Citizens Transforming Society: Tools for Change (CaTalyST)
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Computing & Communications
Abstract
We define citizen-led (social) innovation as the bottom-up creation of community-driven solutions to major societal problems. Citizen-led innovation has been an active ingredient of societies for centuries. However, technological developments such as online social networks and mobile computing have made it easier than ever before to initiate and nurture it; these technologies permit 'ridiculously easy group forming' and have led to civic engagement on a scale and with an efficiency not seen before.Recent events mean that now is both an opportune and critically necessary time for citizen-led innovation. On the one hand, society has experienced a massive global economic crisis. We are all being asked to do more for less and one consequence is that citizens are now expected to become more active participants in solving local problems (cf. Big Society). On the other hand, governments in both the UK and US are opening up public data in a drive for transparency that puts information into the hands of citizens in a way never before envisaged. This proposal addresses two core themes that will maximize the opportunities for citizens to transform society: understanding behaviour (what stimulates people to participate and why) and tools for change (what next-generation technologies best support how people want to innovate). Regarding the first theme, much of what is being proposed by governments - Localism, National Citizen Service, Big Society - is being implemented without a sociological understanding of what people need from it. Regarding the second, although social technologies have been extremely effective in promoting citizen-led activism, they were not designed specifically for it; it is natural, therefore, to ask what the next generation of tools should look like and to design those tools with the wants and needs of participatory citizens firmly in mind.Furthermore, there are fundamental barriers to overcome. In particular, there is a well-known tension between innovation and inclusion. Experience from organisations such as Community Matters shows that a major reason for citizens engaging in social action is the need for more human contact; however, technology has a tendency to reduce human contact in favour of virtual contact. We therefore see that a fundamental challenge is to reverse this trend. In all our research activities, we will emphasise this goal and work towards technologies that are mediators and not replacements for human contact. Our research methodology puts people-based activities at the forefront of an integrated research/people strategy that aims to answer fundamental research questions about citizen-led innovation via a series of 'research sprints' that will combine discipline hopping, cross-discipline training, a community-driven research agenda and reflection on the interdisciplinary process itself.The project will bring together a group of social scientists (sociology; anthropology), computer scientists (mobile computing; web2.0; distributed systems), management scientists (consumer behaviour) and designers (innovation) to develop next generation systems that empower citizens to create bottom-up innovative solutions to 'wicked' societal problems. We will work with partners in Manchester and Derry with which we have a history of success: the Manchester Digital Development Agency (MDDA) and FutureEverything in Manchester; Derry District Policing Partnership (DDPP) in Derry. We will also focus on widening the research to communities across the UK. This will be facilitated by two organisations - the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) and Community Matters
Planned Impact
Who Will Benefit From This Research and How Will They Benefit? (i) Community groups in Derry, NI, and Manchester, England. The team has a track record, dating back to the 1980s, of cutting-edge research in computer and social sciences, with tangible benefits to communities. The research programme focuses on two areas where the team has previously worked: Derry, Northern Ireland, and Manchester, England. Both areas have significant societal issues to address. Derry was at the centre of the Troubles in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was the location of the Bloody Sunday massacre in 1972. Today, the city is still grappling with improving trust between local peoples and the police. The city also has one of the largest unemployment rates in NI and has some of its most deprived estates. Manchester, on the other hand, also has significant problems with community cohesion - it has the highest number of ASBOs outside London, for example. Both cities also have great expertise at hand which can be used in knowledge sharing with the other location. Derry is well known as a centre of best practice for community regeneration. Manchester is pioneering work in open data, open source, and bottom-up development of applications for social innovation. The research will add to these efforts. A major goal of the project is to find innovative ways of using technology, informed by sound social science theory and practice, that will promote community cohesion in these areas. (ii) Community groups across the UK The team will also bring benefits to communities across the UK beyond Derry and Manchester. The team will work with two key community organisations - Community Matters and the RSA - who are experts in social and community innovation and will broker links with their networks of communities for promoting the results of the research in the form of community deployments, trials and public awareness. (iii) Government - both national and local At the current time, spurred on by Big Society initiatives, both national and local governing bodies are reaching out for solutions for bottom-up social innovation. A major outcome of the project will be a set of social, technological and practical guidelines for running community projects facilitated by technology. The research will add new insights to fundamental research questions relating to the motivation for citizens to engage in society initiatives and the role of technology in supporting it. Impact will be maximised by working with the RSA who is well connected with politicians such as Lord Wei, advisor to the Government on Big Society, and Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society. Community Matters is also a Strategic Partner to the Government on such matters. The team will disseminate to the Government via the guidelines above as well as policy-related documents such as the Citizen-Led Innovation Manifesto, which will be created in year three of the project. (iv) Non-profit and for-profit companies in e-government, open data and big society There is a rapidly growing industry building infrastructure and applications for e-government, open data and big society: cf. Gov 2.0, apps for democracy, challenge.gov, data.gov.uk, etc. The research will provide next generation open source platforms, applications and ideas to be exploited by this industry. Impact will be ensured by working with organisations with a track record of successful technology transfer and commercialisation: Lancaster's Knowledge Business Centre and FutureEverything. In particular, the latter is a pioneering organisation promoting open data in Manchester and is already working with groups such as Manchester Open Data developers group to persuade governments to improve transparency by opening up public data sets and to exploit such data sets. The research will also be widely disseminated to the public through FutureEverything's annual festival, which regularly attracts 50,000 visitors.
Organisations
- Lancaster University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Cleanweb (Collaboration)
- Friends of Ryelands Park (Collaboration)
- Local & Effective Sustainable Solutions UK (Collaboration)
- Addaction (Collaboration)
- Urbed Urbanism Environment Design (Collaboration)
- Lancaster Ethical Small Traders Association (Collaboration)
- Gregson Arts and Community Centre (Collaboration)
- Swirrl (Collaboration)
- Lancaster City Council (Collaboration)
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC BiomaGUNE) (Collaboration)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- Pirate Party UK (Collaboration)
- Goldsmiths University of London (Collaboration)
- Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust (Collaboration)
- European Pirate Party (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- North Lancs NHS Occupational Therapy (Collaboration)
- Open Source Energy Monitors (Collaboration)
- NHS Public Health North Locality (Collaboration)
- Loading Deck (Collaboration)
- AGE UK (Collaboration)
- LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- Lancaster University (Collaboration)
- Cybermoor (United Kingdom) (Collaboration)
- Manchester Digital Laboratory (Collaboration)
- Lancaster and Morecambe College (Collaboration)
- University of East Anglia (Collaboration)
- Wrong Planet (Collaboration)
- Friends of the Earth (Collaboration)
- Shared Future CIC (Collaboration)
- Kendal Mountain Festival (Collaboration)
- Autism Initiatives (Collaboration)
- Individuals on the Autistic Spectrum (Collaboration)
- North Lancashire Social Enterprise Forum (NSLE) (Collaboration)
- Signposts, homeless action group (Collaboration)
- Tiree Community Development Trust (Collaboration)
- Community Matters (Project Partner)
- Derry City Council (Project Partner)
- FutureEverything (Project Partner)
- Derry District Policing Department (Project Partner)
- Royal Society of Arts (Project Partner)
- Manchester Digital Development Agency (Project Partner)
Publications
Case, O
(2014)
Lifemirror - Collective Cinematic Thoughts
Tsekleves E
(2014)
Exercising playfully
Curmi F
(2014)
BioShare
Tsekleves, E
(2014)
Exercising playfully: co-designing fun ways of keeping active in the park.
Case, O
(2013)
Lifemirror1
Knowles B
(2014)
BARTER
Gradinar, A.
