6 June 2005
In a bid to close the digital divide in rural Scottish communities a fully-equipped web-enabled van is to travel to some of the country's most remote communities.
Run by the Young Scot organisation, the initiative will use a van equipped with over 20 laptops and high-speed broadband, reports PublicTechnology.net.
Travelling around the country the van hosts open sessions in schools, community halls and shopping centres, offering help and advice on a range of topics including health, politics, entertainment and the arts.
June Osbourne, E-Roadshow project manager said: "The Commun-IT van is worth its weight in gold. It is an essential part of the work we are doing, in providing young people with access to the information, help and support they need.
"We take the van everywhere, from the Highlands to the islands. We have been able to take our mobile classroom and resources to remote communities in the Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Skye. The people there do not have Internet cafes they can visit or broadband connection, and the van has been a great means of providing this technology.
"The van is extremely easy to use. Anyone on the team can drive it, as you don't need a special licence like you would for a bus. We just turn up, press four buttons and the van does the rest for us. It has helped us to take Internet access to some of the remotest parts of the UK."© DeHavilland Information Services plc
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