tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208697062024-03-27T17:35:50.817+00:00User Driven ModellingThis blog is about my PhD research (now finished) at University of the West of England into User Driven Modelling. This is to make it possible for people who are not programmers to create software. I create software that converts visual trees into computer code. My web site is http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~phale/. I'm continuing this research and the blog. My PhD is at http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17918/ and a journal paper at http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17817/.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-1366836879538832562015-07-19T18:32:00.000+01:002015-07-19T18:32:05.770+01:00Building the super search engine - BBC Click VideoBuilding the super search engine - BBC Click Video 5 minutes<br />
<br />
Search engines can index the web but they lack an understanding of what the user is looking for.<br />
Now companies are attempting to connect words in meaningful ways, helping to provide the information that we really need to know.<br />
<br />
BBC Click's Spencer Kelly reports.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33342907" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33342907</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-4238495801756817342015-01-26T15:32:00.002+00:002015-01-26T15:40:52.035+00:00NHS Citizen 29 and 30 January 2015 <h2>
NHS Citizen Design Workshop London</h2>
<h3>
NHS England 29 and 30 January 2015 - </h3>
<br />
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nhs-citizen-design-workshop-london-tickets-13383202519" target="_blank">https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nhs-citizen-design-workshop-london-tickets-13383202519</a> or Watch and take part online - <a href="http://www.nhscitizen.public-i.tv/core/portal/home" target="_blank">http://www.nhscitizen.public-i.tv/core/portal/home</a><br />
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</h3>
<h3>
<br /></h3>
<h3>
NHS Citizen Design Workshop Bristol - </h3>
<div>
<h3>
NHS England 24th and 25th July 2014 - </h3>
</div>
<div>
<br />
BRISTOL NHS CITIZEN WORKSHOP REPORT - <a href="http://www.nhscitizen.org.uk/bristol-nhs-citizen-workshop-report/" target="_blank">http://www.nhscitizen.org.uk/bristol-nhs-citizen-workshop-report/</a> - Bristol NHS Citizen event</div>
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<br /></div>
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NHS ENGLAND BOARD TAKES ACTION ON ASSEMBLY ISSUES and NHS CITIZEN - <a href="http://www.nhscitizen.org.uk/nhs-england-board-takes-action-on-assembly-issues-and-nhs-citizen/" target="_blank">http://www.nhscitizen.org.uk/nhs-england-board-takes-action-on-assembly-issues-and-nhs-citizen/</a> - NHS England board agreed to implement NHS Citizen...</div>
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<span lang="EN"><br /></span></h3>
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<span lang="EN">Related Link</span></h3>
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<span lang="EN">BBC News - NHS should welcome 'citizen whistleblowers' - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30333071" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30333071</a> - Healthwatch England - Why NHS should listen to 'citizen
whistleblowers'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-16935355306019828092014-07-27T17:28:00.003+01:002014-07-27T17:28:56.647+01:00Bristol Design Workshop - NHS Citizen Conference 24th and 25th July<h2>
Notes</h2>
<h3>
Background</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To design something that connects the large number of public
interested in NHS with the small number of Civil Service staff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Discover – How you can get involved in discussion</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gather – When we want to say what needs to be discussed,
gather people together. Solutions, Recommendations – how things can be better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Assembly – Meeting every 6 months – discussion with board
there amongst people to discuss the issues that have been discovered and
gathered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Presenting technology, interacting with citizens and with
designers of the technology.</div>
<h3>
Discover</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bit of the whole system that connects people together.
Including finding the people that can assist the offline people. Discover is
the bit where NHS listens and learns.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brings all the data together including from within NHS
Citizen and from outside. For personal data stores – person decides what data
to put on and who to give permission to access the data. Charities and
community groups can help to find staff, volunteers, and friends and family who
are online – to enable them to put their data and permissions online if they
want to.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Community map of people who are on NHS Citizen including how
to reach online connector people who can link to the offline people. This could
be whole community.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can be presented as Data Stories – helping people to make
sense of data. If people discover a problem, many people may also notice that
problem. These can be flagged and gathered – Gather flag.</div>
<h3>
Data</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Related data is data not created in the NHS Citizen system.
This is a shared resource inviting people to participate. It isn’t taking data
or surveillance. This is a way of getting data into the Discover system either
by direct participation or by searching the web for relevant information to
create data stories. Does so via machine learning, natural language processing,
and human involvement e.g. data journalists. This is to extract meaning and
stories e.g. from Twitter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is pulling data from the web and converting it to
meaningful information. I suggested pushing the data into the Discover system
via such things as Twitter posts with a specific hashtag, texts and emails with
a specific subject line. This could encourage people who don’t have computers
or want to do this on the fly whilst busy and mobile, or who don’t want to use
the Discover system (at least yet). People using these tools that are outside
Discover could receive messages from Discover to confirm their registration or information
is accepted and give information about where it has gone in Discover.</div>
<h3>
NHS Gather</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MyDesk – Discussion spaces – Tools for debating and
prioritising ideas – To avoid flaming posts displayed as - Left side of window Support
idea – Right side Oppose idea. This is a crowdsourcing tool.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The system for these ideas needs to be simple and quick,
otherwise people don’t get involved.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Process is –</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Exploration – Closing Statements – Move Forward – Locally or
Nationally</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Could have Community Moderators</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Assembly meeting will report back if ideas or problems are
being ignored by officials not being accountable. People will be able to search
so they know whether to raise a flag or if this has been flagged by others.</div>
<h3>
Assembly</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a 6 monthly meeting where the most important
national ideas will be raised and discussed amongst people including the board.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most important and popular ideas as discovered,
gathered, and voted on would go to the Assembly and/or other relevant bodies to
resolve them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Discussion on what are the problems and solutions to ensure
inclusion. I raised problems of cuts to libraries, advocacy, support workers,
legal aid. Especially for people who don’t have the technology, excluded, poor,
and/or don’t know how to use the NHS Citizen technology they are unable to
express their views. Solutions I raised include Healthwatch, service user and
community groups to provide a ‘bridge’ (someone else mentioned that idea too) A
disability advocate raised issue of Equality Impact Assessment.</div>
<h3>
My Video interview – 2 minutes 19</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bristol Design Workshop- YouTube- was interviewed at this
event in Bristol 25th July- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEvHyTnqrpw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEvHyTnqrpw</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-45342067829662669092014-03-16T16:07:00.003+00:002014-03-16T16:07:49.737+00:00Stephen Wolfram Wants To Make Computer Language More - Popular ScienceI'm going to look into this to see if it's relevant to my idea - New post on my Computing Research blog - MOCHA - Massive Online Collaborative Hierarchical Application - <a href="http://userdrivenmodelling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/mocha-massive-online-collaborative.html" target="_blank">http://userdrivenmodelling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/mocha-massive-online-collaborative.html</a> - Semantic Web<br />
<br />
Stephen Wolfram Wants To Make Computer Language More Human - <a href="http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/stephen-wolfram-wants-make-computer-language-more-human" target="_blank">http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/stephen-wolfram-wants-make-computer-language-more-human</a> - Article and Video 12 minutes - demonstration<br />
<br />
"At South By Southwest, programmer and scientist Stephen Wolfram showed off more of his Wolfram Language software."<br />
<br />
"Last month, Stephen Wolfram--scientist, founder of Wolfram Research, and the closest thing Big Data has to a rock star--unveiled Wolfram Language, a "symbolic" computer language more than 25 years in the making."<br />
