digital futures knowledge networks bbc r&d at mmu create group launch

Digital Futures: Knowledge Networks for Creative Industries

Dr Adrian WoolardOctober 2009

Most modern technology is created by bringing together & developing capabilities which already exist…The genius lies in the way they are brought together & improved.

Lord A. Broers Triumph of Technology, 2005 Reith Lectures

CC flickr user: edward@debian.org

Learning Open Air (Beta)

Why did we try?

• Speed up research cycles• Deeper reflection than market research• Make research more accessible beyond

organisation• More iterative & responsive to shifting

industry trends

The academic paper & citation list aren’t enough!

Its got to be relevant, tangible & delivered yesterday

Unnamed BBC Senior Producer, Knowledge Summit 2006

You waste money on market research & consultants but we already know the answer to your questions – you just don’t ask!

Unnamed AHRC Research Lead, Knowledge Summit 2006

1. Explore the possibility – what could it mean for the ‘end user’?

2. Run summits – events, gatherings, network 3. Consultation across all relevant groups4. Formalise – legal, funding & peer review5. Support programmes properly6. Keep something back for emerging

opportunities7. Communicate – innovate the medium8. Reflect well

8 steps…

8 outputs…1. Alone Together? Social Learning in BBC Blast2. A Public Voice - Access, Digital Story and

Interactive Narrative3. Inhibited Exploration in Older Customers of

Digital Services4. Listener Online Engagement with BBC Radio

Programming5. The Miners' Strike - A Case Study in Regional

Content6. UGC at the BBC – Understanding its impact upon

contributors, non-contributors and BBC News7. Virtual Worlds - An Overview and Study of BBC

Children's Adventure Rock8. What do Children Want from the BBC? Children’s

Content in an Age of Citizen Media

SOCIABLE

Self-

stampers

Social Climbers

Collector-consumers

Life-system builders

Power users

Explorer-investigators

Fighters

Nurturers

SOLITARY

• Foresight is invaluable & bullishness is essential

• Demand exceeded funds (FEC !!!)• Legal needs to innovate on both sides • Balance between industry & academic

peer review was challenging to say least• It didn’t speed things up in the end• Expect churn in industry

Reflections …

Looking forward…

• Digital economy - next generation• The North• MCUK – New lab, new models incl

FIRM• Networks, frameworks & how?• Impact based

Towards 2012 Future of Public Service Broadcasting?

• HEFCE • HEIF • TSB – Collaborative R&D, KTN’s• Research Councils - EPSRC, ESRC, BBSRC,

AHRC, MRC• JISC • SRIF • Digital Economy calls – DTC’s, Research Hubs• European Regional Development Funds (ERDF)

to assist SME’s • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP’s)• EU Framework Programmes ( EU FP7)

Show me the money… pt 1

• RDA’s – NWDA, YorkshireForward, One North East• Digital Agencies – NW V&M, ScreenYorkshire,

Codeworks• Council funding – MDDA, Manchester Knowledge

Capital, Creative Sheffield, Creative Hull,…• Professional Institutions (eg. Royal Academy of

Engineering, Design Council, Arts Council, British Council)

• MOD • Govt Depts special pots (eg. Cabinet Office for

Civil Contingency Secretariat)• Charities and Trusts• Alumni (eg. endowments)

oh & industry sometimes… .

Show me the money… pt 2

• People – diversity, mutual respect

• Networks – informal, build trust• Frameworks – formal, funding• Projects – mutual risk• Outputs - Impact on user not

career

Final thoughts on exchange…

Food for thought…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/booknotes/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/knowledgeexchange/ http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/openlab/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/http://www.bbc.co.uk/rdhttp://backstage.bbc.co.uk/ +http://www.scottberkun.com/books/the-myths-of-innovation/

If we acknowledge the importance of technology then we are now in the phase of working out how best to manage & improve it for the public and private good.

Paraphrased from Bronac Ferran, 8 Essays 2009.

Thanks!

Dr Adrian WoolardProject Lead (R&D North Lab) BBC Research & Development Future Media & TechnologyNorth Lab, Room 1044Oxford Road, Manchester M60 1SJe: adrian.woolard@bbc.co.ukt: adew / bbcrdnorth LinkedIn Group: Friends of BBC R&D

NorthCredit: R&D & Learning Innovation

staff for sterling workIllustrations:

www.nicolarowlands.co.uk