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.

The Age UK Clubmoore Centre Visit

On Monday 9^th January 2012 Team 1 which at this point onwards only consisted of me Colin Ambrose and Elle Murray visited the Age UK Clubmoore Centre at 179 Townsend Lane, Clubmoore, Liverpool, Merseyside, L13 9DY. The computer course itself started at 10am and then took a 30 minute break from 11am to 11.30am, before continuing for another hour from 11.30am to 12.30pm. After visiting the course we would find out that a number of students were only able to attend the course for 1 hour and not the full 2 hours, as they found studying for a long period to be too strenuous at their age. We also discovered that the course only took place on 1 day a week, and the course ran for a period of 6 weeks. Whilst at the centre both the students and tutors told me and Elle that there was a long waiting list to get onto the course, but they were unable to give us a specific time period.

Myself and Elle introduced ourselves to all involved on the course and agreed to interview them whilst on their break as not to interrupt teaching and their precious study time. I had made consent forms and got all the interviewees to sign them giving us their permission to film them and record their interviews. At this point Sandra Owens the centre manager raised a point regarding a possible legal grey area which may occur, and one that could become a problem for the peoples stories website and Hurricane Films in future. She explained that a minority of the older generation had guardians (usually their children or other family members) who held third party mandates over what they could do. This meant that some older people didn’t have legal control over their own lives, due quite often to their failing health involving such problems as Alzheimer’s disease which often meant that they didn’t have control over all their faculties, and were legally no longer responsible for their actions. She also suggested that some guardians could possibly take legal action in future against the peoples stories website and Hurricane Films, if they thought the people under their care were being taken advantage of. This point never occurred to me or Elle and it would be wise of the peoples stories website and Hurricane Films to consider it in detail and the possible ramifications it could represent. Team 1 thanks Sandra Owens greatly for raising this point and making us aware of this possibility.

Elle had prepared a questionnaire for all involved on the Age UK computer course and I had a number of extra questions which I also wanted to add to the interview process in order to cover as much as possible. We agreed to interview everyone during their break in the common room whilst they had a 30 minute window. They also agreed to letting Team 1 get some cutaway shots of their classroom activities during the second study period after break.

Organising the Age UK Clubmoore computer course visit

During the second week of January 2012, myself and Team 1 started trying to make contact with Adam Owen to organise our visit to the Age UK computer course. In time we were able to do this but Adam himself wasn’t able to get an e-mail response from Sandra Owens for 48 hours, after which point we gained permission to attend the course and interview all involved. Team 1 is very grateful to Adam Owen for all his endeavour and cooperation throughout this process. Team 1 consisted of three members myself Colin Ambrose, Elle Murray, and Matthew Mulligan, but it ran into organisational problems as both myself and Elle were unable to contact Matthew Mulligan from this point onwards as he had gone home to Northern Ireland for Christmas, but had not returned to Liverpool John Moores University afterwards.

Utilising the Christmas period

During the Christmas holiday period when Team 1 was unable to work collectively due to family commitments and students were leaving Liverpool to return to their home towns or home countries (Elle and Matthew). I decided to try and discover local historical societies and interest groups in an effort to gauge how much the older generation especially in Liverpool was willing to discuss their memories and tell their stories. I came across an array of books covering peoples living memories of the 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s, but there were two societies in particular which stood out and also covered subjects that I had never heard discussed. The first was a society called the Belle Vale Prefab Project Committee. Who had published a book called Prefab Days, A Community Remembers; published by Enterprise Marketing and Publishing Service in 2006. Which discussed in detail the stories of many people who in the post war Liverpool era, had to live in prefabricated temporary accommodation due to the extent of bomb damage caused to Liverpool housing during the Second World War. This society also had a very prominent president who was Sir Terry Leahy, the former head of the Tesco retail store empire.

The second society which stood out to me was the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society who had themselves published a book called the Edge Lane Roundabout, a nostalgic look back at Liverpool’s Trams, written by Brian Martin. This book demonstrates the commitment and desire people have to tell their stories, as the M.T.P.S. had to publish this book themselves in 1984. What also grabbed my attention about this book was a particular story regarding the last tram. The title of the book “The Edge Lane Roundabout” refers to the name given to the tram depot that once existed on Edge Lane. The Liverpool Screen School is also situated on Edge Lane and if one looks directly out of the windows of Teaching Room 2 in the Liverpool Screen School, which is the classroom where I and Team 1 are to make our presentation from on the subject of peoples stories, one can see a large amount of waste ground. On this waste ground once stood the tram depot nicknamed the “Edge Lane Roundabout”. The book contains the story of Liverpool’s last tram car and its final journey on Saturday 14^th September 1957, which took place from the Pier Head to the Edge Lane Roundabout. The book contains photographs of how it was specially decorated for the day and it also has photographs showing crowds of tens of thousands of people lining Edge Lane to see the last tram end its final journey. To see such images of huge crowds on the roads and the now deserted waste land that surrounds the Liverpool Screen School seemed quite profound. Especially when considering that students at the Liverpool Screen School who are trying to assist in the creation of a local historical digital conduit to tell stories about Liverpool, had no idea of the history that once surrounded their own classroom. Which possibly demonstrates the importance of this project to assist in the passing of information from one generation to the next, and also how much interest this can generate.