<br />
There is a 12 minute video presentation I will watch. This looks like the kind of highly structured search but human language based search that could link with highly structured but human language based code I am working on, in order to provide a collaborative application of related nodes/objects.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-38395067024476371082014-03-12T15:37:00.000+00:002014-03-12T15:39:58.716+00:00MOCHA - Massive Online Collaborative Hierarchical ApplicationMy new idea based on my PhD research - MOCHA - Massive Online Collaborative Hierarchical Application<br />
<br />
I literally dreamt up this idea this morning, writing it down a scrap of paper when I woke. This idea is based on my PhD (links to that below). The idea is for a Semantic Web Hierarchical Programme - run by a search algorithm, which is expanded to provide the services of an interpreter/compiler.<br />
<br />
This is a particularly appropriate subject on the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web -<br />
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BBC Video-Sir Tim Berners-Lee: Web needs its own Magna Carta - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-26536354" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-26536354</a> - Sir Tim Berners-Lee on world wide web at 25<br />
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BBC- Sir Tim Berners-Lee: World wide web needs bill of rights - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26540635" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26540635</a> - Berners-Lee seeks web 'Magna Carta' - Video & Article<br />
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What I want to research is how to provide structured Semantic Web code information to a web search algorithm. The code would be in a combination of English language and mathematical equations, the same way as I used for my PhD research. The hierarchical aspect of this is that from the root node/page, every other page would have a position in a tree. Each node would contain the following information -<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>A name of the page</li>
<li>List of Sub pages if any</li>
<li>Equations/Code if any</li>
<li>Values if any</li>
</ul>
<div>
This would be scalable to very large trees.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a simple example we could have page</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Name - 'Energy'</li>
<li>Sub pages - 'Mass' 'Light Speed'</li>
<li>Equations - 'Energy = Mass * (Light Speed) Squared</li>
<li>Values - Null</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Sub pages</b></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Name - Mass</li>
<li>Sub pages - Null</li>
<li>Equations - Null</li>
<li>Value - 3 (Kg)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Name - Light Speed</li>
<li>Sub pages - Null</li>
<li>Equations - Null</li>
<li>Value - 300,000 (Km/h)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
Of course the algorithm would need to deal with units in the long run, but leaving that aside, the algorithm just needs to follow a logical path through each page, and each page points to the next page.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At the end of a branch the algorithm needs to return to the root of the branch and move to the next branch (if any). That algorithm would work for any sized tree (hence would work for massive trees, as was the case for my PhD - 2012).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What would then be possible is to enable a search engine such as that which ranks pages to instead perform this search and calculation. As an example a calculation could be performed and continuously collaboratively refined on the predicted cost of a complex engineering project. Each participant would enter their own data on a page or branch. Whenever their figures or equations change, this would cascade into the overall predicted cost.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm going to work on expanding this post and providing updates in this blog until I have enough information to turn this into a paper and/or presentation.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Below are the main links to my previous research that this idea is based on - </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My PhD thesis on University Repository at <a href="http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17918/" target="_blank">http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17918/</a> - User driven modelling: Visualisation & systematic interaction for end-user.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div>
Journal paper JVLC subscription required - <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045926X12000572" target="_blank">http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045926X12000572</a> - 'User-Driven Modelling: Visualisation & Systematic Interaction for end-user programming'.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Journal paper JVLC open access - <a href="http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17817/" target="_blank">http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17817/</a> - 'User-Driven Modelling: Visualisation & Systematic Interaction for end-user programming'.</div>
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<div>
</div>
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</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-28403445689255017302013-08-28T14:33:00.002+01:002013-09-11T23:42:24.012+01:00Government Digital By Default - Reality Check<h3>
Digital exclusion by default</h3>
Here is evidence why digital by default will leave people (many of them vulnerable) more vulnerable and excluded.<br />
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</h4>
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</h4>
<h4>
Lack of Skills amongst public</h4>
<div>
Digital Intelligence: 16m Brits ‘lack basic web skills’ - <a href="http://www.digitalstrategyconsulting.com/intelligence/2012/11/16m_brits_lack_basic_web_skils.php" target="_blank">http://www.digitalstrategyconsulting.com/intelligence/2012/11/16m_brits_lack_basic_web_skils.php</a> - Report by UK digital champion Martha Lane Fox.<br />
<br /></div>
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</h4>
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</h4>
<h4>
Lack of Access Exclusion and Vulnerability</h4>
<div>
@BBCMarkEaston - 53% of 7.1m UK adults who've NEVER used Internet are disabled, says ONS. Universal Credit will be 'digital by default'. - <span style="line-height: 13.5pt;">Seven
million Brits 'never used net' - </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22538136" style="line-height: 13.5pt;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22538136</a><span style="line-height: 13.5pt;"> - More than seven million adults in the UK have never
been online, official figures say, with the elderly remaining the least
connected. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Disabled people are three times less likely to get online than people without disability.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Digital by Default harms people.<br />
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</h4>
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</h4>
<h4>
Lack of Service User Involvement</h4>
<div>
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? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
BBC News - Hospital inspections- This is needed for ATOS/DWP - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23348824" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23348824</a> - Recruit "small army" of doctors, nurses, patients and carers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mental health patients contract run by security firm G4S - <a href="http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Mental-health-patients-contract-run-security-firm/story-19604354-detail/story.html" target="_blank">http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Mental-health-patients-contract-run-security-firm/story-19604354-detail/story.html</a> - Any Service User Involvement in this Decision?<br />
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Why people like me agree the WCA is unfair - <a href="http://www.rethink.org/news-views/2013/05/why-people-like-me-agree-the-wca-is-unfair" target="_blank">http://www.rethink.org/news-views/2013/05/why-people-like-me-agree-the-wca-is-unfair</a> - people like me and my son have known how unfair the WCA is for months.<br />
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Full statement from special rapporteur on housing Raquel Rolnik - <a href="http://gu.com/p/3tkck/tw" target="_blank">http://gu.com/p/3tkck/tw</a> - via @guardian - 'Bedroom Tax'<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Government claims Welfare Reforms are working - So why won't they undertake Cumulative Impact Assessment - <a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43154" target="_blank">http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43154</a> - #WOWPetition<br />
<br /></div>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
Systematic failures and Institutional Discrimination</h4>
BBC News - Brain injury victim's family disgusted at 'work' letter - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-23839671" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-23839671</a> - man permanent vegetative state after assault.<br />
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One-legged man accused of benefit fraud after officials examined wrong leg - <a href="http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/legged-man-accused-benefit-fraud-officials/story-19682497-detail/story.html" target="_blank">http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/legged-man-accused-benefit-fraud-officials/story-19682497-detail/story.html</a> - One leg improved the other amputated - guess which leg DWP and CPS checked?<br />
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Charities criticise 'flawed' fit for work system | Nursing in Practice - <a href="http://www.nursinginpractice.com/article/charities-criticise-flawed-fit-work-system" target="_blank">http://www.nursinginpractice.com/article/charities-criticise-flawed-fit-work-system</a> - 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.<br />
