How do you make a business case for access to streaming media in the workplace? Here’s how – it’s quite simple.
Mindreel is a database of just over 100 films from the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival which are available free of charge and many of which may be downloaded for educational use. It has attracted some 10,000 visits ย from 7,000 people since last Autumn. ย It’s not overstating the case to say this is a world class resource from a world class festival of which Scotland can be proud.
Sometimes people ask if the films are available on DVD. Some are but this is really a matter for the film-maker or distributor. Recently we were asked by someone in a local authority about buying multiple copies of a film on DVD to give to people attending a course. This seems quite logical as some of the people attending would not have access to a computer or the web at work.
But let’s think about this. The films are available free of charge on the web, so why not tackle the problem – the absence of web access – rather than consider paying hundreds or possibly thousands of pounds for hard copies? Blockbuster video rental stores have disappeared as consumers switch on to video on demand. This is the new fast way: we have to start thinking digital, not least because it saves money.
There is another value in directing people to Mindreel.They might browse and find more films worth watching. To paraphrase: give someone a film on DVD and your feed the mind once; send them to Mindreel and they may feed their mind forever.
So how we change the way we think and creature a culture that embraces the web?ย Scotland Digital Future. Supporting the Transition to a World-leading Digital Economy points the way:
The starting point… has to be a commitment to develop the digital capabilities of staff across the Scottish public sector. Organisations should be encouraged to join and participate in the work of Scotland’s Digital Participation Charter to encourage the development of digital literacy across their entire workforce. This should be supported by the development of workplaces and IT policies that enhance access to and familiarity of digital technology.
It couldn’t be clearer. Business case made.