Justification of Need
The need for an internet cafe in Needham Market is twofold, based largely on the need for wider access to internet services throughout the country. This need was identified by central government in a report, called Closing the Digital Divide (1998), which said people in all deprived urban areas should have access to computers, the internet, e-mail and other emerging information and communication technologies.
Tony Blair has said, "There is no new economy. There is one economy, all of it being transformed by information technology. What is happening is no dot.com fad that will come and go - it is a profound economic revolution." The government is also driven by a "belief in the power of the internet to change lives" and by a desire to end the social "digital divide".
So, there is a general need for increased access for disadvantaged groups. However, the need we have identified locally is also largely based on the "digital divide" that exists between rural and urban communities. Just because central government neglects to mention rural areas, does not mean that rural people should be denied access to important technologies. The need in rural communities is similar to that in urban areas, but has very specific differences that should be paid particular attention:
Firstly, graduates and knowledge workers - those who commercially support new technologies - tend to leave rural areas, leaving the disadvantaged here with far less "trickle-down" access to communication technologies than their urban counterparts. This has meant that commercial internet cafes in rural areas have not been successful.
Secondly, while communications are important everywhere in todays world, they are even more important in rural areas where transport can be more difficult, and isolation more acutely felt.
In the Needham Market and Surrounding Area Healthcheck (June 2004), the main survey showed that over 70 of those questioned thought that teenagers within Needham Market are THE section of the community who are not currently catered for in relation to activities (Q32), while at the same time a large number want to see some kind of 'drop-in' centre available to young people (Q35).
In the Youth section of the report, the teenagers of Needham Market themselves identified an internet cafe as their key need (see Needham Market and Surrounding Area Healthcheck - Youth survey Q10: 115 of those questioned would like to see an Internet/Games cafe. Q11: 110 of those questioned see it as the Number 1 priority).
This need is centred on casual internet and computer access. In that regard, we can offer facilities for young people who don't have computers or internet access at home. And for those who do have access already but who want to improve their knowledge of computers and the internet, we can provide a secure but casual environment that meets the needs of increasingly independent young people, and increasingly concerned parents. Access would also be provided for those who have home access to the internet, but want to access information and communications technology in a social setting (instead of an academic or home setting).
The lack of casual access is shown in research undertaken by Suffolk College. Although their 'Audit of the E-learning infrastructure of Suffolk' (2004) concludes "it would appear that there are currently enough learning centres and public access points to the internet to meet demand" - it also states, "most do not cater for informal public use on a 'drop-in' basis" and ends with a recommendation that there is a, "relative paucity of 'drop-in' facilities and there needs to be the development of genuine 'as and when' access."
The gov report mentioned earlier "Closing the Digital Divide" also says that "Setting up internet points in places where people feel at ease, such as pubs, community centres, post offices and bus and train stations" is important in improving inclusiveness and overall economic competitiveness.
So, an internet cafe in Needham will be used to cater for a variety of needs, and will basically offer the community services like "surfing the worldwide web”, gaming, sending and receiving email, researching topics of interest or using the computers for word processing, desktop publishing, scanning documents and pictures. Copying documents and pictures, sending and receiving faxes, creating flyers and business cards, updating CV's, repairing and copying pictures.
At the same time, there is an opportunity to widen the appeal by providing a more general social space, available for local people to use on an ad-hoc basis. Informal and welcoming, a genuine community drop-in space could provide benefits not only for young people, but the community as a whole; introducing different sections of the community to each other through a shared interest (ICT) and in a safe environment.