The Go ON – get more out of life online campaign challenged everyone to use computers and the internet and make getting online their New Year’s resolution.
The Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group enjoyed ‘Go ON mobile activities using cameras, mobile phones, computers and the internet.
In addition new people could visit at any time during January and February, by dropping in for a free taster session on digital photography at the IWDIG.
This is the second time IWDIG have participated in the UK Online Centres www.ukonlinecentres.com programme of national events. IWDIG Get Online events in October 2010 already Bridged the Digital Divide.
This month’s event formed part of more than 1500 free events running between 17th January and 14th February across the country in the Go ON – get more out of life online campaign.
The national initiative offered a series of sessions at UK online centres, Jobcentres, libraries and community centres across the UK, aimed at what you want to get out of being online. Whether it was mapping out your family tree, keeping in touch with family and friends, or helping you find that dream job.
The IWDIG focused on Photography ‘Hobbies & Interests’ and boy did we have something for you! First of all we got to grips with a worldwide phenomenon, with over 500 million users, we utilised, the benefits of being able to use Facebook. Read more click here
The first of the Go On, get more out of life session allowed us to set up a specific IWDIG Facebook area online and sign up willing participants to MYGuide*.
Some of us went mobile on Saturday at the annual Partners Against Crime event at Medina Leisure Centre. Roving IWDIG photographers who could not attend, were requested to send images from their mobile phones or via email, from wherever, they were.
We had an excellent turn out on Wednesday and although we did not reach our initial MyGuide* target we got more people to sign up virtually on Saturday.
Blessed with good weather, on Saturday we were able to get quite a few people to snap away and upload their images via mobile phones, before a slow internet connection and a universal glitch with Facebook saw some of the images virtually disappear into cyberspace.
Learning about computers and the online world has to be a positive bonus, not just for IWDIG photographers but for everyone to get more out of their hobbies, by getting a life online.
*MyGuide is a website designed to help people take their first steps with computers and the internet. Registered users get access to a wide range of free online courses.
The courses take you on a journey from absolute beginner to confident IT user, or you can dip in and out according to what subjects you’re interested in and how much experience you have. The courses are free to use, there are no exams and no set timetables. More details www.myguide.gov.uk
A word from our sponsors: UK Online Centres: The relationship between technology and happiness is linked in new research.
A survey with new internet users, conducted by UK online centres, found 87% of people thought their lives had changed for the better since they started using the internet, and nearly a quarter said the internet had been literally ‘life changing’
As well as the very tangible benefits of being online, there were also less direct results which were helping people improve their lives. Some 65% said the internet had helped them find new interests or follow old hobbies. A staggering 63% said they felt using computers and the internet had actually helped their general confidence.
Job satisfaction and security play a large part in our overall well-being, and UK online centres teamed up with Jobcentre Plus for the Go ON get more out of life online campaign to help jobseekers get to grips with computers and the internet. The campaign also backed by Race Online 2012 and the BBC, whose First Click campaign is running alongside Go ON 2011.
