Sisyphus and the troll on the gate of the digital divide

Barriers to participation with the Portable Antiquities Scheme online

Quote from Camus – quinnanya on Flickr

The Portable Antiquities Scheme online First database online in 2001 The HLF funded next iteration at £150K Holds data for over 750,000 objects Since 2006 developed entirely by speaker Most recent iteration cost £48 + salary Online audience has grown 63% in last year Over ½ million visitors in 2012 Annual budget of £4,000 for web production Has accounts on most social media; integrates via api for all of them Resources for a niche audience Big stories get huge attention spike

PAS audience is 48% C2DE and over 60

‘Yet a significant proportion of the population still don’t use the internet. Most of them are over 65, disadvantaged or on low incomes.’ - http://www.nmk.co.uk/article/2011/5/30/breaking-down-barriers-to-digital-participation

Frank Basford shows Sir Barry Cunliffe how to use our resources.

Scheme’s online presence

Not all of these are highly populated – time precludes this.

Experimentation is key

Back in 1996, Tim Schadla-Hall said:

‘…how ready is our collections information for the super highway? I suspect the answer is that a lot of it is not ready for the mud track or even the occasionally trodden grassy path!’

MDA Information, vol. 2, no. 4

Tim as Lenin by gaigysyz on flickr and facebook

Barriers exist for the ‘producer’ and ‘Consumer’

http://xkcd.com/763/

Lack of funding and resources Draconian local IT policy preventing access to services Lack of knowledge to produce adequate or satisfactory output No sustainability in original funding for ICT projects to continue Reliance on one individual to maintain web presence Lack of vision from management (not so in our case, web is mission critical) Time constraint Data security – eg findspots, personal details

Barriers for the producer

Damocles reclining – BM AN1091371001

Poor usability, rubbish UX design Draconian local IT policy preventing access to services (apparent in local authorities – IOW ban flickr, see HER forum) Lack of skills to interrogate or use resources to potential Slow network services e.g. Norfolk is on the digital divide Lack of vision to use born digital resources for research Fear of the unknown Restrictive license for your output No documentation on what to do

Barriers for the consumer

Warham Camp, Iron Age Fort – Sue Walker White CC image Flickr

If you still measure hits, leave the room Unique visitors, bounce rate, interactions and visit length are key to success Is your site search engine friendly? Are you just worried about followers? Are you an authoritative source of info? You don’t need social media or search engine optimisation consultants. Think of quack doctors in the Wild West

Impact: are you getting through?

Search engine-fu

Search for Roman coins – 1st result

Spread your information freely

The internet troll and anti-social behaviour

Freemont Troll – CC image by Tony in WA on Flickr

Had 600 members Had over 17,000 comments Was derailed by aggressive archaeological postings from several members; therefore removed Significant impact on staff time Outreach was then moved to internet forums hosted by metal detecting We are now subject of blog posts that contain many inaccuracies Does one have time to monitor the net and reply to all such instances? Can you cope with vexatious posts?

We once had a forum....

Why did I mention Sisyphus?

Anyone producing digital output is always pushing a rock up a very big hill. You get to the top and start again.

Technology changes at a faster pace than you can keep up with

You will never please everyone, whatever you do! None of us have enough time to complete what we set

out to do.

In summary

Time Lack of knowledge Skills Search visibility Accessibility Niche audience

The end

Email: dpett@britishmuseum.orgTwitter: @portableant | @findsorgukTelephone: +44 (0) 207 323 8618 Web: http://finds.org.ukFlickr: http://flickr.com/findsFacebook: http://facebook.com/portableantiquitiesschemePinterest: http://pinterest/findsorguk