(2013)
Designing a mobile service as a facilitator for capturing local trade data
Title | Active Parks Ative Citizens |
Description | Development of two interactive physical-digital artefacts - videos of them can be found on http://imagination.lancs.ac.uk/activities/Active_Parks |
Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Impact | Showcased at festival, town centre locations, University 50th anniversary events |
URL | http://imagination.lancs.ac.uk/activities/Active_Parks |
Title | Catalyst Exhibition & Prototype Showcase for reasearch relays and other community events |
Description | Catalyst exhibition comprising of 100's of images from each of the partnerships, projects and engagement, Images contained on three large hanging screens images are categorised below Catalyst Engagement work: https://www.flickr.com/photos/catalystas/sets/72157643205969813/ Catalyst Sprint Projects: https://www.flickr.com/photos/catalystas/sets/72157643206084025/ Catalyst Launchpad projects: https://www.flickr.com/photos/catalystas/sets/72157643205012785/ 5 exhibition display stands containing prototypes displays Films of all projects as follows A selection of five films are below: 1) #Patchworks project participants introduce a prototype called #PAT, a Personal Appointment Ticketing service. #Pat is intended to enable homeless people living chaotic transient lives to track their appointments with the swipe of an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enabled wristband or card. The team developed a shoebox-size device that contained a Raspberry Pi low-cost computer, RFID reader, and a tiny printer, similar to that in an electronic cash register. The #Pat device then prints out a personalized reminder list of appointment dates, times and places. As such, #Pat provides inexpensive, mobile access to information for those with limited or restricted internet access. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydPcxuixhAw 2) Access ASD, saw computer scientists, sociologists and designers, working with people with Autism to develop a prototype called 'clasp' (follow on funding has just been confirmed): 'Clasp' is a hand-held digital anxiety management tool, controlled by sensory response. On squeezing, the tool connects to a digital peer support network, that is safe and secure, to help reduce isolation and gain immediate support. The tool also provides an anxiety tracking system, including a GPS-based locator facility, enabling users to monitor and self-regulate their behaviour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjvLZrEYE7M 3) The Launchpad project, Local Wealth: Local Trade, has now received follow-on funding and developed into Barter. Barter is developing a mobile application for a new loyalty trading system which records transactions and tracks the trading patterns to reward sustainable and locally beneficial trading in Lancaster. It uses near field communication (NFC) enabled loyalty cards that are swiped every time a trade is made. The data thus collected can then be viewed over time to reflect on trading practices. http://barterproject.org/so-what-is-barter/ 4) Associated Catalyst Project Heartlink: has created an application for real-time sharing of biometric data for athletes as a way to connect athletes and viewers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5s6S5MGmJ8 5) An example our research of an early prototype for Christmas: http://www.cleanweb.org.uk/videos.html and presentation about the work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr5X0W3CvyE Banners and interactive spot the photo competition |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Impact | Encouraged discussion, interaction and further engagement Supported research findings Provided increased visual awareness of project Celebrated research findings, success and partnerships Generated interest at Research Community and festival events, Business networking, 50th Anniversary, Conferences including synergize2014 |
URL | https://www.flickr.com/photos/catalystas/sets |
Title | Inside Out Exhibition |
Description | #PAT used and recreated as a art exhibit as part of Curate the Campus |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Impact | Increased audience and potential use of prototype |
URL | https://www.liveatlica.org/whats-on/curate-the-campus-2013-insideout |
Description | The importance of considering human values in software design. Human values (inclusion, community cohesion, transparency, etc.) are not typically considered in software design but should be -- as the recent news stories of ethical issues with AI technologies illustrates |
Exploitation Route | a new research community on values-based software design has formed |
Sectors | Other |
Description | Has led to a new research field: values-based software engineering. This arose from a reflection of the 13 Catalyst projects and determined that a gap in current software engineering research was a consideration of human values. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Other |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | 'Clasp' Digital anxiety management, Research in the Wild, DE, application ranked top in the panel |
Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/L023644/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2015 |
End | 07/2016 |
Description | AHRC |
Amount | £6,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | Ageing Playfully |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2014 |
End | 08/2014 |
Description | BARTER, moBile sociAl netwoRking supporTing local Ethical trading |
Amount | £194,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K012584/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2012 |
End | 12/2014 |
Description | Digital Brain Switch |
Amount | £720,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K025201/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2013 |
End | 06/2015 |
Description | Lancaster University 50 Anniversary Events |
Amount | £500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2014 |
End | 09/2014 |
Description | Telling Tales of Engagement - LifeMirror Cinematic Project |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/J037544/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2013 |
End | 06/2014 |
Description | Telling Tales of Engagement: 'Yes We Can! ' |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/L025892/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2014 |
End | 01/2015 |
Title | Design Report on Active Parks: Active Citizens |
Description | Developed a Design Report on the project processes and outcomes, which will help the City Council to bid for government funding to realise the project outcomes. The report will go live on the project website in a week's time |
Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Open access report Will help the City Council to bid for government funding |
URL | http://imagination.lancaster.ac.uk/activities/Active_Parks |
Title | Catalyst Community |
Description | Social Media usage Catalyst shared, collected and made use of the following communication channels: Dropbox www.dropbox.com Doodle www.doodle.com Mailchimp https://login.mailchimp.com/ Socialoomph www.socialoomph.com Skype www.skype.com Catalyst website www.catalystproject.org.uk, www.synergize2014.org MOO ukmoo.com EMAIL catalystcitizens@gmail.com EVENTBRITE www.eventbrite.com, www.catalystas.eventbrite.com FACEBOOK www.facebook.com TWITTER www.twitter.com @catalystproj @Synergize2014 SLIDESHARE www.slideshare.net/catalystas YOUTUBE www.youtube.com/catalystcitizens FLICKR www.flickr.com Survey Monkey https://www.surveymonkey.com MENDELEY www.mendeley.com/ VIMEO Catalyst Seminar Video PANOPTO: http://dtu-panopto.lancs.ac.uk/Panopto/Pages/Viewer/Default.aspx?id=315bba8e-0405-42ce-9f49-d24b3958853e |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Communications and networks increased |
Description | #Patchworks: Sprint project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The Patchworks project was set up to explore the health and communication needs of homeless people in Morecambe. Specifically, the project set out to find out how homeless people might co-design and co-develop a prototype digital tool using cheap, open source technology that can help to monitor and communicate their health and wellbeing. |
Collaborator Contribution | A prototype called #Pat, a Personal Appointment Ticketing service. #Pat intended to enable homeless people living chaotic transient lives to track their appointments with the swipe of an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enabled wristband or card. The team developed a shoebox-size device that contained a Raspberry Pi low-cost computer, RFID reader, and a tiny printer, similar to that in an electronic cash register. The #Pat device then prints out a personalized reminder list of appointment dates, times and places. As such, #Pat provides inexpensive, mobile access to information for those with limited or restricted internet access. |
Impact | 15 workshops held with partners 15 fieldwork visits 8 academics & 21+ community participants involved 2 paper prototypes developed Research papers produced Prototype reconfigured and used for treasure hunt as part of Manchester science festival Patchworks part of a successful lottery follow-on funding bid (CAN help project) |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | #Patchworks: Sprint project |
Organisation | Manchester Digital Laboratory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The Patchworks project was set up to explore the health and communication needs of homeless people in Morecambe. Specifically, the project set out to find out how homeless people might co-design and co-develop a prototype digital tool using cheap, open source technology that can help to monitor and communicate their health and wellbeing. |
Collaborator Contribution | A prototype called #Pat, a Personal Appointment Ticketing service. #Pat intended to enable homeless people living chaotic transient lives to track their appointments with the swipe of an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enabled wristband or card. The team developed a shoebox-size device that contained a Raspberry Pi low-cost computer, RFID reader, and a tiny printer, similar to that in an electronic cash register. The #Pat device then prints out a personalized reminder list of appointment dates, times and places. As such, #Pat provides inexpensive, mobile access to information for those with limited or restricted internet access. |
Impact | 15 workshops held with partners 15 fieldwork visits 8 academics & 21+ community participants involved 2 paper prototypes developed Research papers produced Prototype reconfigured and used for treasure hunt as part of Manchester science festival Patchworks part of a successful lottery follow-on funding bid (CAN help project) |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | #Patchworks: Sprint project |
Organisation | Signposts, homeless action group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The Patchworks project was set up to explore the health and communication needs of homeless people in Morecambe. Specifically, the project set out to find out how homeless people might co-design and co-develop a prototype digital tool using cheap, open source technology that can help to monitor and communicate their health and wellbeing. |
Collaborator Contribution | A prototype called #Pat, a Personal Appointment Ticketing service. #Pat intended to enable homeless people living chaotic transient lives to track their appointments with the swipe of an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) enabled wristband or card. The team developed a shoebox-size device that contained a Raspberry Pi low-cost computer, RFID reader, and a tiny printer, similar to that in an electronic cash register. The #Pat device then prints out a personalized reminder list of appointment dates, times and places. As such, #Pat provides inexpensive, mobile access to information for those with limited or restricted internet access. |
Impact | 15 workshops held with partners 15 fieldwork visits 8 academics & 21+ community participants involved 2 paper prototypes developed Research papers produced Prototype reconfigured and used for treasure hunt as part of Manchester science festival Patchworks part of a successful lottery follow-on funding bid (CAN help project) |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Access ASD: Sprint Project |
Organisation | Autism Initiatives |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Access ASD investigated how new digital technology could reduce social barriers amongst people on the Autism Spectrum. It's estimated that around 700,000 people in the UK have autism, with a third of adults with the condition experiencing social and mental health problems due to a lack of support. Many people on the autistic spectrum find difficulties in interacting with other people, and the project worked with adults on the spectrum to identify what things cause them difficulties and to devise tools that might help. |
Collaborator Contribution | A digital prototype was developed: 'Clasp', a hand-held digital anxiety management tool, controlled by sensory response. On squeezing, the tool connects to a digital peer support network, that is safe and secure, to help reduce isolation and gain immediate support. The tool also provides an anxiety tracking system, including a GPS-based locator facility, enabling users to monitor and self-regulate their behaviour. |
Impact | 10 individuals with ASD formed a core user group to inform the project Workshops & discussions involved 63 individuals Research papers produced Guidelines for development of future digital tools for anxiety management Prototype demonstrated at outreach events including NHS ThinkTech Featured on BBC TV Click On-going funding of £295000 confirmed Prototype repurposed for other stress/anxiety related research |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Access ASD: Sprint Project |
