Digital Cities
What it is and how it works in Bristol

Digital Cities are a new concept for extending access to public information through a range of electronic means. It has been tried in a variety of locations: the Berkeley Community project 1972; the Cleveland FreeNet 1985; DDS-Amsterdam 1994 and Bristol 1997.

Launched in 1997, Digital City Bristol, aims to stimulate provision of a sustainable and visually appealing Internet resource. Touch screens, multimedia kiosks around the town allow free public access to the Bristol City web site. Design was initiated by Hewlett-Packard Research Labs, and developed in cooperation with Bristol City Council, the University of the West of England research centre, Bristol Evening Post and City NetGates Ltd., a web services and design company.

Bristol, is one of the forerunners of adapting digital city ideas to "people to people" communication at the local level. The Digital City Bristol website offers public access to city information via 21 public access points located in libraries and social centres. It forms part of the council's Strategy and action plan to create "electronic channels of communication which will enhance democracy and electronic interaction and communication between citizens, elected representatives and Council officers".

For more discussion of the prospects and limitations of the Information Society, click the following:

• Info-City Black Britain
• Black Bristolians
• Danger
• Widening information gaps and policies of prevention
• The One-dimensional Network Society of Manuel Castells