Consultation with Sarah Haynes Module Leader and Keith Marley Teaching Staff

Team 1 as a collective group before Christmas 2011 discussed its targeted avenues of investigation regarding the people’s stories website with both Sarah Haynes Module Leader and Keith Marley Teaching Staff. Sarah suggested that Team 1 should investigate the trust issue that the older generation may have. She also proposed the idea that they may not be willing to share their stuff with the rest of the world, and that they may have privacy issues. Thus would not be willing to share online. Sarah also presented Team 1 with the Juxtaposition with regards to the success of websites such as Schools Re-united or Friends Re-united which reminded people of happier times in their past. Which could act as an offset to an individual’s privacy issues. Keith also held discussions with Team 1 as a collective. Keith suggested the possibility of reviewing the idea of creating a Facebook for older people. He also proposed the idea of making a critique of the client. Team 1 had discussed and conferred with each other on some of these ideas to varying degrees but would now consider them more closely.

Attempt to contact the Age UK website and those who manage and construct the site

The Age UK organisation was created by a merger between two of the most trusted activist groups and charities that deal with the older generation in the UK. They were Age Concern and Help the Aged. Their website is also one of the most trusted in this country for older people as well. Due to this reason I attempted to contact the people who run and manage the Age UK website. As they had experience in designing a user friendly system. Which if I made contact with them may help myself and Team 1 to review the Age UK website interface design, its content and structure. Also how we could use this to compare to the Peoples Stories website and perhaps gain a more professional perspective on its user friendly ability. I therefore contacted the Age UK website enquiries telephone number 0800 169 8787 and spoke to Paul Jones part of the customer engagement team. Paul in-turn placed myself on hold and contacted the Age UK website management team directly on my behalf before returning to me and updating the situation. Paul said that myself and Team 1 would be unable to communicate directly either by phone or e-mail to the Age UK staff who manage their website but that they would be willing to answer our questions and offer us assistance if they had time. Paul then gave me the details for a general e-mail that the website management team had told him to pass on to myself and team 1. The e-mail was contact@ageuk.org.uk which I used on several occasions to send through a questionnaire and a set of questions that Elle Murray had designed. This proved to be unsuccessful and we never received a response to our e-mail traffic.

Making Contact with Age UK & its Computer Training Course

I first contacted Adam Owen Age UK computer training course organiser on 8^th December 2011. I did this by contacting the Age UK Liverpool & Sefton headquarters at 5 Sir Thomas Street, Liverpool, L1 6BW. Telephone number 0151 330 5678. Opening hours 9am to 4pm. After contacting the above H.Q. reception number I was given Adam Owen’s direct office telephone number 0151 330 5620. I explained in full to Adam the reason for my contacting him and what Team 1’s project involved. Also that we wanted to interview both the tutors and students on the course in order for Team 1 to gain a better understanding of how much the older generation engages with computing and the internet. Adam agreed to Team 1’s proposals in principal and also suggested that we use the Age UK Clubmoore centre. He also said that the final decision on Team 1 being able to attend the course rested with the Clubmoore centre manager Sandra Owens (no relation) but he couldn’t really see it being a problem. Then Adam made a request to me that he wanted us to wait until after Christmas to interview the tutors and students as the people at Age UK were very busy getting organised for Christmas.

Reasons for Team 1's decision to create a focus group.

The Plusnet article and the two sets of Pew Internet statistics found below all involve national statistics for the UK population. Both are internet companies whose figures may have a biased due to that very reason. Team 1 used these figures as part of their own research into how many of the older generation engage with computing and the internet, but also decided that a more varied research approach may be needed in order to gain a more balanced understanding of how the older generation truly engages with computing and the internet. Also as these figures were only regarding the UK population and not specific to either the Liverpool or Merseyside areas, team 1 decided to create a focus group consisting of the members of the older generation from a more local demographic. An approach to Age UK Liverpool & Sefton and it's computer courses' was made as a direct result of this.

Article by Plusnet

Wednesday, December 14th 2011

by Paul France - paul@cable.co.uk

Guidance on using the internet is sought by one in five people aged over 55.

A Plusnet study has discovered more than a fifth of over-55s have taken lessons in a bid to make the most out of their broadband connection.

Some 22 per cent of people in this age bracket have received tuition on using the internet, compared to just eight per cent of those aged between 16 and 24.

While younger broadband users may feel they are in less need of guidance than silver surfers, the research found the older generations actually have a greater understanding of a wide range of technical terms associated with the internet.

Almost three-quarters of over-55s claimed to know the meaning of jargon such as bandwidth, Wi-Fi and download, while around two in five 16 to 24-year-olds were not sure about these expressions.

Jamie Ford, chief executive of Plusnet, said: "It just goes to show that despite the growing online literacy in the UK, people are still unsure of certain key terms and uses for the internet."

The broadband provider also recently claimed nearly half of Brits are not confident about downloading music from iTunes and around two-fifths would struggle to set up a social networking profile.

Statistics to be viewed below.

Statistics to be viewed below.

Brainstorming Ideas for Hurricane Films & Peoples Stories.

Team 1’s initial brainstorming ideas for the Peoples Stories website were three fold. Firstly to examine the website itself which will include aspects such as how registration is dealt with by the older generation. How attractive the website is to potential users and also how easy the website is to navigate for older people. Secondly to examine reviews and statistics regarding the elderly online. To get an idea of how many of the older generation use computing and the internet. Also to examine the possibility of creating a focus group involving a local section of the older demographic. Through this the ability to investigate whether over 65’s use social networking, or would be willing to do so may also become possible. Thirdly the premises of using school projects to assist in helping older people to engage with computing and the internet. Exploring how children could help teach their grandparents or anyone else from the older generation how to upload data such as photo’s. As a result it may also help children to learn more about their home town history. It could even involve them more with museums and local historical societies, and act as a tool to aid the younger generation in their education.