Netti-Nysse put the Web on wheels and took it to the people. The purpose of this mobile service is to encourage the residents of Tampere to start using the computer and the Internet and give them the initial guidance to be able to do that. Basic instruction is free of charge

The Netti-Nysse can be booked for groups of citizens or individuals can sign up for open tuition groups. Clubs, societies, groups of neighbours - any group of people who wants to learn to use the computer and the Internet can book the Netti-Nysse for their use and have it come to their own neighbourhood. One group meets five times for 2 hours at a time. First, the group gets acquainted with the mouse. When the mouse has been tamed, it is time to start working on search engines. Free e-mail accounts are opened for everyone and people are helped with web banking and services.

There are always two tutors to help the group of ten. Extra attention is paid to the clear language of guidance and to creating a relaxed atmosphere. The Netti-Nysse is part of the Tampere City Library and the eTampere project (www.etampere.fi)

The birth and history of the Internet bus Netti-Nysse is a story of cooperation. An old city bus was turned into an Internet bus by local vocational schools, the City of Tampere, companies and the eTampere project. The idea was born in January 2000 and bus started in June 2001. In septemper 2005 old Netti-Nysse retired and got successor from brand new Internet bus Netti-Nysse II.

The goal of brightly coloured, funnily named, articulated bus Netti-Nysse is to serve the people and help them in getting started with computers and the Internet. People gather together in groups of 7-10 and call us. We normally offer them a package of instruction including 5 sessions of 2 hours each. We fix the schedule to suit them as best we can. Normally our first group starts at 9 am and the last one is out by 8pm.

Our tutors, the people who help the customers, are a very important part of the idea. There are five people working full time for the bus. With one group there are 2 tutors available. Individual support, having someone to ask, seems essential to the people who are entering the world of computers and Internet. Our tutors are experienced customer service professionals and adults with a good sense of humour. Clear, understandable language and spirit of encouragement play an important role. Tutors must be easily approachable by anyone. For us there is no such thing as a silly question.

With our groups we focus on the Internet, but to get there we normally need to practice with the mouse first. To help with that, we have produced a “Catch the mouse” tutorial on the Internet. The tutorial can be downloaded for free and is available in Finnish and also in Swedish at our homepages. After the mouse has been “caught”, we start surfing on the Internet, making use of search engines, opening free e-mail accounts and studying web-banking systems. People get excited very quickly about what is on the Internet and they forget about the actual computer.

After our sessions we encourage people to carry on practising. We tell them about the free Internet access points in town (more than 140) and inform them about other elementary computer courses. The “Net Square” is the newest service of the Tampere city library. It offers an excellent continuum to our customers with good support and free access computers.

One clients comments (translated) : ”I’m going to tell all of my contemporaries about this opportunity. It’s good to get such professional instruction with one’s taxes. The tutors were really patient in guiding those of us who have never had anything to doe with computers before.”

Our customers take care of our marketing. The bus is fully booked for 3 months in advance.

During the first two years, about 200 different groups have attended the elementary courses. There has been a wide range of different groups; a lot of senior people, groups of mothers, truck drivers, home aids, young unemployed people, people with hearing problems or Parkinson disease, immigrants, entrepreneurs, extended families and many different associations. It is obvious that a familiar group supports the learning experience and creates a relaxed atmosphere as well as creates social capital.

About 65% of the course participants have been over 56 years old and two thirds have been women. More than 80% of our customers are going to use computer after the course, less than 20 % might use them if support and free access were available and about 1 % have doubts.

The Netti-Nysse also has taken part in various events, exhibitions and has also arranged open house days. Through different themes and events we also try to lower the threshold of the information society and bring it closer to everyday life.

According to the feedback and demand we have succeeded in our work. People learn, enjoy learning and tell their neighbours and friends about it too.

The Netti-Nysse also received some public recognition. November 2001 the European Commission recognised the Netti-Nysse and the city of Tampere with an award for the ”Best eGovernment Practises ”. Another award came from the Ministry of Education as Netti-Nysse won a national prize for “innovative adult education practices”.

Supporting people’s computer literacy plays an essential part in building the information society but it is still not enough. Giving people meaningful content and the opportunities to use computers are also needed. In Tampere, the information society is being developed through wide and good cooperation thanks to the eTampere project.

What eTampere and Netti-Nysse are aiming at, is mostly evoking discussion, creating co-operation and showing the need for novel practices in an inclusive information society. It is our goal to help people to see the possibilities and then make their own choices concerning their role in the information society.

PHOTOS

UP