Organisation | Individuals on the Autistic Spectrum |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Access ASD investigated how new digital technology could reduce social barriers amongst people on the Autism Spectrum. It's estimated that around 700,000 people in the UK have autism, with a third of adults with the condition experiencing social and mental health problems due to a lack of support. Many people on the autistic spectrum find difficulties in interacting with other people, and the project worked with adults on the spectrum to identify what things cause them difficulties and to devise tools that might help. |
Collaborator Contribution | A digital prototype was developed: 'Clasp', a hand-held digital anxiety management tool, controlled by sensory response. On squeezing, the tool connects to a digital peer support network, that is safe and secure, to help reduce isolation and gain immediate support. The tool also provides an anxiety tracking system, including a GPS-based locator facility, enabling users to monitor and self-regulate their behaviour. |
Impact | 10 individuals with ASD formed a core user group to inform the project Workshops & discussions involved 63 individuals Research papers produced Guidelines for development of future digital tools for anxiety management Prototype demonstrated at outreach events including NHS ThinkTech Featured on BBC TV Click On-going funding of £295000 confirmed Prototype repurposed for other stress/anxiety related research |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Access ASD: Sprint Project |
Organisation | Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Access ASD investigated how new digital technology could reduce social barriers amongst people on the Autism Spectrum. It's estimated that around 700,000 people in the UK have autism, with a third of adults with the condition experiencing social and mental health problems due to a lack of support. Many people on the autistic spectrum find difficulties in interacting with other people, and the project worked with adults on the spectrum to identify what things cause them difficulties and to devise tools that might help. |
Collaborator Contribution | A digital prototype was developed: 'Clasp', a hand-held digital anxiety management tool, controlled by sensory response. On squeezing, the tool connects to a digital peer support network, that is safe and secure, to help reduce isolation and gain immediate support. The tool also provides an anxiety tracking system, including a GPS-based locator facility, enabling users to monitor and self-regulate their behaviour. |
Impact | 10 individuals with ASD formed a core user group to inform the project Workshops & discussions involved 63 individuals Research papers produced Guidelines for development of future digital tools for anxiety management Prototype demonstrated at outreach events including NHS ThinkTech Featured on BBC TV Click On-going funding of £295000 confirmed Prototype repurposed for other stress/anxiety related research |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Access ASD: Sprint Project |
Organisation | Lancashire County Council |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Access ASD investigated how new digital technology could reduce social barriers amongst people on the Autism Spectrum. It's estimated that around 700,000 people in the UK have autism, with a third of adults with the condition experiencing social and mental health problems due to a lack of support. Many people on the autistic spectrum find difficulties in interacting with other people, and the project worked with adults on the spectrum to identify what things cause them difficulties and to devise tools that might help. |
Collaborator Contribution | A digital prototype was developed: 'Clasp', a hand-held digital anxiety management tool, controlled by sensory response. On squeezing, the tool connects to a digital peer support network, that is safe and secure, to help reduce isolation and gain immediate support. The tool also provides an anxiety tracking system, including a GPS-based locator facility, enabling users to monitor and self-regulate their behaviour. |
Impact | 10 individuals with ASD formed a core user group to inform the project Workshops & discussions involved 63 individuals Research papers produced Guidelines for development of future digital tools for anxiety management Prototype demonstrated at outreach events including NHS ThinkTech Featured on BBC TV Click On-going funding of £295000 confirmed Prototype repurposed for other stress/anxiety related research |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Access ASD: Sprint Project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Access ASD investigated how new digital technology could reduce social barriers amongst people on the Autism Spectrum. It's estimated that around 700,000 people in the UK have autism, with a third of adults with the condition experiencing social and mental health problems due to a lack of support. Many people on the autistic spectrum find difficulties in interacting with other people, and the project worked with adults on the spectrum to identify what things cause them difficulties and to devise tools that might help. |
Collaborator Contribution | A digital prototype was developed: 'Clasp', a hand-held digital anxiety management tool, controlled by sensory response. On squeezing, the tool connects to a digital peer support network, that is safe and secure, to help reduce isolation and gain immediate support. The tool also provides an anxiety tracking system, including a GPS-based locator facility, enabling users to monitor and self-regulate their behaviour. |
Impact | 10 individuals with ASD formed a core user group to inform the project Workshops & discussions involved 63 individuals Research papers produced Guidelines for development of future digital tools for anxiety management Prototype demonstrated at outreach events including NHS ThinkTech Featured on BBC TV Click On-going funding of £295000 confirmed Prototype repurposed for other stress/anxiety related research |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Access ASD: Sprint Project |
Organisation | North Lancs NHS Occupational Therapy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Access ASD investigated how new digital technology could reduce social barriers amongst people on the Autism Spectrum. It's estimated that around 700,000 people in the UK have autism, with a third of adults with the condition experiencing social and mental health problems due to a lack of support. Many people on the autistic spectrum find difficulties in interacting with other people, and the project worked with adults on the spectrum to identify what things cause them difficulties and to devise tools that might help. |
Collaborator Contribution | A digital prototype was developed: 'Clasp', a hand-held digital anxiety management tool, controlled by sensory response. On squeezing, the tool connects to a digital peer support network, that is safe and secure, to help reduce isolation and gain immediate support. The tool also provides an anxiety tracking system, including a GPS-based locator facility, enabling users to monitor and self-regulate their behaviour. |
Impact | 10 individuals with ASD formed a core user group to inform the project Workshops & discussions involved 63 individuals Research papers produced Guidelines for development of future digital tools for anxiety management Prototype demonstrated at outreach events including NHS ThinkTech Featured on BBC TV Click On-going funding of £295000 confirmed Prototype repurposed for other stress/anxiety related research |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Access ASD: Sprint Project |
Organisation | Wrong Planet |
Country | Global |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Access ASD investigated how new digital technology could reduce social barriers amongst people on the Autism Spectrum. It's estimated that around 700,000 people in the UK have autism, with a third of adults with the condition experiencing social and mental health problems due to a lack of support. Many people on the autistic spectrum find difficulties in interacting with other people, and the project worked with adults on the spectrum to identify what things cause them difficulties and to devise tools that might help. |
Collaborator Contribution | A digital prototype was developed: 'Clasp', a hand-held digital anxiety management tool, controlled by sensory response. On squeezing, the tool connects to a digital peer support network, that is safe and secure, to help reduce isolation and gain immediate support. The tool also provides an anxiety tracking system, including a GPS-based locator facility, enabling users to monitor and self-regulate their behaviour. |
Impact | 10 individuals with ASD formed a core user group to inform the project Workshops & discussions involved 63 individuals Research papers produced Guidelines for development of future digital tools for anxiety management Prototype demonstrated at outreach events including NHS ThinkTech Featured on BBC TV Click On-going funding of £295000 confirmed Prototype repurposed for other stress/anxiety related research |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Active Park: Active Citizens launchpad project |
Organisation | Age UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Can we use mobile technology in our parks to keep healthy and active? Green spaces, such as parks are seen by the majority of public as a key contributor to wellbeing and the environment and have a proven track record in reducing the impact of deprivation and delivering better health and wellbeing adding to the sense of a stronger community. Working with communities connected to Ryelands Park 'Active Parks: Active Citizens' aims to tap into people's familiarity with mobile technology and see how this can be used creatively for keeping more active and healthy. |
Collaborator Contribution | Coordinated and supported outreach events and activities including inbvolvement in festival days. Co-created and co-designed a mobile digital 'proof of concept' prototype that augmented a physical health trail in the park. Supported in the project in ambitions to bring and connect the digital (a mobile app) with the physical world (i.e. showing videos or animations on how to do exercises using physical objects in the park, such as benches, lampposts, etc. and setting game challenges). |
Impact | Shared positive effects of co-design and co-creation through workshops utilising entrusted technologies: 4 workshops took place at Lune Park Children's Centre (from April - June 2014) Engage existing and new park users: Co-design Participatory Exhibition in the Park (5/11/2014) 25 participants with several lego movies created, 3 prototypes. Increased the healthy activity use of the park through prototyping, demonstrations & interactions: eg This Side of the River Festival, saw interactions between residents visitors and a huge xylophone Article in Lancaster Guardian 15/05/2014 Outcomes of research through council seminars, academic conferences and with organisations such as the British Heart Foundation, and Age Concern UK & 2 international conference |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Active Park: Active Citizens launchpad project |
Organisation | Friends of Ryelands Park |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Can we use mobile technology in our parks to keep healthy and active? Green spaces, such as parks are seen by the majority of public as a key contributor to wellbeing and the environment and have a proven track record in reducing the impact of deprivation and delivering better health and wellbeing adding to the sense of a stronger community. Working with communities connected to Ryelands Park 'Active Parks: Active Citizens' aims to tap into people's familiarity with mobile technology and see how this can be used creatively for keeping more active and healthy. |
Collaborator Contribution | Coordinated and supported outreach events and activities including inbvolvement in festival days. Co-created and co-designed a mobile digital 'proof of concept' prototype that augmented a physical health trail in the park. Supported in the project in ambitions to bring and connect the digital (a mobile app) with the physical world (i.e. showing videos or animations on how to do exercises using physical objects in the park, such as benches, lampposts, etc. and setting game challenges). |
Impact | Shared positive effects of co-design and co-creation through workshops utilising entrusted technologies: 4 workshops took place at Lune Park Children's Centre (from April - June 2014) Engage existing and new park users: Co-design Participatory Exhibition in the Park (5/11/2014) 25 participants with several lego movies created, 3 prototypes. Increased the healthy activity use of the park through prototyping, demonstrations & interactions: eg This Side of the River Festival, saw interactions between residents visitors and a huge xylophone Article in Lancaster Guardian 15/05/2014 Outcomes of research through council seminars, academic conferences and with organisations such as the British Heart Foundation, and Age Concern UK & 2 international conference |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Active Park: Active Citizens launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster City Council |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Can we use mobile technology in our parks to keep healthy and active? Green spaces, such as parks are seen by the majority of public as a key contributor to wellbeing and the environment and have a proven track record in reducing the impact of deprivation and delivering better health and wellbeing adding to the sense of a stronger community. Working with communities connected to Ryelands Park 'Active Parks: Active Citizens' aims to tap into people's familiarity with mobile technology and see how this can be used creatively for keeping more active and healthy. |
Collaborator Contribution | Coordinated and supported outreach events and activities including inbvolvement in festival days. Co-created and co-designed a mobile digital 'proof of concept' prototype that augmented a physical health trail in the park. Supported in the project in ambitions to bring and connect the digital (a mobile app) with the physical world (i.e. showing videos or animations on how to do exercises using physical objects in the park, such as benches, lampposts, etc. and setting game challenges). |
