Barry Cross
Robert Marsters
Introduction
Recent work with the City of Harrisburg has resulted in a proposal for the development of the Harrisburg Internet Project which will provide access to technology, including the Internet and geographic information systems (GIS), to the citizens of the city who are currently isolated from such technologies. The Harrisburg Internet Project will include direct interaction with the target population; and with the planned surveys, there is the potential to measure the impact of the Project on the inner city community. This initiative with its use of Internet and GIS technology, and the focus of the project on a City environment seem well suited to the upcoming conference. If implemented, the project will serve as a real world example which could reinforce or shed new light on related research.
Project Background
It is clear from the demographic profiles and statistics that a high percentage of the City of Harrisburg citizens are isolated from access to computing technologies and; therefore; the increasing amount of information that is available through the National Information Infrastructure. It is imperative that the City move to reduce these disparities in our community in order to meet our objective of an integrated urban environment. By implementing the proposed system, the under served citizens of Harrisburg will be given access to the World Wide Web and basic computing resources including electronic mail, word processing and spreadsheet applications. This infrastructure will be augmented with a marketing and training program to ensure the success of the program. Measurable results will take the form of a more computer literate population, reduced requests for typical information at City Government Offices which will allow more time to be spent in more valuable activities, and ultimately a more informed public which will positively reinforce government services.
The Harrisburg Internet Project (HIP) is designed to provide access to basic computer resources including connectivity to the National Information Infrastructure to the citizens of Harrisburg who are presently isolated from such technology due to classic economic and social factors. In addition to providing access to the infrastructure itself, the project will also include the creation of a WWW home page for the City of Harrisburg whose content will primarily focus on information that will benefit the targeted group of citizens but will also be increasingly useful to the public at large. The 'focus' content will include information from City Departments and Agencies and Non-Profit organizations whose goal is to address the problems of the target group. Eventually the site will provide access to the City's Geographic Information System as well.
The technological solution will include 10 'Public Access Sites' distributed throughout the City of Harrisburg equipped with a personal computer, word processing, spreadsheet, electronic mail applications and Internet access through the HIP server. The most difficult aspect of the proposed project is to truly overcome the barriers that currently isolate the target group from technology in an often times discouraging environment.
Support for End Users
From discussing the end user characteristics with non-profit representatives and several citizens fitting the profile of our target population it has been determined that a multifaceted training approach will be needed. This approach will include the publication of a the 'HIP Users' Guide' which will list the basic knowledge needed to work an Internet Browser, general information about HIP and how it can be used for retrieving commonly requested information, and will also include generic information on using the WWW to access not so commonly requested information from any site in the world. Additionally, it has been determined that the most effective way of training end users is to have a knowledgeable person at each of the 'Public Access Sites' that will be able to assist first time users of the system at specific times each week. The non-profit personnel will contribute to the project success not only in terms of a resource for Public Access Site assistance but the non-profit organizations like the various City Government Departments will be key to the development of pertinent information content accessible from the HIP site.
In order to insure accessibility to the 'Public Access Sites' the program will make use of space that exist in non-profit offices and other public sites throughout the City where the target population have easy access, and currently frequent. These sites will be public places which will insure security of the equipment. Appropriate steps will also be taken to receive local and regional television and newspaper coverage of the project which will reinforce and increase the use of the system.
Project Evaluation and Conclusion
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the project, a survey will be taken prior to system implementation to assess the awareness of Internet technology and how it can be used to access information. A second survey will be conducted approximately six months after the system is operational to determine how that awareness has changed. Perhaps it is these surveys and their evaluation which would benefit other research efforts which address technology and the inner city.
Brief Biography for Barry Cross
Barry Cross is a GIS Analyst for Intergraph Corporation in King of Prussia, PA. Prior to joining Intergraph in 1991, Mr. Cross worked for AT&T Corporation as a GIS Consultant to local and county governments. Mr. Cross received a Master's Degree in Geography and GIS from the University of Connecticut in 1989.
Barry Cross
Intergraph Corporation
Infrastructure/GIS
King of Prussia, PA
610-265-3562
bacross@ingr.com
This proposal was written in cooperation with Robert Marsters of the City of Harrsiburg, PA. Robert Marsters is a GIS Analyst for the City of Harrisburg, PA and holds a Masters Degree in Geography and GIS from the University of Buffalo.
Robert Marsters
City of Harrisburg
Department of Building and Housing
717-255-6637
harrisburg@www.ezec.gov