Team 1’s Presentation

Team 1’s presentation and its Focus Group and peoples stories findings were put into a presentation and placed online. Allowing a larger audience to gain a more efficient method of explanation to the results of Team 1’s investigation regarding the question set by Hurricane Films, which was in connection with their www.peoples-stories.com website.




The Hurricane Film Question:


How can you engage an online audience in storytelling? – How do you encourage users, especially those from an older generated to participate?






Team 1’s (Colin Ambrose and Elle Murray) answers to this question can be found in an online presentation, that has been split into four parts, with all four parts available for viewing by using the links found directly below.




Profile - http://www.screenr.com/user/ellejmurray


Video 1 - http://www.screenr.com/syas


Video 2 - http://www.screenr.com/2yas


Video 3 - http://www.screenr.com/pyas


Video 4 - http://www.screenr.com/Gyas

The Focus Groups review of the peoples stories website.

The Focus Groups review of the peoples stories website raised a number of issues. The colour of the peoples stories website is grey and bland compared to its BBC counterpart WW2 Stories, which is an attractive green and more appealing. The BBC website also has its stories organised chronologically and the Focus Group suggested that they wanted to see a bigger array of categories that made the site easier to navigate and for them to find what they wanted quicker. Also when a category page was chosen they couldn’t see the videos initially as text was covering it. They made the suggestion that the text be placed in a box below the video so that all could be seen quite easily. The Focus Group and in particular Jim, Chris and Pat stated their frustration at having to register for everything online, and that quite often when they did register for something they were immediately inundated with spam. They also expanded further on the subject of registration mentioning that as soon as they see that you have to register for a site, that it would put them off using it, along with many others of their generation. They wanted to be able to use the site fully anyway without having to register, which in turn would help to build up trust in the website. At a later stage if people of the older generation wanted to engage with the website more, then they could register at that point. Thus developing a higher level of trust between the peoples stories website and the user.  

They also stated that many of their generation struggled with computer jargon and many didn’t know how to upload photographs and other content. The Focus Group wanted the creation of a fourth tab on the initial home page, that would be a demonstration tab. It would take them to a video or a game play scenario that would teach them step by step instructions on how to learn about computing; the internet; and how the site functions. Stating it should be set up in a similar way to the BBC computing tutorial website page, which had very simplistic instructions. They also reiterated their problems with computer jargon and gave an example regarding pixels. The group said that being given what the maximum or minimum size of a photograph that could be uploaded, using pixels as measurements (example 1600x1200 pixels) meant nothing to them as they didn’t know how big a pixel was. They said that they needed real physical measurements such as 8 by 6 inches or 16 by 12 cm’s. They also mentioned that they wanted Jpeg’s to be called photographs, and instead of having boxes saying browse, they wanted it to say upload photo. Thus simplifying the site as much as possible for them to use. They also said that the present help button was too small, in the wrong place, and didn’t really help them. The Focus Group stated that these suggestions would increase the websites fan base and help the older generation to engage with the website more.

Promotion and connection with Hurricane Films and the peoples stories website.

The Focus Group said that they were completely unaware of the peoples stories website until Team 1 (myself and Elle Murray) turned up to the Age UK computer course. They also told us of a similar BBC website that specialised in personal stories from the specific period of the Second World War. They mentioned that their trust in the BBC with regard to the media industry was unequalled, and also that such a large proportion of the older Liverpool community listen to BBC Radio Merseyside, that this media conduit would be a superior method of promotion for the peoples stories website, in establishing itself with senior citizens in and around the Liverpool area.

A couple of members of the focus group also suggested that they and possible a number of others from their age group would be willing to learn how to operate camera’s and how to edit, thus assisting the peoples stories website and Hurricane Films in its objective of obtaining as many stories as possible from the older generation. They said that they would be able to visit people who weren’t computer literate, or who had physical problems such as arthritis and couldn’t hold or operate a mouse. Thus helping peoples stories to reach out to a wider spectrum of the older Liverpool community.

This would also benefit many of the older generation who lack much needed social interaction and would help with their morale, and mental wellbeing.

Gaining the trust of the local community and its importance

Jim one of the tutors said that “I’ve been a tutor here for ten years, but I can only teach what I’ve learnt myself. Sometimes I feel like were going down blind alleys now and again, and on occasion we could do with a bit of assistance from people who know more about computers than ourselves.” He mentioned that if a company like Hurricane Films or an organisation such as Liverpool John Moores University could offer a small amount of assistance to Age UK with its computer course. Then this would help build trust in the peoples stories website and the Hurricane Films company. With people from the older generation in the Liverpool community using word of mouth to spread their good opinions of the company, and if Age UK itself were to declare Hurricane Films and the peoples stories website a partner, further trust would be constructed throughout the local community. This would help create the engagement that the peoples stories website is trying to make with the older generation.