Impact | Shared positive effects of co-design and co-creation through workshops utilising entrusted technologies: 4 workshops took place at Lune Park Children's Centre (from April - June 2014) Engage existing and new park users: Co-design Participatory Exhibition in the Park (5/11/2014) 25 participants with several lego movies created, 3 prototypes. Increased the healthy activity use of the park through prototyping, demonstrations & interactions: eg This Side of the River Festival, saw interactions between residents visitors and a huge xylophone Article in Lancaster Guardian 15/05/2014 Outcomes of research through council seminars, academic conferences and with organisations such as the British Heart Foundation, and Age Concern UK & 2 international conference |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Active Park: Active Citizens launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster City Council |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Can we use mobile technology in our parks to keep healthy and active? Green spaces, such as parks are seen by the majority of public as a key contributor to wellbeing and the environment and have a proven track record in reducing the impact of deprivation and delivering better health and wellbeing adding to the sense of a stronger community. Working with communities connected to Ryelands Park 'Active Parks: Active Citizens' aims to tap into people's familiarity with mobile technology and see how this can be used creatively for keeping more active and healthy. |
Collaborator Contribution | Coordinated and supported outreach events and activities including inbvolvement in festival days. Co-created and co-designed a mobile digital 'proof of concept' prototype that augmented a physical health trail in the park. Supported in the project in ambitions to bring and connect the digital (a mobile app) with the physical world (i.e. showing videos or animations on how to do exercises using physical objects in the park, such as benches, lampposts, etc. and setting game challenges). |
Impact | Shared positive effects of co-design and co-creation through workshops utilising entrusted technologies: 4 workshops took place at Lune Park Children's Centre (from April - June 2014) Engage existing and new park users: Co-design Participatory Exhibition in the Park (5/11/2014) 25 participants with several lego movies created, 3 prototypes. Increased the healthy activity use of the park through prototyping, demonstrations & interactions: eg This Side of the River Festival, saw interactions between residents visitors and a huge xylophone Article in Lancaster Guardian 15/05/2014 Outcomes of research through council seminars, academic conferences and with organisations such as the British Heart Foundation, and Age Concern UK & 2 international conference |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Active Park: Active Citizens launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Can we use mobile technology in our parks to keep healthy and active? Green spaces, such as parks are seen by the majority of public as a key contributor to wellbeing and the environment and have a proven track record in reducing the impact of deprivation and delivering better health and wellbeing adding to the sense of a stronger community. Working with communities connected to Ryelands Park 'Active Parks: Active Citizens' aims to tap into people's familiarity with mobile technology and see how this can be used creatively for keeping more active and healthy. |
Collaborator Contribution | Coordinated and supported outreach events and activities including inbvolvement in festival days. Co-created and co-designed a mobile digital 'proof of concept' prototype that augmented a physical health trail in the park. Supported in the project in ambitions to bring and connect the digital (a mobile app) with the physical world (i.e. showing videos or animations on how to do exercises using physical objects in the park, such as benches, lampposts, etc. and setting game challenges). |
Impact | Shared positive effects of co-design and co-creation through workshops utilising entrusted technologies: 4 workshops took place at Lune Park Children's Centre (from April - June 2014) Engage existing and new park users: Co-design Participatory Exhibition in the Park (5/11/2014) 25 participants with several lego movies created, 3 prototypes. Increased the healthy activity use of the park through prototyping, demonstrations & interactions: eg This Side of the River Festival, saw interactions between residents visitors and a huge xylophone Article in Lancaster Guardian 15/05/2014 Outcomes of research through council seminars, academic conferences and with organisations such as the British Heart Foundation, and Age Concern UK & 2 international conference |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Active Park: Active Citizens launchpad project |
Organisation | NHS Public Health North Locality |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Can we use mobile technology in our parks to keep healthy and active? Green spaces, such as parks are seen by the majority of public as a key contributor to wellbeing and the environment and have a proven track record in reducing the impact of deprivation and delivering better health and wellbeing adding to the sense of a stronger community. Working with communities connected to Ryelands Park 'Active Parks: Active Citizens' aims to tap into people's familiarity with mobile technology and see how this can be used creatively for keeping more active and healthy. |
Collaborator Contribution | Coordinated and supported outreach events and activities including inbvolvement in festival days. Co-created and co-designed a mobile digital 'proof of concept' prototype that augmented a physical health trail in the park. Supported in the project in ambitions to bring and connect the digital (a mobile app) with the physical world (i.e. showing videos or animations on how to do exercises using physical objects in the park, such as benches, lampposts, etc. and setting game challenges). |
Impact | Shared positive effects of co-design and co-creation through workshops utilising entrusted technologies: 4 workshops took place at Lune Park Children's Centre (from April - June 2014) Engage existing and new park users: Co-design Participatory Exhibition in the Park (5/11/2014) 25 participants with several lego movies created, 3 prototypes. Increased the healthy activity use of the park through prototyping, demonstrations & interactions: eg This Side of the River Festival, saw interactions between residents visitors and a huge xylophone Article in Lancaster Guardian 15/05/2014 Outcomes of research through council seminars, academic conferences and with organisations such as the British Heart Foundation, and Age Concern UK & 2 international conference |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Community Data Explorer: launchpad project |
Organisation | Cybermoor |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | With the government's push towards localism - such as the right to build, communities need to understand publicly available data before they can make informed decisions. Eg Councils now publish data on all expenditure over £500, but this is difficult to analyse and understand. Community Data Explorer will demystify this available open data, working with a rural community, to find ways of visualising information, to help shape how their public services. |
Collaborator Contribution | Community Data Explorer will create an app to enable the community of Alston moor and other rural communities to analyse data and take control of their local services and assets. The project will explore possibilities for delivering services differently and enable citizens to develop new skills to improve the workforce. Through the project local residents will identify priority data sets in the community, obtain access to the data, clean the data and develop an API (application programming interface). These apps will form the heart of a "Community Data Explorer" app for local authorities. |
Impact | Visualising public data in compelling ways can make community members more aware of the possibility of delivering new services. By developing a greater understanding of data and analysis, citizens can develop new skills, understanding what data is available, and what they can expect to achieve. Live application (Apr 2014) Collaboration Nation Technology Strategy Board Talk: http://cntechinspired.s3.amazonaws.com/Cybermoor.pdf Talk: http://www.communitiesandculture.org/news/community-data-explorer/ Blog article: http://cooperatoby.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/success-factors-for-the-esf-in-clld/ |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Community Data Explorer: launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | HighWire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | With the government's push towards localism - such as the right to build, communities need to understand publicly available data before they can make informed decisions. Eg Councils now publish data on all expenditure over £500, but this is difficult to analyse and understand. Community Data Explorer will demystify this available open data, working with a rural community, to find ways of visualising information, to help shape how their public services. |
Collaborator Contribution | Community Data Explorer will create an app to enable the community of Alston moor and other rural communities to analyse data and take control of their local services and assets. The project will explore possibilities for delivering services differently and enable citizens to develop new skills to improve the workforce. Through the project local residents will identify priority data sets in the community, obtain access to the data, clean the data and develop an API (application programming interface). These apps will form the heart of a "Community Data Explorer" app for local authorities. |
Impact | Visualising public data in compelling ways can make community members more aware of the possibility of delivering new services. By developing a greater understanding of data and analysis, citizens can develop new skills, understanding what data is available, and what they can expect to achieve. Live application (Apr 2014) Collaboration Nation Technology Strategy Board Talk: http://cntechinspired.s3.amazonaws.com/Cybermoor.pdf Talk: http://www.communitiesandculture.org/news/community-data-explorer/ Blog article: http://cooperatoby.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/success-factors-for-the-esf-in-clld/ |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Community Data Explorer: launchpad project |
Organisation | Swirrl |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | With the government's push towards localism - such as the right to build, communities need to understand publicly available data before they can make informed decisions. Eg Councils now publish data on all expenditure over £500, but this is difficult to analyse and understand. Community Data Explorer will demystify this available open data, working with a rural community, to find ways of visualising information, to help shape how their public services. |
Collaborator Contribution | Community Data Explorer will create an app to enable the community of Alston moor and other rural communities to analyse data and take control of their local services and assets. The project will explore possibilities for delivering services differently and enable citizens to develop new skills to improve the workforce. Through the project local residents will identify priority data sets in the community, obtain access to the data, clean the data and develop an API (application programming interface). These apps will form the heart of a "Community Data Explorer" app for local authorities. |
Impact | Visualising public data in compelling ways can make community members more aware of the possibility of delivering new services. By developing a greater understanding of data and analysis, citizens can develop new skills, understanding what data is available, and what they can expect to achieve. Live application (Apr 2014) Collaboration Nation Technology Strategy Board Talk: http://cntechinspired.s3.amazonaws.com/Cybermoor.pdf Talk: http://www.communitiesandculture.org/news/community-data-explorer/ Blog article: http://cooperatoby.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/success-factors-for-the-esf-in-clld/ |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | EcoHome Launchpad project |
Organisation | Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC BiomaGUNE) |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Ecohome is taking a collective, community-led approach, to develop and test innovative household energy data engagement strategies. The project aims to reduce energy usage and improve the performance and quality of participants' homes. The information and tools developed will be independent from the big six energy companies. |
Collaborator Contribution | A new open source Home Energy Monitor kit has been imagined, built, and developed, and is now to undergo a period of user testing in households across Manchester by the Community Champions. |
Impact | Project launch event 19/04/2013 and build day 20/04/2014 14 Monthly meet-ups held (and now continuing) 74 members to monthly meet up group Trials undertaken focused on building and prototyping Academic paper submitted to CHI'15 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | EcoHome Launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | School of Computing and Communications |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Ecohome is taking a collective, community-led approach, to develop and test innovative household energy data engagement strategies. The project aims to reduce energy usage and improve the performance and quality of participants' homes. The information and tools developed will be independent from the big six energy companies. |
Collaborator Contribution | A new open source Home Energy Monitor kit has been imagined, built, and developed, and is now to undergo a period of user testing in households across Manchester by the Community Champions. |
