be contacted on: johara@sbln.demon.co.uk.