BCS aims to make Brits more tech savvy

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 27 Nov 2009 at 15:51

The British Computer Society (BCS) has launched a new campaign to improve Britons' technical know-how.

Only a fifth of Britons are "information savvy citizens", according to a study conducted by the BCS, which measured people's behaviour and attitudes in 23 tech-related categories, such as social networking, online shopping and internet security.

Consequently, the BCS has launched a Savvy Citizens website, which will produce independent advice on a range of topics, including internet safety, wellness and citizenship.

"The site is very much central to our new vision of enabling the information society," Elizabeth Sparrow, president of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, told PC Pro. "We're helping people to use the information they access [online] more effectively."

How will a charity such as the BCS get the message across about topics such as internet safety, when both Government and security firms have spent millions on campaigns to do likewise? "We'll be continually building up the resources we've got online," Sparrow said. "We believe we've got a real role to play in educating the public. Our members are keen and committed to this."

"We're coming from an independent position," Sparrow added. "It's going to be one place to which you'll be signposted to information in specific fields."