Sites of the month
Each month we look at the nominations made so far and select our favourite sites or projects.
As the New Media Awards 2005 nominations race to a close, we’d thought a bit of subtle humour was just the ticket. A simple search engine, DirectionlessGov compares the results of government related queries between the gov.uk portal and Google. There are some interesting differences between the output of each engine. It goes without saying that the authors of DirectionlessGov regard the government portal as being a waste of money and effort. . . Text Someone
Text Someone is a service that allows schoolchildren to report any incidence of bullying, unwanted behaviour or crime via text message or email, direct to their own school. Schools that sign up to the scheme are allocated a mobile and local rate telephone number for pupils to call. The school in turn can promote the service directly to its pupils. Messages go directly to the school’s secure online system, from where further action can be taken as necessary. Crucially, the service runs 24 hours a day. Text Someone exhibits real insight into the popular methods of communication used by its audience, in a service that is intuitively tailored to the needs of both the school and child.
The aim of the British Heart Foundation is to play a leading role in the fight against cardiovascular disease so that it is no longer a major cause of disability and premature death. Through its anti-smoking website it enables those trying to quit smoking to be supported in a multitude of ways including: motivational e-mails, personalised cigarette carton warning labels, online diaries. An effective use and approach to new technology that should really help those trying to quite.
Last.FM Last.FM is a personalised online radio station that users can fill up with music they like. Songs spread from listener to listener. Last.FM utilises innovative technology to help music lovers discover new artists and songs based on their music tastes, get connected to other users with similar interests, and help unsigned artists get their music heard.
The Studio Art School provides online tuition in art and design - everything from basic courses on "how to draw" right through to an art Foundation course. They also provide a "portfolio surgery", which allows students to upload their portfolio and receive feedback and advice on it, so as to strengthen their applications for college or university. A wonderful example of new media being used creatively.
Locata
Locata is an online service that allows council tenants to select their own housing. Where previously councils would allocate housing, Locata allows tenants to choose and bid on housing for themselves, by making bids both online or via text messaging. Locata is already in use with Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow Councils, and shows how new media technology can help meet the needs of both tenents and councils.
MAY
DirectionlessGov.comAs the New Media Awards 2005 nominations race to a close, we’d thought a bit of subtle humour was just the ticket. A simple search engine, DirectionlessGov compares the results of government related queries between the gov.uk portal and Google. There are some interesting differences between the output of each engine. It goes without saying that the authors of DirectionlessGov regard the government portal as being a waste of money and effort. . . Text Someone
Text Someone is a service that allows schoolchildren to report any incidence of bullying, unwanted behaviour or crime via text message or email, direct to their own school. Schools that sign up to the scheme are allocated a mobile and local rate telephone number for pupils to call. The school in turn can promote the service directly to its pupils. Messages go directly to the school’s secure online system, from where further action can be taken as necessary. Crucially, the service runs 24 hours a day. Text Someone exhibits real insight into the popular methods of communication used by its audience, in a service that is intuitively tailored to the needs of both the school and child.
MARCH
British Heart FoundationThe aim of the British Heart Foundation is to play a leading role in the fight against cardiovascular disease so that it is no longer a major cause of disability and premature death. Through its anti-smoking website it enables those trying to quit smoking to be supported in a multitude of ways including: motivational e-mails, personalised cigarette carton warning labels, online diaries. An effective use and approach to new technology that should really help those trying to quite.
Last.FM Last.FM is a personalised online radio station that users can fill up with music they like. Songs spread from listener to listener. Last.FM utilises innovative technology to help music lovers discover new artists and songs based on their music tastes, get connected to other users with similar interests, and help unsigned artists get their music heard.
FEBRUARY
The Studio Art SchoolThe Studio Art School provides online tuition in art and design - everything from basic courses on "how to draw" right through to an art Foundation course. They also provide a "portfolio surgery", which allows students to upload their portfolio and receive feedback and advice on it, so as to strengthen their applications for college or university. A wonderful example of new media being used creatively.
Locata
Locata is an online service that allows council tenants to select their own housing. Where previously councils would allocate housing, Locata allows tenants to choose and bid on housing for themselves, by making bids both online or via text messaging. Locata is already in use with Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow Councils, and shows how new media technology can help meet the needs of both tenents and councils.