Impact | Project launch event 19/04/2013 and build day 20/04/2014 14 Monthly meet-ups held (and now continuing) 74 members to monthly meet up group Trials undertaken focused on building and prototyping Academic paper submitted to CHI'15 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | EcoHome Launchpad project |
Organisation | Manchester Digital Laboratory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Ecohome is taking a collective, community-led approach, to develop and test innovative household energy data engagement strategies. The project aims to reduce energy usage and improve the performance and quality of participants' homes. The information and tools developed will be independent from the big six energy companies. |
Collaborator Contribution | A new open source Home Energy Monitor kit has been imagined, built, and developed, and is now to undergo a period of user testing in households across Manchester by the Community Champions. |
Impact | Project launch event 19/04/2013 and build day 20/04/2014 14 Monthly meet-ups held (and now continuing) 74 members to monthly meet up group Trials undertaken focused on building and prototyping Academic paper submitted to CHI'15 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | EcoHome Launchpad project |
Organisation | Open Source Energy Monitors |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Ecohome is taking a collective, community-led approach, to develop and test innovative household energy data engagement strategies. The project aims to reduce energy usage and improve the performance and quality of participants' homes. The information and tools developed will be independent from the big six energy companies. |
Collaborator Contribution | A new open source Home Energy Monitor kit has been imagined, built, and developed, and is now to undergo a period of user testing in households across Manchester by the Community Champions. |
Impact | Project launch event 19/04/2013 and build day 20/04/2014 14 Monthly meet-ups held (and now continuing) 74 members to monthly meet up group Trials undertaken focused on building and prototyping Academic paper submitted to CHI'15 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | EcoHome Launchpad project |
Organisation | University of East Anglia |
Department | Tyndall Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Ecohome is taking a collective, community-led approach, to develop and test innovative household energy data engagement strategies. The project aims to reduce energy usage and improve the performance and quality of participants' homes. The information and tools developed will be independent from the big six energy companies. |
Collaborator Contribution | A new open source Home Energy Monitor kit has been imagined, built, and developed, and is now to undergo a period of user testing in households across Manchester by the Community Champions. |
Impact | Project launch event 19/04/2013 and build day 20/04/2014 14 Monthly meet-ups held (and now continuing) 74 members to monthly meet up group Trials undertaken focused on building and prototyping Academic paper submitted to CHI'15 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | EcoHome Launchpad project |
Organisation | Urbed Urbanism Environment Design |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Ecohome is taking a collective, community-led approach, to develop and test innovative household energy data engagement strategies. The project aims to reduce energy usage and improve the performance and quality of participants' homes. The information and tools developed will be independent from the big six energy companies. |
Collaborator Contribution | A new open source Home Energy Monitor kit has been imagined, built, and developed, and is now to undergo a period of user testing in households across Manchester by the Community Champions. |
Impact | Project launch event 19/04/2013 and build day 20/04/2014 14 Monthly meet-ups held (and now continuing) 74 members to monthly meet up group Trials undertaken focused on building and prototyping Academic paper submitted to CHI'15 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Less is More Game; Launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster Ethical Small Traders Association |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Can we all profit from being good? Following the global economic decline, Local Trade aims to 're-boot' collaborative endeavours, through stimulating altruistic behaviours, rewarding local creativity, and innovation. Its ambitions lie in retaining local wealth and improving community resilience through the three bottom lines of economic, environmental and social wealth creation. Using innovative technologies taken from social networks and commercial applications the project seeks to increase local wealth generated by individuals, micro-businesses and social enterprises. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project developed a mobile application for a new loyalty trading system which records transactions and tracks the trading patterns to reward sustainable and locally beneficial trading in Lancaster. It uses near field communication (NFC) enabled loyalty cards that are swiped every time a trade is made. The data thus collected can then be viewed over time to reflect on trading practices. At the end of the launchpad, a prototype system had been built and had some initial user testing. |
Impact | Workshops and focus groups developed a network of 80 businesses Research paper produced Follow on Funding secured £240,000 Prototype & trading cards created |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Less is More Game; Launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Can we all profit from being good? Following the global economic decline, Local Trade aims to 're-boot' collaborative endeavours, through stimulating altruistic behaviours, rewarding local creativity, and innovation. Its ambitions lie in retaining local wealth and improving community resilience through the three bottom lines of economic, environmental and social wealth creation. Using innovative technologies taken from social networks and commercial applications the project seeks to increase local wealth generated by individuals, micro-businesses and social enterprises. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project developed a mobile application for a new loyalty trading system which records transactions and tracks the trading patterns to reward sustainable and locally beneficial trading in Lancaster. It uses near field communication (NFC) enabled loyalty cards that are swiped every time a trade is made. The data thus collected can then be viewed over time to reflect on trading practices. At the end of the launchpad, a prototype system had been built and had some initial user testing. |
Impact | Workshops and focus groups developed a network of 80 businesses Research paper produced Follow on Funding secured £240,000 Prototype & trading cards created |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Less is More Game; Launchpad project |
Organisation | North Lancashire Social Enterprise Forum (NSLE) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Can we all profit from being good? Following the global economic decline, Local Trade aims to 're-boot' collaborative endeavours, through stimulating altruistic behaviours, rewarding local creativity, and innovation. Its ambitions lie in retaining local wealth and improving community resilience through the three bottom lines of economic, environmental and social wealth creation. Using innovative technologies taken from social networks and commercial applications the project seeks to increase local wealth generated by individuals, micro-businesses and social enterprises. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project developed a mobile application for a new loyalty trading system which records transactions and tracks the trading patterns to reward sustainable and locally beneficial trading in Lancaster. It uses near field communication (NFC) enabled loyalty cards that are swiped every time a trade is made. The data thus collected can then be viewed over time to reflect on trading practices. At the end of the launchpad, a prototype system had been built and had some initial user testing. |
Impact | Workshops and focus groups developed a network of 80 businesses Research paper produced Follow on Funding secured £240,000 Prototype & trading cards created |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Less is More Game; Launchpad project |
Organisation | Shared Future CIC |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Can we all profit from being good? Following the global economic decline, Local Trade aims to 're-boot' collaborative endeavours, through stimulating altruistic behaviours, rewarding local creativity, and innovation. Its ambitions lie in retaining local wealth and improving community resilience through the three bottom lines of economic, environmental and social wealth creation. Using innovative technologies taken from social networks and commercial applications the project seeks to increase local wealth generated by individuals, micro-businesses and social enterprises. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project developed a mobile application for a new loyalty trading system which records transactions and tracks the trading patterns to reward sustainable and locally beneficial trading in Lancaster. It uses near field communication (NFC) enabled loyalty cards that are swiped every time a trade is made. The data thus collected can then be viewed over time to reflect on trading practices. At the end of the launchpad, a prototype system had been built and had some initial user testing. |
Impact | Workshops and focus groups developed a network of 80 businesses Research paper produced Follow on Funding secured £240,000 Prototype & trading cards created |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Less is More launchpad project |
Organisation | Addaction |
Department | Young Addaction North Lancashire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Less is More aims to increase awareness of how consumption choices impact on the global environment, working conditions, the local economy, health and wellbeing, and then to encourage us to change to our behaviour. Through promoting, recognizing and rewarding sustainable choices we hope to make it easier and more desirable to act sustainably, perhaps by doing something differently, not buying something, or making a more environmentally sound or ethical choice. In particular we want to target people not already switched on to the sustainable message and young people. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project partners delivered all aspects of the project. Less is More will create a detailed concept for a Lancaster-based 'game' that sets real-life sustainable challenges, to be rewarded with online recognition and physical rewards. E.g. walk-to-work, turn down thermostat, sell your car etc. |
Impact | The game encouraged people to consume less and make more sustainable lifestyle choices by furthering understanding of how consumption is impacting on the planet, the local economy and on health and wellbeing. 3 workshops 87 registered players of the game, with 40 active players 80 challenges set 3 further funding applications submitted Academic paper in pipeline |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Less is More launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | Continuing Learning Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Less is More aims to increase awareness of how consumption choices impact on the global environment, working conditions, the local economy, health and wellbeing, and then to encourage us to change to our behaviour. Through promoting, recognizing and rewarding sustainable choices we hope to make it easier and more desirable to act sustainably, perhaps by doing something differently, not buying something, or making a more environmentally sound or ethical choice. In particular we want to target people not already switched on to the sustainable message and young people. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project partners delivered all aspects of the project. Less is More will create a detailed concept for a Lancaster-based 'game' that sets real-life sustainable challenges, to be rewarded with online recognition and physical rewards. E.g. walk-to-work, turn down thermostat, sell your car etc. |
Impact | The game encouraged people to consume less and make more sustainable lifestyle choices by furthering understanding of how consumption is impacting on the planet, the local economy and on health and wellbeing. 3 workshops 87 registered players of the game, with 40 active players 80 challenges set 3 further funding applications submitted Academic paper in pipeline |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Less is More launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | School of Computing and Communications |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Less is More aims to increase awareness of how consumption choices impact on the global environment, working conditions, the local economy, health and wellbeing, and then to encourage us to change to our behaviour. Through promoting, recognizing and rewarding sustainable choices we hope to make it easier and more desirable to act sustainably, perhaps by doing something differently, not buying something, or making a more environmentally sound or ethical choice. In particular we want to target people not already switched on to the sustainable message and young people. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project partners delivered all aspects of the project. Less is More will create a detailed concept for a Lancaster-based 'game' that sets real-life sustainable challenges, to be rewarded with online recognition and physical rewards. E.g. walk-to-work, turn down thermostat, sell your car etc. |
