Achievements

December 2009

Why not take a look back at Digital Birmingham's highlights of 2009? Watch our video here.

November 2009

Digital Birmingham's website, designed by Birmingham based web agency IE Design, has won a Silver Award in the W3 awards judged by the International Academy of Visual Arts.

Our chair, Cllr Paul Tilsley, has signed the Green Digital Charter this month, strengthening the local authority's commitment to tackling climate change, outlining how information and communication technologies (ICT) can be a part of the global warming solution.

October 2009

Digital Birmingham, along with the Hello Digital Partnership and Birmingham City Council, AWM and the Arts Council, delivered the Hello Digital Business Conference 2009. To look back at the event, please visit www.hellodigital.net.

September 2009

Digital Birmingham together with AWM, Digital Media COG and Projects in Motion ran a successful workshop bringing together potential local television broadcasters, operators and television channel creators and news gathering agencies to debate the opportunities on potential collaborations for local television in the West Midlands

August 2009

Funding of £70,000 approved for a 'Digital Business Champion' through the Stimulating Demand package (BEDP).

July 2009

Keeping IT in the Family was voted runner-up for the Best Development Project Award by Nominet Best Practice Challenge.

June 2009

Hosted the successful regional launch of the Digital Britain report, attended by Lord Carter, Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting.

Influenced the creation of 2 new award categories sponsored by BCC - "Digital Innovation Award" and "Online Campaign - People's Choice Award" - to be held in June.

May 2009

Birmingham City Council adopting ePetitions system, supported by Digital Birmingham.

April 2009

Launch of Citysave scheme via idTV in conjunction with Credit Union Ltd.

DCLG confirmed additional year of funding to the DC10 network - £238,000.

March 2009

The Digital City Network in Birmingham has gained £50,000 through the Growth Funding pot from Department for Communities and Local Government. A study will be commissioned to evaluate options/pilot for the deployment of fibre optic connectivity into areas of regeneration in the city. The project will be completed by September 2009.

Digital Birmingham has been successful in a bid to Central Government to develop a community of practice in the production of new digital resources for empowering citizens. £55,000 has been secured for the 2 year project.

February 2009

The 'Virtual Rucksack', an online resource for homeless people across Birmingham, was officially launched on 23rd February by the Lord Mayor - the initial concept was developed by St Basil's (a local homeless charity) and Digital Birmingham. You are invited to join the trial of the Virtual Rucksack for a limited period using the trial code: 'tryurvr2009' from here.

January 2009

Digital Birmingham is the winner of the "Building a Fairer Society through ICT and eGovernment Services" category at the National eGovernment Awards 2008, for the Aston Pride Computers in the Home Project.

December 2008

Monthly "Go Digital newsletter" launched, covering the Digital City brand. To subscribe, follow this link.

BCC Children's, Young People's & Families Directorate have achieved an additional £710,000 funding for providing technology into childrens' homes; Digital Birmingham contributed to the bid submission.

November 2008

Digital Birmingham chosen as a finalist in the "Fairer Society through eGov and ICT" category of the National eGovernment Awards (winners announced 20/01/09).

Birmingham chosen as Living Lab area and now part of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL).

October 2008

Birmingham Shift Happens video produced by Digital Birmingham launched and shown throughout Hello Digital Festival.

Virtual Birmingham - b-scape and Birmingham Island launched at the Hello Digital Festival to over 100 strong audience.

Democracy Week (13-19 October) - Councillor information available on IDTV, a virtual tour through the Council House is available online and the Council Chamber has been created in Second Life.

September 2008

Digital Family chosen - the Locke Family. Now part of the year long campaign, using BT products to improve their digital expertise.

August 2008

Birmingham bulletin project handed over to BCC Corporate Communications.

Proposals for the virtual Library of Birmingham prepared for the Head of Libraries.

July 2008

17,000 computers are being rolled out to school children as part of the Birmingham 'Computers for Pupils', Universal Home Access project.

Virtual Birmingham's Briefing Hub has been implemented on Second Life.

June 2008

Launch of "Get into Digital" month - during June there were activities taking place across the city and online, e.g. tour of the i-house in West Bromwich, tour of Digital Centre at Matthew Boulton College, community blogging workshops, free Virtual Gym membership, a Day in the Life of the Lord Mayor (online web cast), and a number of competitions.

The European Framework 7 (FP7) environmental project regarding smart metering, known as DEHEMS has been approved. Digital Birmingham is one of 15 partners on the project.

May - June 2008

Digital Birmingham has a stand at the highly successful Climate Change Festival in Centenary Square, promoting the use of digital technologies to the general public. We worked in conjunction with Secure IT Disposals Ltd to highlight the recycling computers initiative.

April 2008

St Basil's won Microsoft Design IT prize for the Digital Birmingham Virtual Home concept.

March 2008

Aston Pride 'Computers in the Home' project is shortlisted as a finalist in the Stockholm Challenge Trophy. The Stockholm Challenge is an ICT for development programme at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). It culminates in the Challenge Week Event May 19-22.

January 2008

The Science city project 'LUCID' has received approval for funding by Advantage West Midlands. Digital Birmingham in partnership with Birmingham City Uinversity will be delivering improved functionality to birminghamfiz around location and context specific information.

December 2007

Presentation of Digital Device Winner. Launch of the Digital Centre at Mathew Boulton College.

November 2007

Digital Birmingham approved by the Birmingham City Council cabinet as a significant partnership. For more information click here. The Digiwali event at the Millennium Point attracted over 13,000 people.

October 2007

3000 free CDs with Open Source software given out through Birmingham Libraries following a launch event on 3 October.

The 'Don't bin it donate it' campaign to recycle old computer equipment attracted 220 pieces of kit and received excellent feedback from the public. More events have been requested.

September 2007

The free information zone, birminghamfiz, launched as part of the city's wireless launch, is available to view free of charge through Birmingham's wi-fi connection.

The 'Boogle snapshot' web-tool for entrepreneurs becomes available on the Digital Birmingham website.

August 2007

FP7 bid regarding health and independent living for the elderly has reached the 2nd round of approvals.

Voice of the Community, a free website builder for community groups
launched and attracts 199 registrations in the first 4 weeks.

June 2007

Our online toolkit of resources and advice for entrepreneurs on how to set up a business - Business out of the Box is launched.

Vox Pop studio up and running.

Birmingham Bulletin email subscription service launched to over 120,000 subscribers.

May 2007

Spotlight on Aston showcase event (ICT in Practice Transforming Learning) attended by senior officials from government, education, community services, health and associated organisations.

April 2007

Aston Pride Computers for Pupils roll-out to over 400 homes.

March 2007

The nine finalists of the government's Digital Challenge competition jointly receive £2m in funding to work together and progress part of their bids.

Our seven point Digital Charter agreed by the Digital Birmingham executive board and Birmingham City Council.

February 2007

Digital Birmingham celebrates its 1st birthday with interactive showcase event in Victoria Square to promote the benefits of digital technologies.

Digital Curve launched.

Smart surfers' educational resource launched at our public showcase.

January 2007

Digital Challenge bid submitted.

Official launch of The National Open Centre in partnership with Open Advantage.

DBemail, the free email account launched and promoted through out Birmingham city centre libraries.