Papers & Presentations
Telstra Research Labs: eLaunceston research
project
Amanda Jenkins & Natasha Dragun: Consumer Applications Program, Telstra
Research Laboratories
Telstra Research Laboratories (TRL) announced the eLaunceston research project on May 10, 1999 after 11 months of consultation within the Telstra Corporation and with Launceston. The project is focused on exploring the factors that influence Internet uptake and usage; specifically, whether localised content and applications can increase the value of the Internet to existing users, and make it a meaningful and useful tool to current non-Internet users. To facilitate this research, TRL is working with the Launceston community to build a Regional Portal web site. This Portal will bring together local information and offer services, such as email and discussion forums, to extend and support existing community activity and interaction, and be another vehicle to promote Launceston nationally and internationally.
Broad-ranging consultation with local people and groups throughout the three-year life of eLaunceston is a critical component of the project. A local Project Management Team has been established with key stakeholders such as the Launceston Council, the local newspaper, education institutions and peak local business associations. Representatives of the community have been involved in designing the eLaunceston Portal which is to be launched later in the year. A host of other collaborative activities are planned.
This type of research project poses challenges for Telstra. Telstra's size and role within Australia lends the eLaunceston project a range of pre-conceived notions, both positive and negative. There is, for example, healthy scepticism regarding a large corporation initiating a community networking-related project. TRL, with other Telstra stakeholders, is working hard to demonstrate commitment to building a project with the community that not only achieves Telstra goals but also contributes, as best it can, to attainment of Launceston goals.
TRL eLaunceston researchers, Amanda Jenkins and Natasha Dragun, will discuss the eLaunceston project process and the lessons being learnt by Telstra.