The Focus Groups positive opinion regarding the idea of the peoples stories website

All involved in the focus group agreed that once you get the older generation to reminisce about their lives and experiences, they become willing storytellers. Jim gave an example of this from his own experiences, whilst working as a volunteer at the Merseyside Maritime Museum. He said “When someone dies a tremendous amount of knowledge dies with them and is lost, and you won’t get that back”. He then gave an example of a former colleague and fellow volunteer at the Merseyside Maritime Museum who had recently died. The person in question had worked on the River Mersey throughout the Second World War and had large amounts of knowledge and information regarding things that had occurred at that time. He said that his friend was a quite man but if you asked him anything about the River Mersey during the Second World War, he would be able to give you exceptionally detailed information on that subject. Unfortunately with the mans passing away all that knowledge has know been lost because no one at the museum had the foresight to record or document what the deceased man knew. At this point the focus group altogether agreed that they thought the peoples stories website was an excellent idea and that it could prove to be very valuable to future generations. This example helps to demonstrate that the possibility exists for the peoples stories website could become a great success if the wright building blocks were to be put in place.

I also mentioned  to the focus group two historical societies that I had come across during the Christmas holiday season. First was a society called the Belle Vale Prefab Project Committee. Who had published a book called Prefab Days, A Community Remembers. The second an organisation called the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society and their story about the Edge Lane Roundabout tram depot, and a particular story of theirs regarding the last Liverpool tram and its final journey. At this point everyone in the Focus group started sharing their stories of prefabricated temporary post war accommodation, and also their memories of seeing the final journey of Liverpool's last tram. Bringing up both of these local historical stories and the reaction that they received from the focus group members, helped to reinforce my earlier prognosis regarding what a positive and also very popular concept the peoples stories website has in its possession.

The Focus Group then took the idea of these societies and their books further. They suggested that if these books were published on the peoples stories website, that people would be able to read them without having to buy them. They explained that this principal would in most cases be acceptable to the not for profit societies and organisations in question. As they only charged for the books so that the costs of getting their stories out into the public sphere would be covered. Also that the true goal of these socities was to educate the general public as much as possible and not to make profits. Thus if the peoples stories website was able to engage with these societies successfully, its promotion; trust; and reputation within the local community would reach very high levels. Also increasing the engagement with the older generation at the same time.

Exploring trust issues with the Focus Group

Whilst discussing online communication, Maureen said that she believed Facebook to be excellent for people (O.A.P.’s) stuck at home. As it gave them a way of socialising with the outside world. Maureen then went on to discuss that she thought it could also be dangerous as some older people struggle with trust issues in today’s society, with some vulnerable people divulging too much information which may leave them insecure. John at this point reinforced Maureen’s point by saying “I didn’t grow up with Facebook or Twitter. I feel nervous about using them you know. There are allot of ways of communicating online such as e-mail which is safe and secure”. Frank also brought up Skype and that he thought it was a good communication tool that was safer for older people

The Focus Group

The Team 1 focus group consisted of Maureen; Edna; John; Jim; Frank; Pat; and Chris. Who were a section of the older generation from the Liverpool area with varying degrees of computer and internet literacy and competence. Between them, they explained that the older generation is like the rest of society in that some people are better at handling the internet and computing than others. They also mentioned that they believe the internet helps the older generation to maintain a social life which is very positive to them health wise. They also realise how much takes place on line and what benefits it can bring them, for example banking and handling their finances; communicating with relatives in distant places; etc. The course tutors mentioned that when the students start the course the first thing they want to do is get on to the internet. With all involved in the focus group adding to this point and stating that the older generation see’s great benefits in what the internet can offer to them, and contrary to the popular belief of some younger people, the older generation wants to become far more involved with the internet and computing which is a very positive point for the peoples stories website and Hurricane Films. The students on the course said that they and many others didn’t understand computing; its jargon; and how the internet worked. Which in turn impeded their progress of being able to do things online. This point was also confirmed by the tutors who took part in the focus group, who reiterated that many of the older generation had the desire to become more involved with the internet and computing but unfortunately didn’t have the knowhow, and were scared to engage with the internet and computing unless they could educate themselves in this field first.