Are there lessons for the UK in Finland’s ‘internet bus’?
Are there lessons for the UK in Finland’s ‘internet bus’?
The Guardian recently carried an article about an ‘internet bus’, or Netti-Nyse in Finnish, which travels around the city of Tampere in Finald teaching citizens IT skills. It has been organized by the local government and since its inception in 2001 has taught 30,000 local residents essential online skills, given that Tampere is considered one of the country’s high-tech cities as it is home to companies like Nokia.
Given that the UK government is working on making its services Digital by Default and yet many people do not have the required IT skills to be able to make use of them, this is an idea that could be certainly looked into. The first bus, now out of use, cost £87,000 to convert – the money came from the city, as well as private firms who sponsored the initiative and provided computers and software.
According to the Guardian, the second bus “cost around £295,000 — about 70% of these costs were covered by the eTampere programme and the rest was shared between the Ministry of Education, regional funds and business partners.”
Elina Harju and Anne Kastarine, who work for the Learning Bridge Project Education Export Network in Tampere, Finland, and who wrote the article, have said that “the most important part of what we do is to create an informal atmosphere inside the bus. According to participant surveys, learners feel that they are getting the support they need; they are treated well and have a good time.”
Dogs 'warn diabetics' after smelling low blood sugar
Dogs may be able to smell changes in sweat and breath
“Dogs could be trained to warn diabetic patients when their blood sugar levels are about to become low,” The Daily Telegraph reports.
The story comes from a study of 17 people with diabetes who had been given a dog trained to sniff out and alert them when their blood sugar (glucose) levels were too low (hypoglycaemia).
Hypoglycaemia is potentially serious and if left untreated could result in coma.
During interviews the owners reported the dogs had improved their lives and helped with their diabetes. Blood test results confirmed the perception that the dogs could detect glucose levels outside of a desired range in many cases, and that having a dog made the owner more likely to remain in a desired range.
Hampshire constabulary launches new poster to help disabled
Mencap’s Learning Disability Week (August 19-25)
5:00pm Wednesday 21st August 2013 in News By Lauren Howard, Reporter
The poster is aimed to help people with learning difficulties make both emergency and non-emergency calls. HAMPSHIRE Constabulary has launched a new poster to help adults with learning disabilities call the police.
In line with Mencap’s Learning Disability Week (August 19-25) the new poster aims to be easier to read and explains when to dial 101 and 999.
Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “Some of the feedback we’ve received is that often people with a learning disability aren’t sure when to call 101 and when to call 999. “I hope that this poster, alongside the work we’ve been doing to engage with communities affected by disability, will encourage people to come forward to report problems they’re experiencing, demonstrate that the police are here to help and that we can make a difference.”