Impact | The game encouraged people to consume less and make more sustainable lifestyle choices by furthering understanding of how consumption is impacting on the planet, the local economy and on health and wellbeing. 3 workshops 87 registered players of the game, with 40 active players 80 challenges set 3 further funding applications submitted Academic paper in pipeline |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Less is More launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Less is More aims to increase awareness of how consumption choices impact on the global environment, working conditions, the local economy, health and wellbeing, and then to encourage us to change to our behaviour. Through promoting, recognizing and rewarding sustainable choices we hope to make it easier and more desirable to act sustainably, perhaps by doing something differently, not buying something, or making a more environmentally sound or ethical choice. In particular we want to target people not already switched on to the sustainable message and young people. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project partners delivered all aspects of the project. Less is More will create a detailed concept for a Lancaster-based 'game' that sets real-life sustainable challenges, to be rewarded with online recognition and physical rewards. E.g. walk-to-work, turn down thermostat, sell your car etc. |
Impact | The game encouraged people to consume less and make more sustainable lifestyle choices by furthering understanding of how consumption is impacting on the planet, the local economy and on health and wellbeing. 3 workshops 87 registered players of the game, with 40 active players 80 challenges set 3 further funding applications submitted Academic paper in pipeline |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Less is More launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster and Morecambe College |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Less is More aims to increase awareness of how consumption choices impact on the global environment, working conditions, the local economy, health and wellbeing, and then to encourage us to change to our behaviour. Through promoting, recognizing and rewarding sustainable choices we hope to make it easier and more desirable to act sustainably, perhaps by doing something differently, not buying something, or making a more environmentally sound or ethical choice. In particular we want to target people not already switched on to the sustainable message and young people. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project partners delivered all aspects of the project. Less is More will create a detailed concept for a Lancaster-based 'game' that sets real-life sustainable challenges, to be rewarded with online recognition and physical rewards. E.g. walk-to-work, turn down thermostat, sell your car etc. |
Impact | The game encouraged people to consume less and make more sustainable lifestyle choices by furthering understanding of how consumption is impacting on the planet, the local economy and on health and wellbeing. 3 workshops 87 registered players of the game, with 40 active players 80 challenges set 3 further funding applications submitted Academic paper in pipeline |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Less is More launchpad project |
Organisation | Local & Effective Sustainable Solutions UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Less is More aims to increase awareness of how consumption choices impact on the global environment, working conditions, the local economy, health and wellbeing, and then to encourage us to change to our behaviour. Through promoting, recognizing and rewarding sustainable choices we hope to make it easier and more desirable to act sustainably, perhaps by doing something differently, not buying something, or making a more environmentally sound or ethical choice. In particular we want to target people not already switched on to the sustainable message and young people. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project partners delivered all aspects of the project. Less is More will create a detailed concept for a Lancaster-based 'game' that sets real-life sustainable challenges, to be rewarded with online recognition and physical rewards. E.g. walk-to-work, turn down thermostat, sell your car etc. |
Impact | The game encouraged people to consume less and make more sustainable lifestyle choices by furthering understanding of how consumption is impacting on the planet, the local economy and on health and wellbeing. 3 workshops 87 registered players of the game, with 40 active players 80 challenges set 3 further funding applications submitted Academic paper in pipeline |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | LifeMirror: Launcpad project |
Organisation | Gregson Arts and Community Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | LifeMirror set out to reintroduce local cinema as a community tool, enhancing community spirit with entertainment and creating a new arena for communicating ideas on a daily basis. The challenge was to create an online crowd sourced film making system to provide a new form of citizen communication and engagement. The system is being designed so that, on a larger scale, the sequences of video can be configured not only by time, but also by user and location. For example, a film called 'Love' in Paris will look different to one made in London. It is currently at an experimental stage where clips are looped in time sequence under the film title. |
Collaborator Contribution | The LifeMirror project has created a new crowd sourcing application tool for both Android and Apple mobile use. It's a unique cinematic system designed to enable collective creativity and filmic argumentation based on geotime tracked video through mobile cameras. |
Impact | App has been created for apple and android devises 2 Academic papers have been produced Over 120 short fims have been made, displayed on the website, with 336 instances of contributions by members to the videos. Additional Research funding awarded New collaborations created across multiple Catalyst projects (eg Synergize film, Barter project links) |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | LifeMirror: Launcpad project |
Organisation | Kendal Mountain Festival |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | LifeMirror set out to reintroduce local cinema as a community tool, enhancing community spirit with entertainment and creating a new arena for communicating ideas on a daily basis. The challenge was to create an online crowd sourced film making system to provide a new form of citizen communication and engagement. The system is being designed so that, on a larger scale, the sequences of video can be configured not only by time, but also by user and location. For example, a film called 'Love' in Paris will look different to one made in London. It is currently at an experimental stage where clips are looped in time sequence under the film title. |
Collaborator Contribution | The LifeMirror project has created a new crowd sourcing application tool for both Android and Apple mobile use. It's a unique cinematic system designed to enable collective creativity and filmic argumentation based on geotime tracked video through mobile cameras. |
Impact | App has been created for apple and android devises 2 Academic papers have been produced Over 120 short fims have been made, displayed on the website, with 336 instances of contributions by members to the videos. Additional Research funding awarded New collaborations created across multiple Catalyst projects (eg Synergize film, Barter project links) |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | LifeMirror: Launcpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster Ethical Small Traders Association |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | LifeMirror set out to reintroduce local cinema as a community tool, enhancing community spirit with entertainment and creating a new arena for communicating ideas on a daily basis. The challenge was to create an online crowd sourced film making system to provide a new form of citizen communication and engagement. The system is being designed so that, on a larger scale, the sequences of video can be configured not only by time, but also by user and location. For example, a film called 'Love' in Paris will look different to one made in London. It is currently at an experimental stage where clips are looped in time sequence under the film title. |
Collaborator Contribution | The LifeMirror project has created a new crowd sourcing application tool for both Android and Apple mobile use. It's a unique cinematic system designed to enable collective creativity and filmic argumentation based on geotime tracked video through mobile cameras. |
Impact | App has been created for apple and android devises 2 Academic papers have been produced Over 120 short fims have been made, displayed on the website, with 336 instances of contributions by members to the videos. Additional Research funding awarded New collaborations created across multiple Catalyst projects (eg Synergize film, Barter project links) |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | LifeMirror: Launcpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | HighWire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | LifeMirror set out to reintroduce local cinema as a community tool, enhancing community spirit with entertainment and creating a new arena for communicating ideas on a daily basis. The challenge was to create an online crowd sourced film making system to provide a new form of citizen communication and engagement. The system is being designed so that, on a larger scale, the sequences of video can be configured not only by time, but also by user and location. For example, a film called 'Love' in Paris will look different to one made in London. It is currently at an experimental stage where clips are looped in time sequence under the film title. |
Collaborator Contribution | The LifeMirror project has created a new crowd sourcing application tool for both Android and Apple mobile use. It's a unique cinematic system designed to enable collective creativity and filmic argumentation based on geotime tracked video through mobile cameras. |
Impact | App has been created for apple and android devises 2 Academic papers have been produced Over 120 short fims have been made, displayed on the website, with 336 instances of contributions by members to the videos. Additional Research funding awarded New collaborations created across multiple Catalyst projects (eg Synergize film, Barter project links) |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | LifeMirror: Launcpad project |
Organisation | Loading Deck |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | LifeMirror set out to reintroduce local cinema as a community tool, enhancing community spirit with entertainment and creating a new arena for communicating ideas on a daily basis. The challenge was to create an online crowd sourced film making system to provide a new form of citizen communication and engagement. The system is being designed so that, on a larger scale, the sequences of video can be configured not only by time, but also by user and location. For example, a film called 'Love' in Paris will look different to one made in London. It is currently at an experimental stage where clips are looped in time sequence under the film title. |
Collaborator Contribution | The LifeMirror project has created a new crowd sourcing application tool for both Android and Apple mobile use. It's a unique cinematic system designed to enable collective creativity and filmic argumentation based on geotime tracked video through mobile cameras. |
Impact | App has been created for apple and android devises 2 Academic papers have been produced Over 120 short fims have been made, displayed on the website, with 336 instances of contributions by members to the videos. Additional Research funding awarded New collaborations created across multiple Catalyst projects (eg Synergize film, Barter project links) |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | North Lancashire Social Enterprise Festival |
Organisation | North Lancashire Social Enterprise Forum (NSLE) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | 12/07/2011 Catalyst Project was invited to festival by Jez Hall: Presentation, Exhibitor at event, outlining ambitions for new partnerships. 21/06/2012 Enterprise Forum invited by by Jez Hall: Participation in forum. 29/06/2012 Serendipity Café event and Launchpad presentation invited by Michael Hallam. |
Collaborator Contribution | Event organisation, marketing and provision of venue, enabling access to social enterprises, community and business networks. |
Impact | Collaboration with Lattice works. Latent Promise becoming an advisory member of Catalyst. Training offered by Lattice works across Lancaster University FASS. Links to Lancaster Ethical Social and Traders Association. |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | On Supply: Sprint project |
Organisation | Cleanweb |
Country | Global |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Renewable energy sources challenge us to think differently about the expectation that energy is always available whenever we demand it. 'On Supply' works with the citizens of Tiree, a small island off the west coast of Scotland, exploring how new energy awareness devices might help communities reflect on when energy is available and promote use at 'greener' times. Due to a favourable wind environment, the citizens of Tiree generate a significant proportion of their energy using 'Tilley', a 900kW turbine. This project will work with local communities to co-design interactive technologies aimed at reinforcing the connection between citizens and the energy from their turbine. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project developed ideas to explicitly prototype and trial new technology designs to stimulate citizens into thinking innovatively about adapting their lifestyles in response to green energy availability. On Supply will contribute to the debate in sustainability generally and specifically in sustainable human computer interaction, generating an understanding of what would make people change behaviour regarding the energy they use. The produced publications and outreach, a legacy proof of concept infrastructure for monitoring home use, grid load and Tilley (the turbine) generation. In consideration for longer term development the project may involve further communities (e.g. the nearby island of Eigg). |