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Atos fit-to-work assessments branded 'farcical' people with progressive diseases like Parkinson's told they'll RECOVER - <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/atos-fit-to-work-assessments-branded-farcical-2225751" target="_blank">http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/atos-fit-to-work-assessments-branded-farcical-2225751</a><br />
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Paul McCauley, left in vegetative state by gang attack, sent letter asking whether he is fit for work | <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/27/man-in-vegetative-state-sent-letter-asking-if-he-is-fit-for-work-3939173/" target="_blank">http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/27/man-in-vegetative-state-sent-letter-asking-if-he-is-fit-for-work-3939173/ </a>via @MetroUK<br />
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£130 to get medical evidence for WCA? - Rethink Mental Illness, the mental health charity: - <a href="http://www.rethink.org/news-views/2013/08/130-to-get-medical-evidence-for-wca">http://www.rethink.org/news-views/2013/08/130-to-get-medical-evidence-for-wca</a> - Mental Health News.<br />
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Secret Cuts 6: How are those with mental health problems treated by Atos? <a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/alan-white/2013/08/secret-cuts-6-how-are-those-mental-health-problems-treated-atos" target="_blank">http://www.newstatesman.com/alan-white/2013/08/secret-cuts-6-how-are-those-mental-health-problems-treated-atos</a> - Complaints about work capability assessment.<br />
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Whistleblower tells the inside story of Atos - <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/whistleblower-tells-inside-story-atos-2194951" target="_blank">http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/whistleblower-tells-inside-story-atos-2194951</a> - via @DailyMirror - Mark Thomas - and - I’ve had a fistful of IDS.<br />
<br />
Written off by Atos - I might as well die: The desperate letters from benefit cuts victims - <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/written-atos---might-well-2231300" target="_blank">http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/written-atos---might-well-2231300</a> - via @DailyMirror - Horror stories from readers.<br />
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BBC News - Basic rights of mentally ill 'violated' - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23685670" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23685670</a> - because of a shortage of beds in psychiatric units, MPs say.<br />
<br />
Mentally ill patients sectioned unnecessarily just to gain access to a hospital bed - <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mentally-ill-patients-sectioned-unnecessarily-as-only-way-to-a-hospital-bed-8760166.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mentally-ill-patients-sectioned-unnecessarily-as-only-way-to-a-hospital-bed-8760166.html</a> - Chair of Health Select Committee.<br />
<br />
Proof that ATOS expect people with incurable conditions like cerebral palsy to "get better" - <a href="http://tompride.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/proof-that-atos-expect-people-with-incurable-conditions-like-cerebral-palsy-to-get-better/" target="_blank">http://tompride.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/proof-that-atos-expect-people-with-incurable-conditions-like-cerebral-palsy-to-get-better/</a> via @ThomasPride<br />
<br />
Today 11th September Jim Paterson <a href="https://twitter.com/gjpaterson/" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/gjpaterson/</a> 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.<br />
<br />
To put it mildly many people with disabilities are not feeling empowered by the system, nor by its direction of change!<br />
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<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
Top-Down design causing the usual failures</h4>
<div>
Many links tweeted by <a href="https://twitter.com/SysThinkReview" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/SysThinkReview</a><br />
<br />
“I know why Universal Credit IT is failing” John Seddon message for @margarethodge - <a href="http://www.universalcredit.co.uk/category/i-know-why-universal-credit-it-is-failing-john-seddon-message-for-margaret-hodge/" target="_blank">http://www.universalcredit.co.uk/category/i-know-why-universal-credit-it-is-failing-john-seddon-message-for-margaret-hodge/</a> #tVM - This analysis is absolutely right and goes straight to the core issue.<br />
<br />
How to fix Universal Credit- cut out the IT crowd via @Telegraph - <a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/philipjohnston/100234425/how-to-fix-universal-credit-cut-out-the-it-crowd/" target="_blank">http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/philipjohnston/100234425/how-to-fix-universal-credit-cut-out-the-it-crowd/</a> - 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.'<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
'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.'<br />
<br />
Will anyone listen to this good advice and stop seeing digital as the only way to do business in government?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"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'."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Bob Marshall @flowchainsensei1 -<br />
"In command-and-control organisations, the ILLUSION of control is much more comforting - and hence valuable - than any actual control."<br />
<br />
Universal credit:guaranteed to fail? <a href="http://gu.com/p/324mt/tw" target="_blank">http://gu.com/p/324mt/tw </a>- via @guardian will not be able to deal with human variety-try service by humans? - Experts predicted failure from start 2011!<br />
<br />
BBC News - Universal credit: What went wrong? <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23971068" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23971068</a> - At-a-glance: What went wrong.<br />
<br />
"Of £303m spent so far on IT, only £162m deemed to be fit to be capitalised as an asset. " <doubt m="" p="" the="" too.="">DWP writes off millions of pounds on Universal Credit IT, damning NAO report reveals. <a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240204715/DWP-writes-off-millions-of-pounds-on-Universal-Credit-IT-damning-NAO-report-reveals" target="_blank">http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240204715/DWP-writes-off-millions-of-pounds-on-Universal-Credit-IT-damning-NAO-report-reveals</a> @ComputerWeekly<br />
<br />
“@SysThinkReview: NAO: 'Universal Credit: early progress.' <a href="http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Executive-Summary.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Executive-Summary.pdf</a> ” > points 23 and 24, carry on regardless...<br />
<br />
David Cameron's £2.4bn universal credit project riddled with problems - @guardian £34m wasted on failed IT programmes <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/05/david-cameron-24bn-universal-credit-problems" target="_blank">http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/05/david-cameron-24bn-universal-credit-problems</a></doubt><br />
<doubt m="" p="" the="" too.=""><br /></doubt>
<doubt m="" p="" the="" too.="">Universal credit: Iain Duncan Smith blames civil servants for IT failings - <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/05/universal-credit-iain-duncan-smith" target="_blank">http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/05/universal-credit-iain-duncan-smith</a> - rare step of publicly blaming civil servants.<br />
<br />
DWP drops agile from flagship government software project- Public Sector IT: <a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/public-sector/2013/05/dwp-drops-agile-from-flagship.html" target="_blank">http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/public-sector/2013/05/dwp-drops-agile-from-flagship.html</a> - drops scheme to avert software disasters.<br />
<br />
- and did DWP ever embrace the agile approach anyway, feedback is no!<br />
<br />
Universal Credit? Universal DISCREDIT, more like, say insiders - <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/10/universal_credit_will_be_a_universal_failure_says_whistleblower/" target="_blank">http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/10/universal_credit_will_be_a_universal_failure_says_whistleblower/ </a>- Government sources -' reveal - total disarray'<br />
<br />
BBC News - Universal credit: National roll-out delayed, claims Labour - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23262496" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23262496</a> - hit by fresh delays.<br />
<br />
BBC News - DWP 'chaos' to cost £1.4bn, says Labour's Liam Byrne - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23768436" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23768436</a> - Iain Duncan Smith has lost control of spending.<br />
<br />
Prepare to add HS2 & Universal Credit to depressing list of fiascos @Telegraph - <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10252450/Prepare-to-add-HS2-and-Universal-Credit-to-our-depressing-list-of-fiascos.html" target="_blank">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10252450/Prepare-to-add-HS2-and-Universal-Credit-to-our-depressing-list-of-fiascos.html</a> - Policies ministers stubbornly stuck to.<br />
<br />
IDS accuses civil servants of ignoring warnings about Universal Credit -<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2411897/Universal-Credit-Iain-Duncan-Smith-accuses-civil-servants-ignoring-warning-signs.html" target="_blank">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2411897/Universal-Credit-Iain-Duncan-Smith-accuses-civil-servants-ignoring-warning-signs.html</a> - Blame game begins over benefits.<br />
<br />
What were Iain Duncan Smith's 'welfare reforms' really about? Sue Marsh - <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/05/what-were-welfare-reforms-about" target="_blank">http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/05/what-were-welfare-reforms-about</a> - failed & frightened most vulnerable.<br />
