Government Digital By Default - Reality Check

Digital exclusion by default

Here is evidence why digital by default will leave people (many of them vulnerable) more vulnerable and excluded.

Lack of Skills amongst public

Digital Intelligence: 16m Brits ‘lack basic web skills’ - http://www.digitalstrategyconsulting.com/intelligence/2012/11/16m_brits_lack_basic_web_skils.php - Report by UK digital champion Martha Lane Fox.

Lack of Access Exclusion and Vulnerability

@BBCMarkEaston - 53% of 7.1m UK adults who've NEVER used Internet are disabled, says ONS. Universal Credit will be 'digital by default'. - Seven million Brits 'never used net' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22538136 - More than seven million adults in the UK have never been online, official figures say, with the elderly remaining the least connected. Disabled people are three times less likely to get online than people without disability.

Digital by Default harms people.

Lack of Service User Involvement

Public service Mantra - No Decision About Me Without Me! - Where is the progress by DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) and ATOS in provision of fair assessments, IT Systems, Universal Credit and Tax Systems that effect them? Enough Service User Involvement, inclusion of full range of minorities? people with disabilities? 

BBC News - Hospital inspections- This is needed for ATOS/DWP - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23348824 - Recruit "small army" of doctors, nurses, patients and carers.

Mental health patients contract run by security firm G4S - http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Mental-health-patients-contract-run-security-firm/story-19604354-detail/story.html - Any Service User Involvement in this Decision?

Why people like me agree the WCA is unfair - http://www.rethink.org/news-views/2013/05/why-people-like-me-agree-the-wca-is-unfair - people like me and my son have known how unfair the WCA is for months.

Full statement from special rapporteur on housing Raquel Rolnik - http://gu.com/p/3tkck/tw - via @guardian - 'Bedroom Tax'

Government claims Welfare Reforms are working - So why won't they undertake Cumulative Impact Assessment - http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43154 - #WOWPetition

Systematic failures and Institutional Discrimination

BBC News - Brain injury victim's family disgusted at 'work' letter - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-23839671 - man permanent vegetative state after assault.

One-legged man accused of benefit fraud after officials examined wrong leg - http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/legged-man-accused-benefit-fraud-officials/story-19682497-detail/story.html - One leg improved the other amputated - guess which leg DWP and CPS checked?

Charities criticise 'flawed' fit for work system | Nursing in Practice - http://www.nursinginpractice.com/article/charities-criticise-flawed-fit-work-system - Half of people with a progressive disease such as multiple sclerosis have been told they will recover enough to work by the Work Capability Assessment.

Atos fit-to-work assessments branded 'farcical' people with progressive diseases like Parkinson's told they'll RECOVER - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/atos-fit-to-work-assessments-branded-farcical-2225751

Paul McCauley, left in vegetative state by gang attack, sent letter asking whether he is fit for work |  http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/27/man-in-vegetative-state-sent-letter-asking-if-he-is-fit-for-work-3939173/ via @MetroUK

£130 to get medical evidence for WCA? - Rethink Mental Illness, the mental health charity: - http://www.rethink.org/news-views/2013/08/130-to-get-medical-evidence-for-wca - Mental Health News.

Secret Cuts 6: How are those with mental health problems treated by Atos? http://www.newstatesman.com/alan-white/2013/08/secret-cuts-6-how-are-those-mental-health-problems-treated-atos - Complaints about work capability assessment.

Whistleblower tells the inside story of Atos - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/whistleblower-tells-inside-story-atos-2194951 - via @DailyMirror - Mark Thomas - and - I’ve had a fistful of IDS.

Written off by Atos - I might as well die: The desperate letters from benefit cuts victims - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/written-atos---might-well-2231300 - via @DailyMirror - Horror stories from readers.

BBC News - Basic rights of mentally ill 'violated' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23685670 - because of a shortage of beds in psychiatric units, MPs say.

Mentally ill patients sectioned unnecessarily just to gain access to a hospital bed - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mentally-ill-patients-sectioned-unnecessarily-as-only-way-to-a-hospital-bed-8760166.html - Chair of Health Select Committee.

Proof that ATOS expect people with incurable conditions like cerebral palsy to "get better" - http://tompride.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/proof-that-atos-expect-people-with-incurable-conditions-like-cerebral-palsy-to-get-better/  via @ThomasPride

Today 11th September Jim Paterson https://twitter.com/gjpaterson/ put forward the  idea that ATOS tests people more often than necessary, including for incurable medical conditions that will not improve or will get worse. The incentive he mentioned is that they are paid per assessment. I think he has a point that this incentive skews their work.

To put it mildly many people with disabilities are not feeling empowered by the system, nor by its direction of change!

Top-Down design causing the usual failures

Many links tweeted by https://twitter.com/SysThinkReview

“I know why Universal Credit IT is failing” John Seddon message for @margarethodge - http://www.universalcredit.co.uk/category/i-know-why-universal-credit-it-is-failing-john-seddon-message-for-margaret-hodge/  #tVM - This analysis is absolutely right and goes straight to the core issue.

How to fix Universal Credit- cut out the IT crowd via @Telegraph - http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/philipjohnston/100234425/how-to-fix-universal-credit-cut-out-the-it-crowd/ - Work and Pensions Secretary has blamed his department’s officials for the initial teething problems. - "Since people have so many different experiences and circumstances constructing an IT system that will embrace them all is doomed to failure. So why not have the single UC, which is the good bit, and recognise that it is best implemented by people, not computers? As John Seddon, the systems guru, has argued in a bid to get the public sector to listen 'computers are terrible at absorbing variety – and taxation, credits and benefits are problems with wide variety.'