Impact | 9 prototypes were developed PREP was established to stimulate dialogue Numerous workshops held engaging people of all ages following on funding applications submitted Research papers produced Invited to Manchester Science Festival involving (1075) participants |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | On Supply: Sprint project |
Organisation | Goldsmiths, University of London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Renewable energy sources challenge us to think differently about the expectation that energy is always available whenever we demand it. 'On Supply' works with the citizens of Tiree, a small island off the west coast of Scotland, exploring how new energy awareness devices might help communities reflect on when energy is available and promote use at 'greener' times. Due to a favourable wind environment, the citizens of Tiree generate a significant proportion of their energy using 'Tilley', a 900kW turbine. This project will work with local communities to co-design interactive technologies aimed at reinforcing the connection between citizens and the energy from their turbine. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project developed ideas to explicitly prototype and trial new technology designs to stimulate citizens into thinking innovatively about adapting their lifestyles in response to green energy availability. On Supply will contribute to the debate in sustainability generally and specifically in sustainable human computer interaction, generating an understanding of what would make people change behaviour regarding the energy they use. The produced publications and outreach, a legacy proof of concept infrastructure for monitoring home use, grid load and Tilley (the turbine) generation. In consideration for longer term development the project may involve further communities (e.g. the nearby island of Eigg). |
Impact | 9 prototypes were developed PREP was established to stimulate dialogue Numerous workshops held engaging people of all ages following on funding applications submitted Research papers produced Invited to Manchester Science Festival involving (1075) participants |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | On Supply: Sprint project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Renewable energy sources challenge us to think differently about the expectation that energy is always available whenever we demand it. 'On Supply' works with the citizens of Tiree, a small island off the west coast of Scotland, exploring how new energy awareness devices might help communities reflect on when energy is available and promote use at 'greener' times. Due to a favourable wind environment, the citizens of Tiree generate a significant proportion of their energy using 'Tilley', a 900kW turbine. This project will work with local communities to co-design interactive technologies aimed at reinforcing the connection between citizens and the energy from their turbine. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project developed ideas to explicitly prototype and trial new technology designs to stimulate citizens into thinking innovatively about adapting their lifestyles in response to green energy availability. On Supply will contribute to the debate in sustainability generally and specifically in sustainable human computer interaction, generating an understanding of what would make people change behaviour regarding the energy they use. The produced publications and outreach, a legacy proof of concept infrastructure for monitoring home use, grid load and Tilley (the turbine) generation. In consideration for longer term development the project may involve further communities (e.g. the nearby island of Eigg). |
Impact | 9 prototypes were developed PREP was established to stimulate dialogue Numerous workshops held engaging people of all ages following on funding applications submitted Research papers produced Invited to Manchester Science Festival involving (1075) participants |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | On Supply: Sprint project |
Organisation | Tiree Community Development Trust |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Renewable energy sources challenge us to think differently about the expectation that energy is always available whenever we demand it. 'On Supply' works with the citizens of Tiree, a small island off the west coast of Scotland, exploring how new energy awareness devices might help communities reflect on when energy is available and promote use at 'greener' times. Due to a favourable wind environment, the citizens of Tiree generate a significant proportion of their energy using 'Tilley', a 900kW turbine. This project will work with local communities to co-design interactive technologies aimed at reinforcing the connection between citizens and the energy from their turbine. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project developed ideas to explicitly prototype and trial new technology designs to stimulate citizens into thinking innovatively about adapting their lifestyles in response to green energy availability. On Supply will contribute to the debate in sustainability generally and specifically in sustainable human computer interaction, generating an understanding of what would make people change behaviour regarding the energy they use. The produced publications and outreach, a legacy proof of concept infrastructure for monitoring home use, grid load and Tilley (the turbine) generation. In consideration for longer term development the project may involve further communities (e.g. the nearby island of Eigg). |
Impact | 9 prototypes were developed PREP was established to stimulate dialogue Numerous workshops held engaging people of all ages following on funding applications submitted Research papers produced Invited to Manchester Science Festival involving (1075) participants |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | On Supply: Sprint project |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Renewable energy sources challenge us to think differently about the expectation that energy is always available whenever we demand it. 'On Supply' works with the citizens of Tiree, a small island off the west coast of Scotland, exploring how new energy awareness devices might help communities reflect on when energy is available and promote use at 'greener' times. Due to a favourable wind environment, the citizens of Tiree generate a significant proportion of their energy using 'Tilley', a 900kW turbine. This project will work with local communities to co-design interactive technologies aimed at reinforcing the connection between citizens and the energy from their turbine. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project developed ideas to explicitly prototype and trial new technology designs to stimulate citizens into thinking innovatively about adapting their lifestyles in response to green energy availability. On Supply will contribute to the debate in sustainability generally and specifically in sustainable human computer interaction, generating an understanding of what would make people change behaviour regarding the energy they use. The produced publications and outreach, a legacy proof of concept infrastructure for monitoring home use, grid load and Tilley (the turbine) generation. In consideration for longer term development the project may involve further communities (e.g. the nearby island of Eigg). |
Impact | 9 prototypes were developed PREP was established to stimulate dialogue Numerous workshops held engaging people of all ages following on funding applications submitted Research papers produced Invited to Manchester Science Festival involving (1075) participants |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Policy Beta Launchpad project |
Organisation | European Pirate Party |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Policy Beta seeks to address the lack of participation in modern democracies. With government policies being developed through bottom-up citizen dialogue as opposed to top-down professional political deliberation, political representatives can best know and implement citizen-driven initiatives. Policy Beta will bring political representatives closer to the concerns of the citizenry while engaging citizens in policy production. This can only be good for the collective self-governance at the heart of functioning democracies. Policy Beta will empower citizens to engage with policy production for the UK Pirate Party, by developing the content and collectively authoring the 2014 Manifesto. |
Collaborator Contribution | Policy Beta will create a digital platform for citizens' voices to network communities, generate ideas, debate issues, and vote on the policies that formulate principles for political action. In essence Policy Beta will provide a platform for crowd sourcing public policy. |
Impact | Talk and video: http://ipp.oii.ox.ac.uk/2014/programme-2014 Video and a short article published online as part of an MIT Civic Media project. Policy Beta is available for open source development on Github.https://github.com/ppuk Proto of it: staging.policybeta.org.uk As an open source platform Policy Beta can be adopted by anyone: businesses, political parties, or communities seeking to crowd source solutions to collective problems. Once a tool has been developed the project will be scaled through securing further funding from the Soros Foundation/Open Society Foundation Transparency and New Technologies Initiative. Multidisciplinary: Computer Scientists, Social Scientists, Community Organisations |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Policy Beta Launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | Department of Sociology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Policy Beta seeks to address the lack of participation in modern democracies. With government policies being developed through bottom-up citizen dialogue as opposed to top-down professional political deliberation, political representatives can best know and implement citizen-driven initiatives. Policy Beta will bring political representatives closer to the concerns of the citizenry while engaging citizens in policy production. This can only be good for the collective self-governance at the heart of functioning democracies. Policy Beta will empower citizens to engage with policy production for the UK Pirate Party, by developing the content and collectively authoring the 2014 Manifesto. |
Collaborator Contribution | Policy Beta will create a digital platform for citizens' voices to network communities, generate ideas, debate issues, and vote on the policies that formulate principles for political action. In essence Policy Beta will provide a platform for crowd sourcing public policy. |
Impact | Talk and video: http://ipp.oii.ox.ac.uk/2014/programme-2014 Video and a short article published online as part of an MIT Civic Media project. Policy Beta is available for open source development on Github.https://github.com/ppuk Proto of it: staging.policybeta.org.uk As an open source platform Policy Beta can be adopted by anyone: businesses, political parties, or communities seeking to crowd source solutions to collective problems. Once a tool has been developed the project will be scaled through securing further funding from the Soros Foundation/Open Society Foundation Transparency and New Technologies Initiative. Multidisciplinary: Computer Scientists, Social Scientists, Community Organisations |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Policy Beta Launchpad project |
Organisation | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Department | Picower Centre MIT |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Policy Beta seeks to address the lack of participation in modern democracies. With government policies being developed through bottom-up citizen dialogue as opposed to top-down professional political deliberation, political representatives can best know and implement citizen-driven initiatives. Policy Beta will bring political representatives closer to the concerns of the citizenry while engaging citizens in policy production. This can only be good for the collective self-governance at the heart of functioning democracies. Policy Beta will empower citizens to engage with policy production for the UK Pirate Party, by developing the content and collectively authoring the 2014 Manifesto. |
Collaborator Contribution | Policy Beta will create a digital platform for citizens' voices to network communities, generate ideas, debate issues, and vote on the policies that formulate principles for political action. In essence Policy Beta will provide a platform for crowd sourcing public policy. |
Impact | Talk and video: http://ipp.oii.ox.ac.uk/2014/programme-2014 Video and a short article published online as part of an MIT Civic Media project. Policy Beta is available for open source development on Github.https://github.com/ppuk Proto of it: staging.policybeta.org.uk As an open source platform Policy Beta can be adopted by anyone: businesses, political parties, or communities seeking to crowd source solutions to collective problems. Once a tool has been developed the project will be scaled through securing further funding from the Soros Foundation/Open Society Foundation Transparency and New Technologies Initiative. Multidisciplinary: Computer Scientists, Social Scientists, Community Organisations |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Policy Beta Launchpad project |
Organisation | Pirate Party UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Policy Beta seeks to address the lack of participation in modern democracies. With government policies being developed through bottom-up citizen dialogue as opposed to top-down professional political deliberation, political representatives can best know and implement citizen-driven initiatives. Policy Beta will bring political representatives closer to the concerns of the citizenry while engaging citizens in policy production. This can only be good for the collective self-governance at the heart of functioning democracies. Policy Beta will empower citizens to engage with policy production for the UK Pirate Party, by developing the content and collectively authoring the 2014 Manifesto. |