<br />
Universal Credit crunch: Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare reform wastes £34m- so far <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-crunch-iain-duncan-smiths-welfare-reform-wastes-34m--so-far-8798957.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-crunch-iain-duncan-smiths-welfare-reform-wastes-34m--so-far-8798957.html</a> - ‘weak management & poor governance’</doubt><br />
<doubt m="" p="" the="" too.=""><br /></doubt>
<doubt m="" p="" the="" too.="">£200m of Universal Credit IT could be scrapped, MPs told - <a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240205242/200m-of-Universal-Credit-IT-could-be-scrapped-MPs-told" target="_blank">http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240205242/200m-of-Universal-Credit-IT-could-be-scrapped-MPs-told</a> - Computer Weekly.<br />
<br />
Even if Tax and Benefit systems each work well (doubtful), they then need to work together in real time!<br />
<br />
</doubt><br />
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
Lack of Progress in Developing Open Semantic Web Technologies</h4>
BBC News - Tim Berners-Lee: Net neutrality 'regulation needed' - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23205244" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23205244</a> - Click - Video and Article.<br />
<br />
Has the web developed how Berners - Lee hoped it would? - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22786821" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22786821</a> - BBC News - Click Video - Tim Berners-Lee's invention has gone global.<br />
<br />
But Government does not involve people in development of its' IT and Web systems.<br />
<br />
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
Failures</h4>
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.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-68510139078275917802013-08-26T20:06:00.000+01:002013-08-26T20:06:58.481+01:00New blog and continuing this blog<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I've started a
blog on Mental Health & Service User Representation.1st post-talk I gave on
exercise & mental health</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> -<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #0084b4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://peterhaleserviceuser.blogspot.co.uk/">http://peterhaleserviceuser.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; vertical-align: top;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; vertical-align: top;">
I'll still be carrying on with this blog also. My interest in research and in computing continues, as much as ever.</div>
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; vertical-align: top;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; vertical-align: top;">
I'm currently learning C# .net.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-81446616266787375162013-07-12T17:46:00.001+01:002013-07-12T17:46:45.602+01:00FOI Disability Aseessments cost DWP £199.1m 2012-132nd July 2013<br />Dear Dr Hale,<br />Freedom of Information Act – Request for Information<br />Our Reference: FOI 2784<br />Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 18th June 2013. You asked:<br />1. Total DWP direct cost for all assessments re: eligibility for Employment Support<br />Allowance in the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period<br />up to which the statistics have been compiled, e.g. payments to medical provider such as<br />ATOS.<br />2. Total DWP indirect cost for all assessments re: eligibility for Employment Support<br />Allowance in the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period<br />up to which the statistics have been compiled. Administration costs relating to assessments,<br />such as related DWP costs of communication with ATOS and claimant, and processing<br />assessments, outcomes and benefit changes where applicable.<br />3. Total DWP direct cost for all appeals re: eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in<br />the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period up to which the<br />statistics have been compiled, e.g. payments for tribunals and/or for DWP representation at<br />tribunals.<br />4. Total DWP indirect cost for all appeals re: eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in<br />the UK since the election of the new Government in May 2010 for the period up to which the<br />statistics have been compiled. Administration costs relating to appeals, such as related<br />DWP costs of communication with tribunal and claimant, and processing assessments,<br />outcomes and benefit changes where applicable.<br />Data is not available prior to 2011/12.<br />1. The direct cost for all assessments for eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in<br />the UK was:<br />DWP Finance and Commercial<br />Our address Ground Floor<br />Quarry House<br />Quarry Hill<br />Leeds<br />LS2 7UA<br />• Approximately £62.1m in 2011/12<br />• Approximately £77.1m in 2012/13.<br />With regards your question about payments to medical provider such as Atos:<br />The Department for Work and Pensions re-awarded Atos Origin IT Services Ltd, trading<br />as Atos Healthcare, a new Contract to provide Medical Services on behalf of the<br />Department from 1 September 2005. The total cost of these services amounts to<br />approximately £100 million per annum. This figure not only covers the total number of<br />assessments undertaken across all benefits, but also costs relating to written and verbal<br />medical advice, fixed overheads, administrative costs, investment in new technology<br />and other service improvements.<br />I can further confirm that there is not a fixed minimum fee for the provision of<br />assessments. As the number of assessments required by the Department increases or<br />decreases then the payment made to Atos Healthcare for these varies accordingly.<br />2. The indirect cost for all assessments for eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in<br />the UK was:<br />• Approximately £40.1m in 2011/12<br />• Approximately £102.4m in 2012/13.<br />3. The direct cost for all appeals is not available to DWP. DWP are responsible for the<br />preparation of appeal submissions with Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Services<br />(HMCTS) responsible for the scheduling and hearing of appeals. You may find further<br />information on tribunal appeals on the following website;<br /><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/court-statistics-quarterly--2">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/court-statistics-quarterly--2</a><br />4. The indirect cost for all appeals re: eligibility for Employment Support Allowance in the<br />UK was:<br />• Approximately £16.5m in 2011/12<br />• Approximately £19.6m in 2012/13.<br />The data provided is staff and non staff costs from the DWP Operations Activity Based<br />Models 11/12 and 12/13.<br />If you have any queries about this letter please contact us quoting the reference number<br />above.<br />Yours sincerely<br />Communications Team<br />Finance and Commercial<br />E mail: <a href="mailto:quarryhouse.oppmpq-foi@dwp.gsi.gov.uk">quarryhouse.oppmpq-foi@dwp.gsi.gov.uk</a><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act<br />If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing freedom-ofinformation-<br /><a href="mailto:request@dwp.gsi.gov.uk">request@dwp.gsi.gov.uk</a> or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill<br />Street, London. SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this<br />letter.<br />If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information<br />Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have<br />exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The<br />Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF<br /><a href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/">www.ico.gov.uk</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-69401243008193111642013-06-26T15:27:00.002+01:002013-06-26T15:46:40.646+01:00Networks for Healing-Mental Health Peer Support Computing<span style="font-size: large;">Networks for Healing-Mental Health Peer Support Computing</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<h4>
<b>Advantages of Twitter/Facebook</b></h4>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Facebook helps depression: Looking at old photos can help treat mental health problems.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">New research discovers emergence of Twitter groupings of people with shared interests</span>.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
<b>Disadvantages of Twitter/Facebook</b></h4>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trolling</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Arguments</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Irrelevance</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Overcomplicated to use.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Advertising - can exploit vulnerable people.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lack of confidentiality causing fear of participation.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<h3>
Peer Support Network</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The
privacy of forums and caution in rate of growth would deal with dangers from disadvantages
of directly applying Twitter and Facebook. </span>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.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The above is essential work as benefits and many other
aspects of everyday life are becoming more dependent on online participation.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Full Version - <a href="http://userdrivenmodelling.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/networks-for-healing-user-driven.html" target="_blank">http://userdrivenmodelling.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/networks-for-healing-user-driven.html</a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-2237986161283977352013-06-20T21:18:00.001+01:002013-06-20T21:19:18.396+01:00Advice for potential academic bloggersAdvice for potential academic bloggers - <a href="http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2013/01/14/advice-for-potential-academic-bloggers/" target="_blank">http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2013/01/14/advice-for-potential-academic-bloggers/</a> - Simon Wren-Lewis discusses the value of academic blogging.<br />
