'It's about people, not technology': yes, so mean it

I'm going to be a bit more cynical than Tim about this. 'It's about what people want to achieve, and using technology if appropriate' is a sentiment constantly expressed at these events: almost a cliche in fact. So why do people feel the need to keep repeating it?

It seems blindingly obvious to me that the technological tools are just that: mere tools to help people do things. Digital engagement should be about using the tools where appropriate, not trying to get people to use them for the sake of it.

Yet much of what I've heard in the last couple of days - despite mantras about 'people first' - is about giving people access to technology, then helping them to use it. No, it isn't. Or rather, it shouldn't be.

Why are we so enamoured with tools? Yes they're great, yes they enhances our lives; but not by default: they can also be scary, confusing, and dangerous. Why should we have the right to thrust these tools at people because we think they need them?

Thankfully, the Media Trust's Digital Mentors programme (which is funded by the Departpment for Communities and Local Government) recognises this, and is going to fund individuals or local groups to achieve a goal that they couldn't without digital tools.

To me, this seems the right way round. The equipment is incidental: how it helps people achieve is the important part.

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Comment by Tessa Henwood on May 6, 2009 at 2:03pm: I know it might be going off subject a little as I wasn't at the conference, but I think the relationship between technology and the way people develop to include it as part of their everyday lives is very interesting. I saw a piece on newsnight last night which focused on how new technology is shifting the way we read - part of the dicussion mentioned the way that we co-evolve with technological tools - as the tools develop the way we do things and the things we do also develops. I think often technology moves so fast and news tools are developed so quickly, they are one step ahead and people are presented with a solution to a problem which they didn't even know they had. Then we are left to push and sell them the benefits of using the new technology.

Comment by Michael Grimes on April 28, 2009 at 3:36pm: Definitely, Tim. And what support is there to help users deal with the unknown and unexpected when they encounter it: such as dealing with abusive comments, misunderstanding etiquette, coping when tools that have become reliant suddenly stop working for no apparent reason, etc etc.

Comment by Tim Davies on April 28, 2009 at 2:59pm: The cynicism is needed - though I thought it was encouraging that 'people' was dominant at least as a term in the write up so far (of course, more analysis needed to see what we can really draw from that).

I think the question for me is: What discourse is open to us to recognise and deal with technology issues, whilst keeping the focus on people?