Seddon sees UC as another Whitehall plan obsessed with cost that will actually be more expensive when it all goes wrong than giving claimants someone to talk to who will deal with their problems straight away. Online services that are too complex merely take longer, frustrate claimants and add more cost. Seddon says these would be far better delivered face-to-face by benefit offices and the savings that IT makes in staff costs are illusory.

'Citizen-centred services have been able to cut their operating costs and cope with rising demand,' says Seddon . 'They demonstrate that good service is, actually, cheaper. The people who have developed these outstanding services could deliver the universal credit in months, without a massive investment in IT.'

Will anyone listen to this good advice and stop seeing digital as the only way to do business in government?"

"One of the revelations in the NAO report is that the so-called reset team has proposed that this should be abandoned: instead of digital by default, the UC programme should be 'digital as appropriate'."

Iain Duncan Smith put his faith in new leadership of Universal credit. This is not how big IT projects succeed. They succeed when users are staff are the main drivers, fully involved and engaged.

The Government plan to deliver Universal Credit on time and on budget, simply by increasing the budget and putting back the date. It will still fail.

Bob Marshall ‏@flowchainsensei1 -
"In command-and-control organisations, the ILLUSION of control is much more comforting - and hence valuable - than any actual control."

Universal credit:guaranteed to fail? http://gu.com/p/324mt/tw - via @guardian will not be able to deal with human variety-try service by humans? - Experts predicted failure from start 2011!

BBC News - Universal credit: What went wrong? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23971068 - At-a-glance: What went wrong.

"Of £303m spent so far on IT, only £162m deemed to be fit to be capitalised as an asset.  " DWP writes off millions of pounds on Universal Credit IT, damning NAO report reveals. http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240204715/DWP-writes-off-millions-of-pounds-on-Universal-Credit-IT-damning-NAO-report-reveals @ComputerWeekly

“@SysThinkReview: NAO: 'Universal Credit: early progress.' http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Executive-Summary.pdf ” > points 23 and 24, carry on regardless...

David Cameron's £2.4bn universal credit project riddled with problems -  @guardian £34m wasted on failed IT programmes http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/05/david-cameron-24bn-universal-credit-problems

Universal credit: Iain Duncan Smith blames civil servants for IT failings - http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/05/universal-credit-iain-duncan-smith - rare step of publicly blaming civil servants.

DWP drops agile from flagship government software project- Public Sector IT: http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/public-sector/2013/05/dwp-drops-agile-from-flagship.html - drops scheme to avert software disasters.

- and did DWP ever embrace the agile approach anyway, feedback is no!

Universal Credit? Universal DISCREDIT, more like, say insiders - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/10/universal_credit_will_be_a_universal_failure_says_whistleblower/ - Government sources -' reveal - total disarray'

BBC News - Universal credit: National roll-out delayed, claims Labour - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23262496 - hit by fresh delays.

BBC News - DWP 'chaos' to cost £1.4bn, says Labour's Liam Byrne - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23768436 - Iain Duncan Smith has lost control of spending.

Prepare to add HS2 & Universal Credit to depressing list of fiascos @Telegraph - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10252450/Prepare-to-add-HS2-and-Universal-Credit-to-our-depressing-list-of-fiascos.html - Policies ministers stubbornly stuck to.

IDS accuses civil servants of ignoring warnings about Universal Credit -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2411897/Universal-Credit-Iain-Duncan-Smith-accuses-civil-servants-ignoring-warning-signs.html -  Blame game begins over benefits.

What were Iain Duncan Smith's 'welfare reforms' really about? Sue Marsh - http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/05/what-were-welfare-reforms-about - failed & frightened most vulnerable.

Universal Credit crunch: Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare reform wastes £34m- so far http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-crunch-iain-duncan-smiths-welfare-reform-wastes-34m--so-far-8798957.html - ‘weak management & poor governance’

£200m of Universal Credit IT could be scrapped, MPs told -  http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240205242/200m-of-Universal-Credit-IT-could-be-scrapped-MPs-told - Computer Weekly.

Even if Tax and Benefit systems each work well (doubtful), they then need to work together in real time!

Lack of Progress in Developing Open Semantic Web Technologies

BBC News - Tim Berners-Lee: Net neutrality 'regulation needed' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23205244 - Click - Video and Article.

Has the web developed how Berners - Lee hoped it would? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22786821 - BBC News - Click Video - Tim Berners-Lee's invention has gone global.

But Government does not involve people in development of its' IT and Web systems.

Failures

If these failures are not addressed these digital by default and other schemes will fail individually and together. Implementers will be unable to do anything other than salvage the best bits from the wreckage.

New blog and continuing this blog

I've started a blog on Mental Health & Service User Representation.1st post-talk I gave on exercise & mental health - http://peterhaleserviceuser.blogspot.co.uk/

I'll still be carrying on with this blog also. My interest in research and in computing continues, as much as ever.

I'm currently learning C# .net.

FOI Disability Aseessments cost DWP £199.1m 2012-13

2nd July 2013
Dear Dr Hale,
Freedom of Information Act – Request for Information
Our Reference: FOI 2784
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 18th June 2013. You asked:
1. Total DWP direct cost for all assessments re: eligibility for Employment Support
Allowance in the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period
up to which the statistics have been compiled, e.g. payments to medical provider such as
ATOS.
2. Total DWP indirect cost for all assessments re: eligibility for Employment Support
Allowance in the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period
up to which the statistics have been compiled. Administration costs relating to assessments,
such as related DWP costs of communication with ATOS and claimant, and processing
assessments, outcomes and benefit changes where applicable.
3. Total DWP direct cost for all appeals re: eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in
the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period up to which the
statistics have been compiled, e.g. payments for tribunals and/or for DWP representation at
tribunals.
4. Total DWP indirect cost for all appeals re: eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in
the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period up to which the
statistics have been compiled. Administration costs relating to appeals, such as related
DWP costs of communication with tribunal and claimant, and processing assessments,
outcomes and benefit changes where applicable.
Data is not available prior to 2011/12.
1. The direct cost for all assessments for eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in
the UK was:
DWP Finance and Commercial
Our address Ground Floor
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UA
• Approximately £62.1m in 2011/12
• Approximately £77.1m in 2012/13.
With regards your question about payments to medical provider such as Atos:
The Department for Work and Pensions re-awarded Atos Origin IT Services Ltd, trading
as Atos Healthcare, a new Contract to provide Medical Services on behalf of the
Department from 1 September 2005. The total cost of these services amounts to
approximately £100 million per annum. This figure not only covers the total number of
assessments undertaken across all benefits, but also costs relating to written and verbal
medical advice, fixed overheads, administrative costs, investment in new technology
and other service improvements.
I can further confirm that there is not a fixed minimum fee for the provision of
assessments. As the number of assessments required by the Department increases or
decreases then the payment made to Atos Healthcare for these varies accordingly.
2. The indirect cost for all assessments for eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in
the UK was:
• Approximately £40.1m in 2011/12
• Approximately £102.4m in 2012/13.
3. The direct cost for all appeals is not available to DWP. DWP are responsible for the
preparation of appeal submissions with Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Services
(HMCTS) responsible for the scheduling and hearing of appeals. You may find further
information on tribunal appeals on the following website;
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/court-statistics-quarterly--2
4. The indirect cost for all appeals re: eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in the
UK was:
• Approximately £16.5m in 2011/12
• Approximately £19.6m in 2012/13.
The data provided is staff and non staff costs from the DWP Operations Activity Based
Models 11/12 and 12/13.
If you have any queries about this letter please contact us quoting the reference number
above.
Yours sincerely
Communications Team
Finance and Commercial
E mail: quarryhouse.oppmpq-foi@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act
If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing freedom-ofinformation-
request@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill
Street, London. SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this
letter.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information
Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have
exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The
Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
www.ico.gov.uk

Networks for Healing-Mental Health Peer Support Computing

Networks for Healing-Mental Health Peer Support Computing

This article recommends Web-based networks for healing by enabling sharing of help and support. This would be a simple forum system for social networking, protective and friendly. Service users would be involved in the design of this peer support system. The problem is that a digital society causes social exclusion of service users. This can then worsen their symptoms.

The idea is inspired by activities and research focussing on exercise and team sports, Bristol Active Life Project (BALP), Walking for Health/Rethink. This could be applied to peer support networks.

To ensure involvement of service users an intermediate step is needed towards digital inclusion of mental health sufferers by provision of a peer support network for sharing help and advice. This is necessary because there are advantages and disadvantages for more open peer networking systems.

Advantages of Twitter/Facebook

• Facebook helps depression: Looking at old photos can help treat mental health problems.

• New research discovers emergence of Twitter groupings of people with shared interests.

Disadvantages of Twitter/Facebook

• Trolling

• Arguments

• Irrelevance

• Overcomplicated to use.

• Advertising - can exploit vulnerable people.

• Lack of confidentiality causing fear of participation.

Peer Support Network

The peer support forum network would be designed to be private to its members, and would be simple and accessible. This is important for those with different needs and illnesses.

The privacy of forums and caution in rate of growth would deal with dangers from disadvantages of directly applying Twitter and Facebook. Digital inclusion of mental health patients can thus be encouraged within a safe environment. Assurance is needed that people posting on the site are considerate and careful, if someone wants help with a mental health issue, the responder must be constructive. If someone’s post is not appropriate this needs to be moderated carefully via a person/people and technology in a diplomatic and sympathetic way. Because as well as preventing the post from reaching anyone it could harm, it’s essential to avoid discouragement and harm to the person posting. A mental health condition may cause difficulties in judging what is or is not appropriate.

The above is essential work as benefits and many other aspects of everyday life are becoming more dependent on online participation.

Full Version - http://userdrivenmodelling.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/networks-for-healing-user-driven.html

Advice for potential academic bloggers

Advice for potential academic bloggers - http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2013/01/14/advice-for-potential-academic-bloggers/ - Simon Wren-Lewis discusses the value of academic blogging.

"One year after starting his Mainly Macro blog, Simon Wren-Lewis discusses the value of academic blogging. He finds that blogging has improved his teaching and helped him clarify his ideas.

I wanted to mark a year of blogging by encouraging other academics (particularly outside the US) to do the same. So lets use my experience to tackle some of the worries that may be holding others back."

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2013/01/14/advice-for-potential-academic-bloggers/

Are Employment and Support Allowance Assessments providing value for money? - Freedom of Information (FOI)

Are Employment and Support Allowance Assessments providing value for money? -

Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent by me today.

FAO Department of Work and Pensions DWP

I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please send me:

Total DWP direct cost for all assessments re: eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period up to which the statistics have been compiled. E.g payments to medical provider such as ATOS.

Total DWP indirect cost for all assessments re: eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period up to which the statistics have been compiled. Administration costs relating to assessments, such as related DWP costs of communication with ATOS and claimant, and processing assessments, outcomes and benefit changes where applicable.

Total DWP direct cost for all appeals re: eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period up to which the statistics have been compiled. E.g. payments for tribunals and/or for DWP representation at tribunals.

Total DWP indirect cost for all appeals re: eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period up to which the statistics have been compiled. Administration costs relating to appeals, such as related DWP costs of communication with tribunal and claimant, and processing assessments, outcomes and benefit changes where applicable.

If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the Act, you are required to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct me to it, with page references and URLs if necessary.

If the release of any of this information is prohibited on the grounds of breach of confidence, I ask that you supply me with copies of the confidentiality agreement and remind you that information should not be treated as confidential if such an agreement has not been signed.

I understand that you are required to respond to my request within the 20 working days after you receive this letter. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

Peter Hale

BBC - Click Video - Tim Berners-Lee

BBC Click online clip 10 June 2013 - 7 minutes.

Has the web developed how Berners-Lee hoped it would? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22786821

Tim Berners-Lee's invention has quite literally gone global. The World Wide Web is heralded as changing the way business is done. But he is not stopping there.

Richard Taylor speaks to the man responsible for the first part of the digital revolution about how he thinks it has developed and what the future holds.

Networks for Healing - User Driven Computing for Mental Health Peer Support Networks

This is a proposal for research and implementation of Web-based networks for healing mental health by enabling sharing of help and support. This will be a simple forum system for social networking, protective and friendly. Mental health patients will be involved in the design of this peer support system. The problem this addresses is that a digital by default society causes social exclusion of mental health patients who are often not well digitally connected. This can then worsen their symptoms.

The proposal is inspired by similar activities and research with the focus on exercise and team sports, (Bristol Active Life Project, BALP - http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/bristol-active-life-project-balp). The emphasis is on applying a similar methodology to peer support networks. Web/Computer networks would be the basis for improvement and development of peer support service user networks.

There is a role for professionally run peer support, though there are arguments against this :-

‘Professionalizing peer support risks reducing its effectiveness TogetherUK Anne Beales looks at how to keep it user-led - http://www.together-uk.org/new-charity-report-reveals-adoption-of-peer-support-by-mental-health-services-poses-threat-to-grassroots-ethos-and-survival/ - Charity report reveals: adoption of ‘peer support’ by mental health services poses threat to grassroots ethos and survival ‘

‘Peer support has existed amongst service users for many years but grew in strength as an antidote to the mental health system which many had experienced as negative and restrictive. It has also become a lifeline for people from marginalised groups who have traditionally found it difficult to access mainstream services.’ ... it is vital a framework is developed that supports its grassroots ethos and preserves its user-led heritage.’

This proposal argues for provision of an intermediate step towards digital inclusion of mental health sufferers by provision of a ‘Walled Garden’ peer support network for sharing help and advice. This is necessary because there are advantages and disadvantages for more open access peer networking systems.

Advantages of Twitter/Facebook

·         Facebook helps depression: Looking at old photos 'can help treat mental health problems' - http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/19/looking-at-old-facebook-photos-can-help-treat-mental-health-problems-3548235/ via @MetroUK - Portsmouth University

·         Trawling through your own Facebook pictures could be good for your mental health - Home News - UK - The Independent - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trawling-through-your-own-facebook-pictures-could-be-good-for-your-mental-health-8538823.html

·         New research discovers emergence of Twitter 'tribes' - http://www.rhul.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents/news/newsarticles/newresearchdiscoverstheemergenceoftwittertribes.aspx - Royal Holloway collaboration with Princeton University 14 March

 

Disadvantages of Twitter/Facebook

·         Trolling

·         Arguments

·         Irrelevance

·         Overcomplicated interfaces

·         General public/publicity

·        Advertising - can worsen mental health by causing vulnerable people to buy things they do not want

·        Lack of confidentiality, e.g. stigma and fear of being found prematurely fit for work/work related activities

All of the above can worsen mental health symptoms.

 

Peer Support Network

 

Shelter/Walled garden metaphor

The common thread to computing research, links to charities and campaigns and the peer support network to be created is to ask people what they need! Not tell them what they must put up with. The user led/user driven aspect of this is to involve those taking part in the peer support network fully in its design.

The peer support forum network would be designed to be private to its members, and the emphasis would be on simplicity and accessibility. This is important because simplicity is the best way to ensure accessibility to those with different needs and illnesses. Further accessibility would be improved by use of open standards methods so as to make the network available to the maximum possible range of devices.

The privacy of the forum and caution in rate of growth would deal with the above negatives and dangers of networks I mentioned in the disadvantages of directly applying Twitter and Facebook. This approach to safety and wellbeing of users by risk free involvement is often called a ‘sandpit’ in computing, a metaphor for being enabled to play with the technology and decide how to use it, without any worries.

Increasing numbers of people previously digitally excluded now use the Internet, a further trend is people becoming more savvy, using smart phones and iPads as well as computers. Digital inclusion of mental health patients can be encouraged by accelerating this process, within a safe environment. Assurance is needed that people posting on the site are considerate and careful, if someone wants help with a mental Health issue, we want the responder to be constructive, not destructive. If someone’s post is not appropriate this needs to be moderated carefully via a person/people and technology in a diplomatic and sympathetic way. Because as well as preventing the post from reaching anyone it could harm, we need to avoid discouragement and harm to the person posting whose mental health condition may cause difficulties in their judging what is or is not appropriate.

An excellent example of a peer support resource is this from Bristol University students who talk of their mental health issues and solutions :-

Looking after your mate: University of Bristol students & Mental health - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drYW-BvUV3Q - Video-Feb 2013 experiences of mental health.

 

Final Stage of research – Education Provision

Protected environment for learning

The final stage of the research would be to improve mental health through both online and personally guided learning. This would be to demonstrate to mental health patients that education is not just something that is undertaken once symptoms have eased.

In my own field of computing research and education, these are examples of where computing education can strengthen and clarify thinking, problem solving and ability to achieve goals :-

Tom Armitage: The Coded World - Radio 4 available online - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pg54z - Computer code frees us to think in new ways.

BBC News - Viewpoint: Computer code frees us to think in new ways - http://bbc.in/RhQJB8 - "learning to code" - a hot topic in the media.

I believe that collaboration with educationalists and mental health experts could expand the benefits of education to a wider subject area.

Background to this proposal

This research would follow on from user driven research I undertook in 10 years as a researcher and for my PhD, main references below :-

My PhD thesis on University Repository at http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17918/ User driven modelling: Visualisation & systematic interaction for end-user programming.

Journal paper JVLC subscription required http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045926X12000572 - 'User-Driven Modelling: Visualisation & Systematic Interaction for end-user programming' - open access - http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17817/

Related Research

Some organisers of peer review networks, presentations, magazines/twitte

‘BPD FFS Sue Sibbald - https://twitter.com/@bpdffs - ‘Campaigning and Training for People with Borderline Personality Disorder.’
Shirley Ayres – ‘I work with innovative organisations to develop communication & digital engagement strategies which use technology & social media for social good.’

https://twitter.com/@shirleyayres - ‘Our trust it's the patients who run the feedback channels, they manage it ask the questions patient leaders.’

‘Mark Brown edits One in Four, England's only national mental health and wellbeing magazine written by people who experience mental health difficulties.’ - https://twitter.com/@MarkOneinFour - ‘Lead on ideas about how to do things better for people, sometimes just simple things, and then implement them.’

Depression Community New York ‏@depressionpage ‘Connect and discuss experiences dealing with mental illnesses and share coping mechanisms in the hopes of helping...’ http://www.allblackclothes.com/ - https://twitter.com/depressionpage

BlackDogTribe.com - https://twitter.com/FollowBDT - ‘Online community set up by @Rubywax, the mother of Black Dog Tribe, for anyone affected by mental illness.’-  http://www.facebook.com/BlackDogTribe - http://www.blackdogtribe.com

Nursewithglasses - https://twitter.com/nurse_w_glasses - Official Twitter Page of a Community Mental Health Nurse on a mission to improve Psychiatry Worldwide, Speaker, Winner Twental Health Awards in nursing 2012 - http://20commandments.blogspot.nl/2012/04/20-commandments-for-mental-health.html

Jim Paterson - Google "Big White Wall" MOD funded mental health website - http://www.bigwhitewall.com/ - In Wales we also have a number of Facebook based self help groups for PTSD

Project: PROFIT: Prevention of Falls using IT - http://www.zonmw.nl/nl/projecten/project-detail/profit-prevention-of-falls-using-it/samenvatting/ - PROFIT’s main objective role of ICT in supporting Disease Management. Most relevant to me is Objective 3.:- "How to design a demand-driven process-based usable website to empower patients? This will contribute to our knowledge of designing websites for special groups and understand barriers and acceptance issues."

Mental Health Chat - #MHchat is an open access community & Knowledge Hub (http://mhchat.com ) Join+Share your #MentalHealth views & insights every Wednesday 8:00 PM UTC @MHchat

 

BBC News - Preventing bipolar relapse with web therapy http://bbc.in/10aGUE0 - Research into web therapy carried out at Lancaster University

 

Information and Systems approach to improving mental health services

BCS (British Computer Society) - Working together informatics professionals and clinicians can transform healthcare delivery - 22 March 2013 - "Now is the time for a step change in the way technology can help deliver healthcare according to Dr Justin Whatling, Chair of BCS Health, who speaks in a new online video interview ahead of the forthcoming HC2013 healthcare conference which the Institute organises." - http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/50195 - Video Interview - http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/50194

BCS - IT Now magazine - Changing behaviour through information - http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/50218 - Dr Justin Whatling, Chair of BCS Health and Dr Wai Keong Wong - The role of information and technology to support individuals in adopting a healthy lifestyle, reducing their health risk or managing their long-term condition is a topic that needs to be addressed.

Preparing the NHS for an information revolution

BCS report on the NHS Information Revolution

consultation on proposals - http://www.bcs.org/upload/pdf/liberating-the-nhs.pdf

Department of Health

The power of information

Putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need

 
http://informationstrategy.dh.gov.uk/

 The information strategy from the Department of Health was published in May 2012. It sets a ten-year framework for transforming information for the NHS, public health and social care. One of the key commitments is that you will be able to view your GP record online by 2015.

Everyone counts: Planning for Patients 2013/14

Everyone Counts: Planning for Patients 2013/14 outlines the incentives and levers that will be used to improve services from April 2013, the first year of the new NHS, where improvement is driven by clinical commissioners.

http://www.england.nhs.uk/everyonecounts/

 

About Me

I am broadening my research. My PhD was applicable outside of aerospace also. Then I've adjusted according to the crises and opportunities that have been coming my way. The User-Driven and End-User parts of my research apply well to include those digitally excluded. I'm also hedging my bets that my voluntary opportunities may eventually lead to first clerical/computing opportunities within the NHS and eventually NHS Informatics (computing).

New Role - Research Volunteer NHS AWP I’m involved as Academic, Service User, Patient and Public Participation adviser. I’m training in mental health and exercise funding bid writing. The funding bid is for pilot study about effects of exercise and team activities on mental health.

I'm at an early stage of developing research into improving mental health through sheltered peer support forums to improve mental health and mitigate digital exclusion.

Sport and Mental Health Research - Health Grant Funding Workshop

Health Grant Funding Workshop at Buckfast Abbey, Devon today was excellent - National Institute for Health Research - http://www.nihr.ac.uk - Very informative. I'm part of the team involved in applying for funding for mental health research. We had very useful feedback, and it's clear that the funding bid is on track for submission in September or January. It's now down to details. The project would be a 6 month pilot study into the effects of football for people with mental health issues. This project would be led by NHS AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership).

My new Research - Mental Health Forums

I attended a research course last Wednesday- ‘An introduction to public involvement in health and social research’ - People and Research South West. This was at University of Bristol presented by Professor David Evans University of the West of England UWE. The course was helpful for a mental health and sport bid. Attendees went over public engagement in this funding bid for investigating the effects of sport and exercise on mental health. I'm part of the team applying for this research funding.

We're going to another funding workshop in Devon on Thursday April 25. All day in Buckfast Abbey run by Research Design Service - South West (RDS-SW) - http://www.rds-sw.nihr.ac.uk/.

I'm writing a proposal for research and implementation of Web-based networks for healing mental health. This is for enabling sharing of help and support.

Networks for Healing - User Driven Computing for Mental Health Peer Support Networks
“This is a proposal for research and implementation of Web-based networks for healing mental health by enabling sharing of help and support. This will be a simple forum system for social networking, protective and friendly. Mental health patients will be involved in the design of this peer support system. The problem this addresses is that a digital by default society causes social exclusion for mental health patients who are often not well digitally connected. This can then worsen their symptoms.

The proposal is inspired by similar activities and research with the focus on exercise and team sports, (Bristol Active Life Project, BALP - http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/bristol-active-life-project-balp). The emphasis is on applying a similar methodology to peer support networks. Web/Computer networks would be the basis for improvement and development of peer support service user networks.”

I am broadening my research. My PhD was applicable outside of aerospace also. Then I've adjusted according to the crises and opportunities that have been coming my way. The User-Driven and End-User parts of my research apply well to include those digitally excluded. I'm also hedging my bets that my voluntary opportunities may eventually lead to first clerical/computing opportunities within the NHS and eventually NHS Informatics (computing).

BBC Technology - The mysterious powers of Microsoft Excel

BBC Technology - The mysterious powers of Microsoft Excel - Colm O'Regan - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22213219

"After two Harvard economists admitted a faulty spreadsheet calculation caused errors in a study used by numerous politicians to support their austerity policies, writer Colm O'Regan pays tribute to the power of Microsoft Excel.

The Reinhart-Rogoff study

• Harvard economists Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff wrote in 2010 that a country's output fell substantially as soon as total public debt passed 90% of gross domestic product
• Their paper said that - in 20 advanced economies since 1945 - growth of 3% to 4% collapsed to an average -0.1% at this point. Governments used the findings to support austerity measures
• But University of Massachusetts researchers found coding errors in spreadsheets used in the study. Reinhart and Rogoff admit mistakes but say the research's central point remains valid
• New research says growth only falls to an average of 2.2% and that in some cases it can be higher than in countries with lower debt levels"

BBC News - Reinhart, Rogoff... and Herndon: The student who caught out the profs - By Ruth Alexander

"This week, economists have been astonished to find that a famous academic paper often used to make the case for austerity cuts contains major errors. Another surprise is that the mistakes, by two eminent Harvard professors, were spotted by a student doing his homework."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22223190

The Open Knowledge Foundation

Reinhart-Rogoff revisited: why we need open data in economics http://blog.okfn.org/2013/04/22/reinhart-rogoff-revisited-why-we-need-open-data-in-economics/ … #opendata #openeconomics

"Another economics scandal made the news last week. Harvard Kennedy School professor Carmen Reinhart and Harvard University professor Kenneth Rogoff argued in their 2010 NBER paper that economic growth slows down when the debt/GDP ratio exceeds the threshold of 90 percent of GDP. These results were also published in one of the most prestigious economics journals – the American Economic Review (AER) – and had a powerful resonance in a period of serious economic and public policy turmoil when governments around the world slashed spending in order to decrease the public deficit and stimulate economic growth."

The Open Knowledge Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2004 with the aim of promoting #OpenKnowledge and #OpenData in all their forms.
 Global · http://okfn.org

British Computer Society Events - Restoring the world's oldest working digital computer - Raspberry Pi

Restoring the world's oldest working digital computer 15th April

"we still have some availability for tonight's talk on the Harwell Dekatron Computer at the City of Bristol College. All are welcome.
Restoring the world's oldest working digital computer


Start: 15/04/2013 - 19:30

End: 15/04/2013 - 21:00
Speaker: Kevin Murrell
Venue: City of Bristol College
Please register here: https://events.bcs.org/book/563/
7:00pm Refreshments, 7:30pm Main Talk
The recently restored Harwell Dekatron Computer is a typical project conducted by the Computer Conservation Society. Starting with the author's vague memories of the machine being a museum display in the early 1970s, and a chance observation in 2006, the CCS began a project to find the remains of the computer and determine whether it might be restored.
A combination of luck, perseverance and vintage-technology know-how made the project possible, and this 1950s relay and valve computer has now been restored to full working order. It is now on public display and shown working, and is being used again in education with a new generation of programmers.
Kevin Murrell has been a member of the Computer Conservation Society for many years, initially as chair of the DEC working group and now as society secretary. Kevin divides his time between his own business supplying systems to the health service, acting as a trustee to The National Museum of Computing, and in his spare time, still tinkering with his collection of PDP8 mini-computers."

Raspberry Pi Bootcamp 20th April

"This is a reminder about the Raspberry Pi Bootcamp being held at @Bristol in Bristol on Saturday 20th April. This is an excellent chance to learn about the Pi and get kids into computing. It is open from 10.30am to 4.30pm and you will be able to drop in at any time – ENTRY is FREE. Just register at http://bcsbristolbootcamp.eventbrite.com/
 
There are a number of excellent workshops to attend during the day which you can register for too –

Workshops:
·        Logging data to the internet – register at http://rasppisensor20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Hardware Interfacing with Multi-Coloured LEDs using the Raspberry Pi – register at http://rasppiled20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Learning to use a Pi-Car http://picars20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Using your Pi to create the game “Operation” http://opiration20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Learning to use to program your Pi-Car http://picarprogramming20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Your Raspberry Pi and the real world: Controlling LEDs and buttons via I2C: http://ledviai2c20apr13.eventbrite.com/
·        Remote Access To Your Raspberry Pi: Creating a Home Media Server: http://remoteaccess20apr13.eventbrite.com/
 
Drop in clinics:
·        The MagPi will be on hand offering help with anything Raspberry Pi related: from initial setup to installing and configuring applications, to using the expansion capabilities of the Pi. Drop in when you want to ask questions or to see some demos of some of the latest Raspberry Pi expansion hardware.
We will also have printed issues of The MagPi to view and can help with questions that you may have from reading articles in the magazine.
·        Beginners drop-in from the University of Bristol – you can get some help with using your laptop as a monitor for your Pi (see below)
 
Bringing your own equipment:
You should bring your own Raspberry Pi. We will have some monitors, keyboards and mice available but we suggest you try to bring your own
You can use a laptop as a monitor. The following links show you how to do this
http://pihw.wordpress.com/guides/direct-network-connection
http://www.rasptut.co.uk/files/raspberry-pi-vnc.php "

Summary - Vitae - Charting an entrepreneurial career: how researchers can control their professional destiny April 9th

I'm summarising the excellent research support event I attended -

This post summarises the excellent Vitae event I attended at Bristol University yesterday on entrepreneurial activities related to research. This helped me understand what entrepreneurial activities had already been part of my PhD and work, and inspired me to pursue them further.

Vitae - Charting an entrepreneurial career: how researchers can control their professional destiny- http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/56271-593711/Charting-an-entrepreneurial-career-how-researchers-can-control-their-professional-destiny---Bristol.html - Bristol April 9

The main point of this event is that researchers are already undertaking entrepreneurial activity as part of their studies. Entrepreneurial activity doesn't necessarily involve starting your own business. It can be undertaken within a University, company or organisation.

Research is about solving problems so it was emphasized that it's worth recording and noting when we solve a problem, as this could turn out to be important in future entrepreneurial activities.

The difficulties of deciding when to publish, or when to apply for a patent were discussed, with an emphasis on seeking advice (available in universities).

The overall point was that a lone researcher, or any 1 person is unlikely to have all the skills necessary to be an entrepreneur and this is where advice, co-operation and teamwork is needed.

This recent article was cited as an important and useful guide -

Guardian online - How academics can engage with policy: 10 tips for a better conversation - http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2013/mar/25/academics-policy-engagement-ten-tips
-
'Academics need to look at different ways they can communicate their research to policymakers, says Matthew Goodwin – here's his advice on not wasting their time, or yours'

This free toll helps in creation of a business plane - useful tool for entrepreneurs -downloadable business model canvas http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas

Academic entrepreneurial activities at Bristol and Cardiff Universities were discussed including a way to create forces that feel like real objects, a high tech learning partnership with Bristol Zoo, and this Cardiff entrepreneurial scheme, that may come to Bristol -

iSolve - http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/racdv/students/i-solve/

'We are now taking registrations of interest for the Winter 2013 iSolve Programme


Please email enterprise@cardiff.ac.uk with the subject “iSolve 2013 Registration” or click here:

Based on a programme developed first at MIT in Boston and then extended to Cambridge University, this exciting concept has now been successfully developed at Cardiff University.

iSolve allows entrepreneurial postgraduates and researchers to work with real inventions in order to determine the best route for their commercialisation. Findings from these teams are then presented to a panel of judges alongside a report.'

Below are Vitae tweets from the day -

From Vitae - https://twitter.com/Vitae_news


@DaveJarm: 'Charting the entrepreneurial career' kicked off @Bristoluni with @s4s and @Vitae_news #ented #vitae13
RT @DaveJarm: Kevin Byron 'from Researcher to Entrepreneur' @Vitae_news @s4s #vitae13 pic.twitter.com/PvxdjpEXQD

RT @DaveJarm: Innovation breakthroughs illustrated via the High Jump... @Vitae_news @s4s #vitae13

From Vitae the South West and Wales Hub - https://twitter.com/VitaeSWWHub

Researchers exploring their enterprising skills at goldney hall Uni of Bristol today with @s4s and #vitae13


Many ways to demonstrate pathways to impact. Key qs who might benefit and how? What methods will you use? #vitae13
Great tip for public engagement- give presentations to Uni of the third age- http://www.u3a.org.uk . #vitae13

Andrew Wray from Uni Bristol up now talking about knowledge exchange. Foster 'rolling conversations' w potential partners #vitae13

'Tangents' can prove to be v beneficial in knowledge ex.Arts pgrs working w entrepreneurs Bristol Uni+Bristol zoo
thoughtden.co.uk/zoom

Great panel of researchers who are budding entrepreneurs #vitae13

Kevin Byron talking about the path from researcher to entrepreneur.'innovation is a tool of the entrepreneur 'Peter Drucker #vitae13

Kevin byron using sigmoid curve of world high jump record to illustrate how ideas progress. #vitae13

When solving lesser probs as pt of a larger research project ask who else? Where else? #vitae13
Draw on your personal history of ideas and innovation may follow #vitae13

useful tool for entrepreneurs -downloadable business model canvas http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas #vitae13

Systems Research Showcase Bristol University 20th March

Systems Research Showcase - Bristol University & INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering) - EngD (Engineering Doctorate) Student Presentations -

http://www.incoseonline.org.uk/Program_Files/Calendar/Calendar.aspx?CatID=Events#251 -

Wednesday 20th March 6.30pm for 7pm

Knowledge Exchange Suite, Merchant Venturers' Building, University of Bristol

'Once again, this event offers the opportunity to find out what another year of EngD Systems students have been researching, and get an insight into their results and findings.'

Vitae - Charting an entrepreneurial career: how researchers can control their professional destiny

I've booked for this event in Bristol on 5th March -

Charting an entrepreneurial career: how researchers can control their professional destiny -
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/56271-593711/Charting-an-entrepreneurial-career-how-researchers-can-control-their-professional-destiny---Bristol.html

"This workshop forms part of the Entrepreneurial Institution programme
With increasing international competition, economic challenges, social change and the growing pressures of a complex and uncertain world, unlocking your enterprising capability as a researcher is vital to maximise the benefits gained from your research, to take forward your career or to start a new business."   This is because I'm involved in web related research and in mental health and exercise research, have finished my PhD, and have no funding.   I want to get back to being a professional research rather than a gifted amateur. I'm also seeing an adviser on Friday, in research meetings and events at the end of this month and booked for a college course on how to be an entrepreneur. Then there's a funding workshop in April that I'm going to.   I hope I'll find out enough to be able to collaborate with other organisations to ensure funding for their research and mine.

My PhD Thesis and recent Journal Paper

My PhD thesis on University Repository at -

http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17918/ -

User driven modelling: Visualisation and systematic interaction for end-user programming with tree-based structures


Journal paper JVLC subscription only -

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045926X12000572 -

'User-Driven Modelling: Visualisation and Systematic Interaction for end-user programming'

Journal of Visual Languages & Computing


Volume 23, Issue 6, December 2012, Pages 354–379   Peter Hale, Anthony E. Solomonides, Ian Beeson

University of the West of England Frenchay Campus


Journal paper JVLC open access - University Research Repository -

http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17817/

Articles - Data and thinking - need for ease of understanding

These are 2 articles about the need to make data easier to understand, and enable people to think about a problem whilst examining data.

Why Data Will Never Replace Thinking - by Justin Fox - October 4, 2012

http://blogs.hbr.org/fox/2012/10/why-data-will-never-replace-thinking.html

"Bayesian approach to probability, in which we all have our own subjective ideas about how things are going to pan out, but follow the same straightforward rules in revising those assessments as we get new information. It's a process that uses data to refine our thinking. But it doesn't work without some thinking first."
We don't need more data scientists - just make data easier to use -  by Scott Brave, Baynote Dec 22, 2012

http://gigaom.com/2012/12/22/we-dont-need-more-data-scientists-just-simpler-ways-to-use-big-data/

Sure, more data scientists would be great. But Scott Brave, of Baynote, says the better solution is to create analytics products that are so easy to use that you don’t even need a data scientist.

Also this article and Radio 4 programme is about the need for thinking when learning to code.

Tom Armitage:The Coded World - Radio 4 available online - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pg54z - Computer code frees us to think in new ways.


BBC News - Viewpoint: Computer code frees us to think in new ways http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20764273 - "learning to code" - a hot topic in the media.