<br />
"<em style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One year after starting his</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.59375px;"> <a href="http://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mainly Macro</a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.59375px;"> </span><em style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">blog</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.59375px;">,</span><em style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Simon Wren-Lewis</a> </strong>discusses the value of academic blogging. He finds that blogging has improved his teaching and helped him clarify his ideas.</em><br />
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.59375px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2013/01/14/advice-for-potential-academic-bloggers/" target="_blank">http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2013/01/14/advice-for-potential-academic-bloggers/</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-25761519970008292042013-06-17T17:37:00.001+01:002013-06-17T17:37:14.495+01:00Are Employment and Support Allowance Assessments providing value for money? - Freedom of Information (FOI)Are Employment and Support Allowance Assessments providing value for money? -<br />
<br />
Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent by me today.<br />
<br />
FAO Department of Work and Pensions DWP<br />
<br />
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.<br />
Please send me:<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
I look forward to hearing from you.<br />
<br />
Yours faithfully<br />
<br />
Peter Hale<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-84295775953644336512013-06-11T20:29:00.002+01:002013-06-11T20:29:27.669+01:00BBC - Click Video - Tim Berners-LeeBBC Click online clip 10 June 2013 - 7 minutes.<br />
<br />
Has the web developed how Berners-Lee hoped it would? - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22786821" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22786821</a><br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-37268696595194198342013-04-29T10:50:00.000+01:002013-05-06T18:05:11.607+01:00Networks for Healing - User Driven Computing for Mental Health Peer Support Networks<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The
proposal is inspired by similar activities and research with the focus on
exercise and team sports, (Bristol Active Life Project, BALP - </span><a href="http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/bristol-active-life-project-balp"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/bristol-active-life-project-balp</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">). 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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is
a role for professionally run peer support, though there are arguments against
this :-<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">‘</span>Professionalizing<span style="color: #333333;"> </span>peer support risks reducing its effectiveness
TogetherUK Anne Beales looks at how to keep it user-led -<span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.together-uk.org/new-charity-report-reveals-adoption-of-peer-support-by-mental-health-services-poses-threat-to-grassroots-ethos-and-survival/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.together-uk.org/new-charity-report-reveals-adoption-of-peer-support-by-mental-health-services-poses-threat-to-grassroots-ethos-and-survival/</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"> - </span>Charity report reveals: adoption
of ‘peer support’ by mental health services poses threat to grassroots ethos
and survival<span style="color: #333333;"> ‘<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">‘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.’ ... <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">it is vital a framework is developed that supports its
grassroots ethos and preserves its user-led heritage.’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h3>
Advantages
of Twitter/Facebook<o:p></o:p></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -17.85pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Facebook
helps depression: Looking at old photos 'can help treat mental health problems'
- </span><a href="http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/19/looking-at-old-facebook-photos-can-help-treat-mental-health-problems-3548235/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/19/looking-at-old-facebook-photos-can-help-treat-mental-health-problems-3548235/</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> via @MetroUK - Portsmouth University<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -17.85pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Trawling
through your own Facebook pictures could be good for your mental health - Home
News - UK - The Independent - </span></span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trawling-through-your-own-facebook-pictures-could-be-good-for-your-mental-health-8538823.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trawling-through-your-own-facebook-pictures-could-be-good-for-your-mental-health-8538823.html</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 35.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -17.85pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">New
research discovers emergence of Twitter 'tribes' - </span></span><a href="http://www.rhul.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents/news/newsarticles/newresearchdiscoverstheemergenceoftwittertribes.aspx"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.rhul.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents/news/newsarticles/newresearchdiscoverstheemergenceoftwittertribes.aspx</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - Royal Holloway collaboration with Princeton
University 14 March<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Disadvantages
of Twitter/Facebook<o:p></o:p></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trolling<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Arguments<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Irrelevance<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Overcomplicated
interfaces<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">General public/publicity<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Advertising
- can worsen mental health by causing vulnerable people to buy things they do
not want<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Lack of confidentiality,
e.g. stigma and fear of being found prematurely fit for work/work related
activities<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt -63.8pt; text-indent: 63.8pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All of the above can worsen mental
health symptoms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt -63.8pt; text-indent: 63.8pt; vertical-align: top;">
Peer
Support Network<o:p></o:p></h3>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt -63.8pt; text-indent: 63.8pt; vertical-align: top;">
Shelter/Walled
garden metaphor<o:p></o:p></h4>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An
excellent example of a peer support resource is this from Bristol University
students who talk of their mental health issues and solutions :- <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Looking
after your mate: University of Bristol students & Mental health - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drYW-BvUV3Q"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drYW-BvUV3Q</span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> - Video-Feb 2013 experiences of mental health.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<h3>
Final Stage of research – Education Provision<o:p></o:p></h3>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt; vertical-align: top;">
Protected
environment for learning<o:p></o:p></h4>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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 :-<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="js-tweet-text" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Tom Armitage: The Coded World - Radio 4 available online - </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pg54z"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pg54z</span></span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - Computer code frees us to think in
new ways.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">BBC News - Viewpoint: Computer code frees us to think in new
ways - </span><a href="http://bbc.in/RhQJB8"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://bbc.in/RhQJB8</span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="invisible"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">- "learning to code" - a
hot topic in the media.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="js-tweet-text" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I believe that <span class="invisible">collaboration with
educationalists and mental health experts could expand the benefits of
education to a wider subject area.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<h3>
Background
to this proposal<o:p></o:p></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This
research would follow on from user driven research I undertook in 10 years as a
researcher and for my PhD, main references below :-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My PhD thesis on University Repository at <span class="invisible"><span style="color: blue;">http://</span></span><span class="js-display-url"><u><span style="color: blue;">eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17918/</span></u></span>
User driven modelling: Visualisation & systematic interaction for end-user
