Peter Bradwell
Researcher
Peter Bradwell is a researcher at Demos. He is interested in digital identity, technology and the ways that information and knowledge is shared...
- Arms length Today is a day of action against DESO - the Defence Export Services Organisation. This is the government agency who decides which arms can get sold to where. So I suppose it can be seen as a regulator - stopping naughty and dangerous people getting naughty and dangerous weaponry - with the stated aim of Defence exports being 'strong export performance by the UK defence industry helps in the delivery of required defence capability to our armed forces in the most cost-effective manner,... continue reading on 16th October 2006 Comments (1)
- More FOIbles... The Freedom of Information and Open Government Blog picked up yesterday on an early day motion in the commons. It's supportive of the Constitutional Affairs Committee's report which argues against the need to alter the charging mechanisms in the FOI act.There seem to be indications that the government is considering making it easier to refuse requests on costs grounds. As we've mentioned here on this blog, that seems an unfortunate and retrograde step and it's difficult to see the public... continue reading on 12th October 2006 Comments (1)
- The Medium is the Message? What better way to dispel the accusations that you're vacuous and policy-lite than to air your very own video podcast, or vodcast or...webcameron - noting your whimsical and more sincere policy insights and firing them into the open-access heaven of the internet? Talking straight to the people, wired straight into the public consciousness - no middlemen, no journo agendas, no spin; just your ideas with the ecover, some washing up, drying underpants and breakfast with the wife and kids.Are the... continue reading on 2nd October 2006 in Cool Tools for Government Comments (7)
- China and English Language Policy Just read an interesting piece in China's 'People's Daily Online'. It argues that perhaps there is little value in investing so much energy and effort in teaching everyone English - that the country's 'internationalization' doesn't necessarily entail that increasing numbers need be proficient in English. continue reading on 19th September 2006 in As You Like It
- Nothing is Free So Universal has signed up to the incoming download site SpiralFrog - which promises to offer free music and rely instead on advertising for revenue. For those of us who see the big-players of the music industry's reaction to digital music as the example of industry fudging - through misunderstanding - the promise of new technologies, this might come as a surprise. But I suspect that amidst the extraordinary publicity the news has generated, we might miss an important distinction that unlocks some questions that are rather more interesting than whether we can get free Razorlight tracks. continue reading on 30th August 2006 Comments (1)
- Can I Tell You You're Wrong Here? Got any spare time next Thursday evening? Have anything you want to get off your chest?Then you could do worse than involving yourself in this heartwarming and ingenious plan to play around with the ridiculous SOCPA legislation over the next week. That way you can express yourself right in front of the big cheeses in Parliament.As the Rachel From North London blog highlights, the scheme - which I think is led by Mark Thomas - is to get as many individual protests happening in Parliament Square... continue reading on 23rd August 2006
- Language and the 'Real World' One of the claims about the prevalence of the English language is that people want to learn it because it helps them deal with real-world problems they face - English provides them access to the networks and contacts that can help them get jobs and take advantage of global trade.The flip-side of that argument is, of course, that such a 'real world' problem is framed within a certain context manifesting particular relations of power - and that acquiescing in the face of that real-world dilemma... continue reading on 16th August 2006 in As You Like It
- You Can't Mean That It appears that there might be another piece of evidence to counter the excitement of the technoligical utopianists who see automated translation delivering us from the vagaries of second-language communication and human error.The welsh part of this sign apparently translates as "bladder inflammation upset". It's unclear from this photo which half is out of context.The BBC story suggests the problem lies with confused online translation. Computers with a sense of humour. Frightening. continue reading on 16th August 2006 in As You Like It
- FOIbles The Freedom of Information Act has been in force for a year and a half now. It's an extremely important piece of legislation, promising to help alter the relationship between state and citizen - between state officials and members of the public. It's vital for anyone looking to fan the flames of people-led politics and to empower communities to develop mechanisms to wield real power over their lives and places.As the Campaign for Freedom of Information have shown with this, a stack of... continue reading on 4th August 2006 Comments (4)
- Bridges over Finance-scapes "B2X also announced its 10 year exclusive partnership with the China Daily Information Company, www.ChinaDaily.com , China's official and largest English Language online media destination. This partnership grants B2X key support in China's burgeoning Import/Export market." From BusinessWire This is pretty interesting. Specifically, the suggestion that via the English Language site China Daily, B2X wants to become the 'bridge in commerce between China and the entire World'.... continue reading on 1st August 2006 in As You Like It