Bringing the internet to the community

Abstract Current developments in browser technology have largely ignored academic research on interface design in hypermedia systems. This is unlikely to change in the future. Thus, the needs of an information society must be met by providing appropriate training in the use of the technology in the community. To be effective, such training has to identify the difficulties computer-naive members of the public experience with existing systems and to consider both software and training based solutions to these problems. This paper seeks to encourage debate about strategies for facilitating access to Internet technology in the community by reviewing both the success and the difficulties encountered in a public access to the Internet outreach programme, the Internet Express, currently operating at libraries in Merseyside, UK.

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