programming.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Journal paper JVLC subscription required </span><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045926X12000572"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045926X12000572</span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> - 'User-Driven Modelling:
Visualisation & Systematic Interaction for end-user programming' - open access
- </span><a href="http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17817/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17817/</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 10pt 0cm 0pt;">
Related Research<o:p></o:p></h3>
<h4>
Some organisers of peer review networks,
presentations, magazines/twitte</h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">‘BPD FFS
Sue Sibbald - </span><a href="https://twitter.com/@bpdffs"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">https://twitter.com/@bpdffs</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"> - ‘</span>Campaigning and Training for
People with Borderline Personality Disorder.’<span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shirley
Ayres – ‘I work with innovative organisations to develop communication &
digital engagement strategies which use technology & social media for
social good.’<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/@shirleyayres"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">https://twitter.com/@shirleyayres</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - ‘Our trust it's the patients
who run the feedback channels, they manage it ask the questions patient
leaders.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">‘Mark
Brown edits One in Four, England's only national mental health and wellbeing
magazine written by people who experience mental health difficulties.’ - </span><a href="https://twitter.com/@MarkOneinFour"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">https://twitter.com/@MarkOneinFour</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"> - ‘</span>Lead on ideas about how to do
things better for people, sometimes just simple things, and then implement them<span style="color: #333333;">.’<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Depression
Community New York @depressionpage ‘Connect and discuss experiences dealing
with mental illnesses and share coping mechanisms in the hopes of helping...’ </span><a href="http://www.allblackclothes.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.allblackclothes.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - </span><a href="https://twitter.com/depressionpage"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">https://twitter.com/depressionpage</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BlackDogTribe.com
- </span><a href="https://twitter.com/FollowBDT"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">https://twitter.com/FollowBDT</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - ‘Online community set up by
@Rubywax, the mother of Black Dog Tribe, for anyone affected by mental
illness.’-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BlackDogTribe"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.facebook.com/BlackDogTribe</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - </span><a href="http://www.blackdogtribe.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.blackdogtribe.com</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nursewithglasses
- </span><a href="https://twitter.com/nurse_w_glasses"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">https://twitter.com/nurse_w_glasses</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - Official Twitter Page of a
Community Mental Health Nurse on a mission to improve Psychiatry Worldwide,
Speaker, Winner Twental Health Awards in nursing 2012 - </span><a href="http://20commandments.blogspot.nl/2012/04/20-commandments-for-mental-health.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://20commandments.blogspot.nl/2012/04/20-commandments-for-mental-health.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jim
Paterson - Google "Big White Wall" MOD funded mental health website -
</span><a href="http://www.bigwhitewall.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.bigwhitewall.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - In Wales we also have a number
of Facebook based self help groups for PTSD<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Project:
PROFIT: Prevention of Falls using IT - </span><a href="http://www.zonmw.nl/nl/projecten/project-detail/profit-prevention-of-falls-using-it/samenvatting/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.zonmw.nl/nl/projecten/project-detail/profit-prevention-of-falls-using-it/samenvatting/</span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> - PROFIT’s main objective role of ICT in
supporting Disease Management.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>Most relevant to me is Objective
3.:- <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">"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."</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Mental Health Chat - </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">#MHchat is an open access community & Knowledge
Hub (</span></span><a href="http://mhchat.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://mhchat.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> ) Join+Share your
#MentalHealth views & insights every Wednesday 8:00 PM UTC @MHchat</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">BBC News - Preventing bipolar relapse with web
therapy http://bbc.in/10aGUE0 - Research into web therapy carried out at
Lancaster University</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
</span><h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 10pt 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Information and Systems approach to
improving mental health services</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 10pt 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>BCS
(British Computer Society)</strong> - 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." - </span><a href="http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/50195"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/50195</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - Video
Interview - </span><a href="http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/50194"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/50194</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">BCS -
IT Now magazine - </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Changing behaviour through information -
http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/50218 - Dr Justin Whatling, Chair of BCS
Health and Dr Wai Keong Wong<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> - </b>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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Preparing the NHS for an information revolution<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BCS report on the NHS Information Revolution<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">consultation on proposals - </span><a href="http://www.bcs.org/upload/pdf/liberating-the-nhs.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.bcs.org/upload/pdf/liberating-the-nhs.pdf</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Department of Health<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The power of information<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Putting all of us in control of the health and
care information we need<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<a href="http://informationstrategy.dh.gov.uk/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://informationstrategy.dh.gov.uk/</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone counts: Planning for Patients 2013/14<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.england.nhs.uk/everyonecounts/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.england.nhs.uk/everyonecounts/</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Cambria; font-size: large;">About Me</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New Role -</b> 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.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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.<o:p></o:p></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-47432792533012772432013-04-26T09:16:00.001+01:002013-04-26T09:16:21.534+01:00Sport and Mental Health Research - Health Grant Funding WorkshopHealth Grant Funding Workshop at Buckfast Abbey, Devon today was excellent - National Institute for Health Research - <a href="http://www.nihr.ac.uk/">http://www.nihr.ac.uk</a> - 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).<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-91476561505438647322013-04-24T11:04:00.001+01:002013-04-24T11:07:51.265+01:00My new Research - Mental Health ForumsI 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.<br />
<br />
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) - <a href="http://www.rds-sw.nihr.ac.uk/">http://www.rds-sw.nihr.ac.uk/</a>.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Networks for Healing - User Driven Computing for Mental Health Peer Support Networks<br />
“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.<br />
<br />
The proposal is inspired by similar activities and research with the focus on exercise and team sports, (Bristol Active Life Project, BALP - <a href="http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/bristol-active-life-project-balp">http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/bristol-active-life-project-balp</a>). 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.”<br />
<br />
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).<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-44567753736519936382013-04-21T11:06:00.001+01:002013-04-22T10:36:01.435+01:00BBC Technology - The mysterious powers of Microsoft Excel<strong>BBC Technology - The mysterious powers of Microsoft Excel - Colm O'Regan</strong> - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22213219">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22213219</a><br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
<strong>The Reinhart-Rogoff study</strong><br />
<ul>
<li>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</li>
<li>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 </li>
<li>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</li>
<li>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"</li>
</ul>
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>BBC News -</strong> <strong>Reinhart, Rogoff... and Herndon: The student who caught out the profs - By Ruth Alexander</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
"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."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22223190">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22223190</a><br />
<br />
<strong>The Open Knowledge Foundation</strong><br />
<br />Reinhart-Rogoff revisited: why we need open data in economics <a href="http://blog.okfn.org/2013/04/22/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/</a> … #opendata #openeconomics<br />
<br />
"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."<br />
<br />
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.<br />
Global · <a href="http://okfn.org/">http://okfn.org</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-6783792171510115692013-04-15T15:25:00.003+01:002013-04-15T15:25:26.972+01:00British Computer Society Events - Restoring the world's oldest working digital computer - Raspberry Pi<strong>Restoring the world's oldest working digital computer 15th April</strong><br />
<br />
"we still have some availability for tonight's talk on the Harwell Dekatron Computer at the City of Bristol College. All are welcome. <br />
Restoring the world's oldest working digital computer<br /><br />
<br />
Start: 15/04/2013 - 19:30<br />
<br />End: 15/04/2013 - 21:00<br />Speaker: Kevin Murrell<br />Venue: City of Bristol College<br />Please register here: <a href="https://events.bcs.org/book/563/">https://events.bcs.org/book/563/</a><br />7:00pm Refreshments, 7:30pm Main Talk<br />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.<br />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.<br />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."<br />
<br />
<strong>Raspberry Pi Bootcamp 20th April</strong><br />
<br />
"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 <a href="http://bcsbristolbootcamp.eventbrite.com/">http://bcsbristolbootcamp.eventbrite.com/</a><br />
<br />
There are a number of excellent workshops to attend during the day which you can register for too – <br />
<br />
Workshops:<br />
· Logging data to the internet – register at <a href="http://rasppisensor20apr13.eventbrite.com/">http://rasppisensor20apr13.eventbrite.com/</a><br />
· Hardware Interfacing with Multi-Coloured LEDs using the Raspberry Pi – register at <a href="http://rasppiled20apr13.eventbrite.com/">http://rasppiled20apr13.eventbrite.com/</a> <br />
· Learning to use a Pi-Car <a href="http://picars20apr13.eventbrite.com/">http://picars20apr13.eventbrite.com/</a><br />
· Using your Pi to create the game “Operation” <a href="http://opiration20apr13.eventbrite.com/">http://opiration20apr13.eventbrite.com/</a><br />
· Learning to use to program your Pi-Car <a href="http://picarprogramming20apr13.eventbrite.com/">http://picarprogramming20apr13.eventbrite.com/</a><br />
· Your Raspberry Pi and the real world: Controlling LEDs and buttons via I2C: <a href="http://ledviai2c20apr13.eventbrite.com/">http://ledviai2c20apr13.eventbrite.com/</a><br />
· Remote Access To Your Raspberry Pi: Creating a Home Media Server: <a href="http://remoteaccess20apr13.eventbrite.com/">http://remoteaccess20apr13.eventbrite.com/</a><br />
<br />
Drop in clinics:<br />
· 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.<br />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.<br />
· 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)<br />
<br />
Bringing your own equipment:<br />
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<br />
You can use a laptop as a monitor. The following links show you how to do this<br />
<a href="http://pihw.wordpress.com/guides/direct-network-connection">http://pihw.wordpress.com/guides/direct-network-connection</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.rasptut.co.uk/files/raspberry-pi-vnc.php">http://www.rasptut.co.uk/files/raspberry-pi-vnc.php</a> "<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-17288519614320781582013-04-10T12:43:00.001+01:002013-04-10T13:09:18.615+01:00Summary - Vitae - Charting an entrepreneurial career: how researchers can control their professional destiny April 9thI'm summarising the excellent research support event I attended -<br />
<br />
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.<br />
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Vitae - Charting an entrepreneurial career: how researchers can control their professional destiny- <a href="http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/56271-593711/Charting-an-entrepreneurial-career-how-researchers-can-control-their-professional-destiny---Bristol.html">http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/56271-593711/Charting-an-entrepreneurial-career-how-researchers-can-control-their-professional-destiny---Bristol.html</a> - Bristol April 9<br />
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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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
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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).<br />
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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.<br />
<br />
This recent article was cited as an important and useful guide -<br />
<br />
Guardian online - How academics can engage with policy: 10 tips for a better conversation - <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2013/mar/25/academics-policy-engagement-ten-tips">http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2013/mar/25/academics-policy-engagement-ten-tips</a><br />
- <br />
'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'<br />
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This free toll helps in creation of a business plane - useful tool for entrepreneurs -downloadable business model canvas <a href="http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas">http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas</a><br />
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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 - <br />
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iSolve - <a href="http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/racdv/students/i-solve/">http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/racdv/students/i-solve/</a><br />
<br />
'We are now taking registrations of interest for the Winter 2013 iSolve Programme<br />
<br />
<br />
Please email <a href="mailto:enterprise@cardiff.ac.uk">enterprise@cardiff.ac.uk</a> with the subject “iSolve 2013 Registration” or click here:<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.'<br />
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<strong>Below are Vitae tweets from the day - </strong><br />
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<strong>From Vitae</strong> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Vitae_news">https://twitter.com/Vitae_news</a><br />
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@DaveJarm: 'Charting the entrepreneurial career' kicked off @Bristoluni with @s4s and @Vitae_news #ented #vitae13<br />
RT @DaveJarm: Kevin Byron 'from Researcher to Entrepreneur' @Vitae_news @s4s #vitae13 pic.twitter.com/PvxdjpEXQD<br />
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RT @DaveJarm: Innovation breakthroughs illustrated via the High Jump... @Vitae_news @s4s #vitae13<br />
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<strong>From Vitae the South West and Wales Hub</strong> <strong>-</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/VitaeSWWHub">https://twitter.com/VitaeSWWHub</a><br />
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Researchers exploring their enterprising skills at goldney hall Uni of Bristol today with @s4s and #vitae13<br />
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Many ways to demonstrate pathways to impact. Key qs who might benefit and how? What methods will you use? #vitae13<br />
Great tip for public engagement- give presentations to Uni of the third age- <a href="http://www.u3a.org.uk/">http://www.u3a.org.uk</a> . #vitae13<br />
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Andrew Wray from Uni Bristol up now talking about knowledge exchange. Foster 'rolling conversations' w potential partners #vitae13<br />
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'Tangents' can prove to be v beneficial in knowledge ex.Arts pgrs working w entrepreneurs Bristol Uni+Bristol zoo<br />
thoughtden.co.uk/zoom<br />
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Great panel of researchers who are budding entrepreneurs #vitae13<br />
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Kevin Byron talking about the path from researcher to entrepreneur.'innovation is a tool of the entrepreneur 'Peter Drucker #vitae13<br />
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Kevin byron using sigmoid curve of world high jump record to illustrate how ideas progress. #vitae13<br />
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When solving lesser probs as pt of a larger research project ask who else? Where else? #vitae13<br />
Draw on your personal history of ideas and innovation may follow #vitae13<br />
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useful tool for entrepreneurs -downloadable business model canvas <a href="http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas">http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas</a> #vitae13<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-9384496682766048292013-03-13T12:12:00.000+00:002013-03-13T12:12:00.924+00:00Systems Research Showcase Bristol University 20th MarchSystems Research Showcase - Bristol University & INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering) - EngD (Engineering Doctorate) Student Presentations -<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333;"></span><a href="http://www.incoseonline.org.uk/Program_Files/Calendar/Calendar.aspx?CatID=Events#251"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.incoseonline.org.uk/Program_Files/Calendar/Calendar.aspx?CatID=Events#251</span></a> - <br />
<br />
Wednesday 20th March 6.30pm for 7pm<br />
<br />
Knowledge Exchange Suite, Merchant Venturers' Building, University of Bristol<br />
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'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.'<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-81329452396411649852013-02-19T19:40:00.001+00:002013-02-19T19:40:37.244+00:00Vitae - Charting an entrepreneurial career: how researchers can control their professional destinyI've booked for this event in Bristol on 5th March -<br />
<br />
Charting an entrepreneurial career: how researchers can control their professional destiny -<br />
<a href="http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/56271-593711/Charting-an-entrepreneurial-career-how-researchers-can-control-their-professional-destiny---Bristol.html" target="_blank">http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/56271-593711/Charting-an-entrepreneurial-career-how-researchers-can-control-their-professional-destiny---Bristol.html</a><br />
<br />
"This workshop forms part of the Entrepreneurial Institution programme<br />
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.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-5469702856797039182013-01-21T13:07:00.001+00:002013-01-21T13:19:21.037+00:00My PhD Thesis and recent Journal Paper<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>My PhD thesis on University Repository</strong> <strong>at -</strong></span><br />
<br />
<a arial="arial" font-family:="font-family:" helvetica="helvetica" href="http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17918/" sans-serif="sans-serif" target="_blank><span style="><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17918/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">User driven modelling: Visualisation and systematic interaction for end-user programming with tree-based structures</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Journal paper JVLC subscription only -</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a arial="arial" font-family:="font-family:" helvetica="helvetica" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045926X12000572" sans-serif="sans-serif" target="_blank><span style="><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045926X12000572</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'User-Driven Modelling: Visualisation and Systematic Interaction for end-user programming'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Journal of Visual Languages & Computing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Volume 23, Issue 6, December 2012, Pages 354–379</span> <span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peter Hale, Anthony E. Solomonides, Ian Beeson</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">University of the West of England Frenchay Campus</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Journal paper JVLC open access - University Research Repository - </strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="js-tweet-text" style="margin: auto 0cm;">
<a href="http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17817/" target='blank'><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/17817/</span></a><span class="invisible"><u><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-8838806625011516312013-01-06T10:32:00.001+00:002013-01-06T10:37:33.060+00:00Articles - Data and thinking - need for ease of understandingThese are 2 articles about the need to make data easier to understand, and enable people to think about a problem whilst examining data.<br />
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Why Data Will Never Replace Thinking - by Justin Fox - October 4, 2012<br />
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<a href="http://blogs.hbr.org/fox/2012/10/why-data-will-never-replace-thinking.html" target="_blank">http://blogs.hbr.org/fox/2012/10/why-data-will-never-replace-thinking.html</a><br />
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"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."<br />
We don't need more data scientists - just make data easier to use - by Scott Brave, Baynote Dec 22, 2012<br />
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<a href="http://gigaom.com/2012/12/22/we-dont-need-more-data-scientists-just-simpler-ways-to-use-big-data/">http://gigaom.com/2012/12/22/we-dont-need-more-data-scientists-just-simpler-ways-to-use-big-data/</a><br />
<br />
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.<br />
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Also this article and Radio 4 programme is about the need for thinking when learning to code.<br />
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Tom Armitage:The Coded World - Radio 4 available online - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pg54z" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pg54z</a> - Computer code frees us to think in new ways.<br />
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BBC News - Viewpoint: Computer code frees us to think in new ways <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20764273" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20764273</a> - "learning to code" - a hot topic in the media.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-19348823217747726792013-01-01T16:00:00.000+00:002013-01-01T16:00:49.039+00:00Article - Should we work harder or change the system?This is a good article on Systems Engineering and Thinking - <a href="http://www.perfect-flow.com/blog/work-harder-or-change-system/">http://www.perfect-flow.com/blog/work-harder-or-change-system/</a> - May 28, 2012<br />
<!-- .entry-meta --><br />
"So William Hague’s masterplan to rescue the UK economy is for business leaders to “stop complaining and work harder”. Yes, that’s right, growth will only return once we pull our collective finger out.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now, I’m sure Mr Hague has been running around the length and breadth of the UK to see for himself all of these idle workers that are holding back UK plc. After all, he wouldn’t dream of making such sweeping statements about UK industry without the evidence, would he? Oh.<br />
Maybe I haven’t visited as many businesses as Hague did before he made his informed opinion. Maybe I have just been to the wrong ones. However, what strikes me is that UK plc doesn’t need to work harder, but many of its’ Senior Leaders damn sure need to work smarter. How many Senior Leaders really know what goes on in their organisation? No, REALLY know. How does the work actually work? What is their organisation like to do business with? These people are making key decisions based on inadequate, incorrect information and that is costing UK plc £billions."<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-61182842363529516442012-12-26T14:58:00.003+00:002012-12-26T14:58:32.086+00:00BBC Radio 4 - Viewpoint: Computer code frees us to think in new waysBBC Technology Website and Radio 4 - Four Thought 8.45pm 26th December.<br />
<br />
Viewpoint: Computer code frees us to think in new ways - <br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20764273">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20764273</a> - By Tom Armitage - Technologist<br />
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'At the start of 2012, Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York tweeted: "My New Year's resolution is to learn to code with Codecademy."<br />
<br />
<br />
And throughout the year, "learning to code" seems to have been a hot topic in the media. <br />
<br />
Around the same time as Bloomberg's tweet, in the UK the Education Secretary Michael Gove was announcing plans to replace the schools ICT curriculum with a "computer science" programme.<br />
<br />
Existing ICT courses often focus on "digital literacy" - teaching particular software packages such as popular spreadsheets and word processors. <br />
<br />
The changes are an attempt to reach a more balancing sense of literacy - not just being able to "read" technology, by using it - but also to "write" with it. <br />
<br />
And in computing, writing with it means exploring the world of programming: creating with computers.'<br />
<br />
'This is an edited version of The Coded Word - a talk delivered by Tom Armitage for BBC Radio 4's Four Thought. It will be broadcast at 2045GMT on 26 December.'<br />
<br />
Tom Armitage: The Coded World - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pg54z">http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pg54z</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20869706.post-31910701238271864602012-12-14T10:25:00.002+00:002012-12-14T10:25:15.089+00:00BBC News - Alan Turing: Scientists call for pardon for codebreakerBBC News - Alan Turing: Scientists call for pardon for codebreaker - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20722581" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20722581</a><br />
<br />
'Some of Britain's leading scientists have called on the government to grant a posthumous pardon to Bletchley Park codebreaker Alan Turing.<br />
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<br />
Turing was convicted of gross indecency in 1952 after acknowledging a sexual relationship with a man. <br />
<br />
Professor Stephen Hawking, Astronomer Royal Lord Rees and the Royal Society's Sir Paul Nurse are among 11 signatories to a letter in the Daily Telegraph.<br />
<br />
They urge David Cameron to "formally forgive this British hero".<br />
<br />
The scientists said: "We write in support of a posthumous pardon for Alan Turing, one of the most brilliant mathematicians of the modern era.<br />
<br />
"He led the team of Enigma codebreakers at Bletchley Park, which most historians agree shortened the Second World War.<br />
<br />
"Yet successive governments seem incapable of forgiving his conviction for the then crime of being a homosexual, which led to his suicide, aged 41."'<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Peter Hales' User Driven Programming blog</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13242831007213966896noreply@blogger.com0