Collaborator Contribution | Policy Beta will create a digital platform for citizens' voices to network communities, generate ideas, debate issues, and vote on the policies that formulate principles for political action. In essence Policy Beta will provide a platform for crowd sourcing public policy. |
Impact | Talk and video: http://ipp.oii.ox.ac.uk/2014/programme-2014 Video and a short article published online as part of an MIT Civic Media project. Policy Beta is available for open source development on Github.https://github.com/ppuk Proto of it: staging.policybeta.org.uk As an open source platform Policy Beta can be adopted by anyone: businesses, political parties, or communities seeking to crowd source solutions to collective problems. Once a tool has been developed the project will be scaled through securing further funding from the Soros Foundation/Open Society Foundation Transparency and New Technologies Initiative. Multidisciplinary: Computer Scientists, Social Scientists, Community Organisations |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Success in Activist Tweets: launchpad project |
Organisation | Friends of The Earth |
Department | Manchester Friends of The Earth |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The project investigated which social media practices are successful (i.e. had influence) and why they work, to discover the ways in which activists and community groups utilize social media tools to communicate with the public. The aim was to create detailed requirements needed to establish a new community platform. In doing so the project could ascertain and improve activists' online presence to increase the chances of effecting positive social change. |
Collaborator Contribution | From an analysis of the language used researchers came up with a set of guidelines for using digital technology and maximizing tweet influence in the social activist context. A specification was developed for a future digital tool that could carry out such an analysis in real time, to provide immediate feedback to posters. |
Impact | Academic papers are in progress and further research is developing concerning the digital specification. A set of guidelines have been produced for using digital technology and maximising tweet influence in social activist context. Academic Publication now published |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Success in Activist Tweets: launchpad project |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Department | School of Computing and Communications |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The project investigated which social media practices are successful (i.e. had influence) and why they work, to discover the ways in which activists and community groups utilize social media tools to communicate with the public. The aim was to create detailed requirements needed to establish a new community platform. In doing so the project could ascertain and improve activists' online presence to increase the chances of effecting positive social change. |
Collaborator Contribution | From an analysis of the language used researchers came up with a set of guidelines for using digital technology and maximizing tweet influence in the social activist context. A specification was developed for a future digital tool that could carry out such an analysis in real time, to provide immediate feedback to posters. |
Impact | Academic papers are in progress and further research is developing concerning the digital specification. A set of guidelines have been produced for using digital technology and maximising tweet influence in social activist context. Academic Publication now published |
Start Year | 2012 |
Title | Catalyst Project Protypes |
Description | 1. #PAT: A personal Appointment Ticketing system 2. Access ASD: Clasp - digital anxiety management tool 3. OnSupply prototypes: A suite of Energy prototypes have been created I. Tilley Twinkle - LED augmented physical Christmas card was developed to communicate the time varying nature of energy. The lights changed colour depending on Tiree's wind turbine (Tilley) energy output; II. Turbine Tree - a digital Christmas tree that's lights showed the energy supply within the last 24 hours on the island. The lights changed colour depending on the turbine output; III. Energy Pulse App - renewable energy data forecasting system for response energy usage. This can be used within individuals homes and the community; IV. Energy Detectors - renewable energy data discovery and capture devices. This prototype was used with schools, as an outreach tool, taken on out-door expeditions and field trips (for more information see PREP); V. Energy Data Hub - a website developed to co-exist with the Energy Detectors. The site was used to map and visual data captured from the Energy Detectors and through observation. The website can be accessed by clicking here. VI. Datarium - an optic fibre energy-data display that changes colour depending on the supply of energy (past, present or future); and VII. SQRL - radio controlled smart plugs that turn on/off appliances when there is sufficient/insufficient power to the island; VIII. Windy-Brew - similar to SQRL, it is a kettle that will only boil when sufficient energy is available on the island; and IX. Ping Pong Power - game developed to enable workshop participants to visualise energy supply and usage. 5. Policy Beta: Community policy creating platform 6. Active Parks: Active Citizens - Two prototypes one which is an interactive xylophone 7. DigitalHeartlink - Crowd sourced cheering/heart monitoring app 8. LifeMirror - Crowd sourced cinema app 9. Less is More - online game proof of concept Local Trade: Local Wealth - digital trade app and loyalty card Ecohome - Open source energy monitor kit Community Data Explorer - visualisation app and website |
Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Impact | Collectively these products have resulted in Societal, Cultural and Economic impacts being made |
URL | http://catalystproject.co.uk/ |
Description | 'Engaging with the Edge of Innovation" invited talk, Wellcome Trust, London, 14 May 2014. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Many questions, contacts established, interest in research metholodgy Interest in talk and increased networks |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | 1. "Community Resilience in the Making: Bridging Traditional Craftsmanship over Digital Innovation", invited seminar, Computer Science Department, Free University of Bolzano, Italy, 8 July 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Shared multidisciplinary working practices & new technical prototype developments Generated and established new networks Inspired attendance at Synergize conference Visit to Lancaster by Professor and invited to speak at Synergize conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Catalyst International Seminar Series, Talks and presentations (23 presentations) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Cambridge Seminar - Invitation - presented research findings for Patchworks and the Catalyst Model - 01/02/2013 Seminar - Resituating Social Innovation, with US Anne Balsmo, & Sweden - 18/06/2013 Seminar - Disruptive Innovation; Alan Blackwell, David Tyfield, presentation with Four CDip projects, and launch of Clasp Prototype - 03/07/2013 Seminar - Steve Whittaker Using Lifelogging to Improve Psychological Well-Being, 25 in attendance - 21/02/2014 Remote Seminar - Concordia University Canada Inside out patchworks Skype between LICA & Canada - 07/05/2013 Seminar - Living Knowledge Event, Copenhagen Conference - 09/04/2014 Talk - Bristol Community Partnership summit - 23/09/2013 & 23/09/2013 Future Morecambe Scoping event - 13/02/2012 Seminar - Catalyst Research Skovde Gotenborg - 16/04/2014 Seminar and Workshop: Making Data Mobilizing Data (saw 74 attendees and 30 at workshop) - 22/01/2014 Pathways to health and Wealth - Clasp and Heartlink presentation - 31/03/2014 Talk & Display - HE Event - SCC Burnley, Lancashire - 08/05/2014 Seminar - The other prototype - 05/03/2013 Seminar - Patchworks presentation FRIICT Leeds - 01/10/2012 Catalyst Protee Seminar - 31/01/2012 Presentation - NCCPE Engage Event, Bristol - 06/12/2012 Seminar presentation - NHS Surrey Boarders ThinkTech - 17/09/2013 Seminar Presentation - Discourses in Public Engagement Symposium - 01/09/2012 Catalyst Patchworks presentation - Temporal Conflicts - 17/10/2012 Catalyst Presentation - Patchworks San Paulo Brazil - 24/07/2013 Catalyst Seminar - Deans Lecture University of Berkeley California - 04/09/2013 Catalyst Presentation - Lancaster One Planet Festival - 13/10/2013 Catalyst Presentation - North Lancashire Social Enterprise - 12/07/2011 & 21/06/2012 Increased learning & exchanged knowledge Established international profile Developed and bonded networks Created Catalyst Community |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |
URL | http://www.catalystproject.org.uk/about/ |
Description | Catalyst Participation in Community Festivals |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Exciting workshop activity for broad age ranged participants Was best attended event at MOSI in 2014 Increased participation |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Catalyst Serendipity/pop up cafe, Research Relay events |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Cafe events were held to stimulate discussion, networking, create awareness, encourage involvement in Catalyst events, seminars, projects etc Pop up caf? on Campus Refuel Event - popup caf?, total 14 people attended - 21/05/2013 Pop up caf? Campus Infolab Event - popup caf?, total 8 people attended - 24/05/2013 Launchpad Surgery - 01/06/2013 Catalyst Surgery -Catalyst application guidance sessions, where sprint projects were advised on development and partnerships 12/06/2013 Lessons Learned event - Lessons Learned event & Knowledge Exchange: CX, HighWire, PROUD, Catalyst 19/06/2013 Catalyst Ideas Lab 1 - Catalyst Event Ideas lab 1, 50 proposals submitted as interest in Catalyst partnerships - 14/12/2011 Catalyst Ideas Lab 2 - 15/12/2011 Catalyst Away Day - Knowledge Exchange, multidisciplinary research event involving 15 CoI's - 01/04/2012 Catalyst Away Day - Windermere residency - 01/06/2012 Pop up caf? Blackburn - 06/06/2013 Research Relay - academic knowledge exchange, paper production focus - 26/11/2013 Research Relay - Community Research Relay, community exhibitions, interactions - 13/12/2013 Catalyst tea break - Knowledge exchange - tea-break event - 06/02/2013 Catalytic Conversions - Knowledge Exchange, multidisciplinary research event involving CoI's & project participants - 09/04/2013 Catalyst Away Day - Serendipity Caf? event and Launchpad presentation - 29/06/2012 Pop up caf? with ESTA - Event - popup caf?, total 60 people attended - 23/04/2013 " " Increased Research Applications Knowledge increased Catalyst Profile raised |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Manchester Science Festival, MOSI, |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Participants experienced academic research in a fun, energetic (traversing across the whole museum) and dynamic way. Intergenerational interest was generated with broad cross section of people participating most attended workshop event of the festival Further increased confidence in delivery for participatory activities Engaged many more young people in Catalyst work Interest and further collaborations from MOSI and Manchester Science Festival |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2014 |
URL | http://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/whatson/msf14pielementalenergy |
Description | Press Coverage for Catalyst Projects |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | On Supply News features: Windy Brew The Atlantic Technology - http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/11/the-coffee-pot-that-only-works-when-its-windy/382609/ The Guardian online (environment ethical living) and Adam Vaughan, the editor of the Environment Guardian, tweeted the story Click Green (an environmental online site). Ethical Consumer Local and regional media Raspberry Pi - shared on Raspberry Pi's Facebook page (81,000 likes) My Science - http://www.myscience.org.uk/wire/look_what_the_wind_brew_in-2014-lancaster&rss=1 Science 2.0. - http://www.science20.com/news_articles/cloying_or_clever_coffee_that_only_brews_when_the_energy_is_renewable-148482 Alpha Galileo - the Internet press centre for European science, medicine and technology - http://www.alphagalileo.org/SearchResults.aspx?k=windy+brew Lancaster University website - http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/articles/2014/look-what-the-wind-brew-in/ BBC radio: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p029rxjt Yahoofinance.com - http://finance.yahoo.com/news/coffee-pot-only-works-windy-182040645.html;_ylt=AwrBEiFWlWRUZk8AHJOTmYlQ Nov 2011: ?1.9M to develop technology for social change - http://news.lancs.ac.uk/Web/News/Pages/1.9M-to-develop-technology-for-social-change.aspx May 2012: 'DIY' techie innovators working with homeless on prototype healthcare tool - http://news.lancs.ac.uk/Web/News/Pages/DIY-techie-innovators-working-with-homeless-on-prototype-healthcare-tool.aspx June 2012: Catalyst: tools for social change - Multidisciplinary Research opportunity http://news.lancs.ac.uk/Web/Events/Pages/Catalyst-tools-for-social-change-Multidisciplinary-Research-opportunity.aspx Nov 2012: Homeless health check prototype launched - http://news.lancs.ac.uk/Web/News/Pages/homeless-health-checker.aspx http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=35280 Jul 2012: Hi-tech invention for adults with autism - http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/articles/2013/hi-tech-invention-for-adults-with-autism-/ BBC Click - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5JdJLjT8l2PZQybvNKYCSX6/about-click http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m9ry Increased coverage and profile of Lancaster University Research project to reach millions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |