Last week, Cardinal Place’s Showcase Classroom played host to Comic Relief and Microsoft UK for the #UpgradeYourWorld/Tech4Good Workshop. Representatives from 23 causes across the UK joined Microsoft for a day of presentations, workshops and brainstorming to explore some of the ways charities can better use technology to advance the valuable work they do.

The day kicked off with an introduction from Hugh Milward, who explained how the principle of Tech4Good aligns with Microsoft's key initiative as a means of reflecting our ambition to use technology to achieve maximum societal impact. A workshop from Microsoft Ventures Warwick Hill, followed drawing on their experience mentoring start-ups to provide valuable insight into how organisations can accelerate their use of technology. As part of this, charities
were invited to come up with their top 3 business challenges, which would be further explored during the day.

The classroom was then split into zones, allowing smaller groups to explore the subjects that interested them most. We were joined by some Social Tech specialists, including Julie Dodd creator of the New Reality, to share their connections and experience of using tech to amplify marketing narratives.

Tech Evangelist Andrew Spooner (from our Developer team, DX) closed the day with a lively session covering how app development can be used to engage more volunteers’/key stakeholders and improve charity reach and impact. He also shared insight into the future of technology with the likes of HoloLens. There was also valuable insight shared from Myriam El Ouni into how big data could be utilized by charities, including machine learning and analytics.

As the day's activities wound down, the 50 or so attendees seemed inspired by the various lessons learned and we are all excited to see how the charities continue their journeys of Digital Transformation over the course of 2016.

A huge thank you goes out to all those involved in creating the day, especially our Tech4Good team pictured below with our awesome speakers and experts!

If you are a charity and interested in attending a similar event like the above, watch this space as the Tech4Good team work on bringing us more inspiring Tech4Good days in the new year.

And don't forget to follow us at @mscharitiesuk if you are on twitter!

 

Last week BBC announced the release of the BBC Store (https://store.bbc.com/). This new platform allows you to purchase content from the website, download it to your devices for offline viewing, or stream it online. Today the BBC announced a partnership with Windows 10 in the form of the exclusive BBC Store app. This app allows you to browse and access all your BBC Store content on your Windows 10 devices. Now, it is important to highlight that users cannot purchase the content within the Windows app itself, but once paid for on the website and linked to your BBC store account, the content will be available to stream or download on any device where the account is signed in on the exclusive Windows 10 app.

Many of you may be thinking ‘Wait. Don’t BBC already have an online video streaming platform?’ And yes, that’s iPlayer. With the BBC Store you can purchase archived content that is no longer available on iPlayer. Pretty cool right? Being able to buy your favourite shows from way back in the day and watch it over and over and over! We want to make sure everyone has a great experience with the BBC Store app for Windows so we put together a FAQ to help:

What is the difference/interplay between this and iPlayer?

BBC Store is a brand new digital service from the BBC which makes it easier to buy and keep copies of the BBC archived programmes you love. You can watch the programmes you've bought by streaming them online or by downloading them to your device to watch offline. BBC iPlayer is a catch up services where programmes are available to stream for 30 days after broadcast.

How do I set up an account- is my stuff secure?

Setting up an account is easy! Just visit the BBC Store website and sign up with your name and email address. All personal information is stored securely and only teams working to help you
(like the BBC Store Customer Services team) are able to view it. You can then download the app from the Windows store on your Windows10 device, sign in using the login details you’ve just created and Voila! Your purchased content is readily available for your viewing.

How do I pay for content? (Single episode or series)

You can browse all of the programmes available on the responsive BBC Store website and pay directly from there. You can purchase content on episode by episode basis or a whole series. Purchases can be made in standard definition or high definition (if available!) and BBC Store can save your card details securely so that you don’t need to re-enter your details for future purchases.

What kind of content will be available?

There will be a whole range of content available to buy on BBC Store from new shows the day after they have been on television, to classics from the archive and some programmes that haven’t been seen for years.

How do I download content?

Once you’ve made your purchase you can view and download the content in the BBC Store app on your Windows 10 device. If you experience any technical issues when downloading content, you can contact the support team here: https://help.store.bbc.com/s/

How do I use the Windows app?

The BBC Store app is really easy to navigate. Once you’ve logged in to your account you can browse everything that you’ve purchased and then either stream the content or download it so that you can watch it offline later. You can amend the app settings including parental guidance and download & accessibility preferences.

What support is available if I encounter any problems?

If you have any difficulty using the BBC Store website or app you can visit the Help & Support section for a range of FAQs, or contact the BBC Store Support Team between 8am and 11pm via email or live chat: https://help.store.bbc.com/s/

Now that you know the basics of how to watch your favourite content, new and old, from the BBC Store! https://store.bbc.com/

And don’t forget, for convenient, easy to use and online and offline viewing purposes, download the BBC Store Windows app now! https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/store/apps/bbc-store/9nblggh5z7w9

It can be a complex world for a child. They navigate their way around all sorts of challenges every day: from figuring out how to button their shirts, to deciding whether they should save or spend their pocket money. As the internet continues to connect more parts of our lives, the decisions our children have to make extend to the online world as well. Does this game on mum’s phone cost real money? What do I do when someone says something mean to me? Can I trust this stranger who says he also likes horses?

Childnet gives children the skills to make good decisions about these sorts of questions and more. Their mission is to work in partnership with others around the world to help make the internet a great and safe place for children. While they work directly with young people between age 3 and 18, a large part of their success comes through collaboration with parents ,carers and schools, as well as with corporate partners who help to extend Childnet’s message.

For a small organization, they manage to have quite a large impact, interacting directly with about 30,000 young people each year. Their campaign earlier this year, Safer Internet Day, reached 25% of children in the UK, and 1/3 of those reached changed something they were doing online as a result.

At the heart of all of Childnet’s work is the belief that when used properly the internet is a wonderfully positive tool for children and young people. This fits perfectly with Microsoft’s mission to empower every person to achieve more, and is one of the reasons we’ve partnered with Childnet as part of our global initiative, Upgrade Your World.

This year-long project celebrates people and organisations doing great things, including partnerships with 10 global and 100 local charities, 10 of which are in the UK. Each charity will receive $50,000 (roughly £33,000).

“We’re proud of the fact that we’ve been able to reach so many young people with our work,” says Will Gardner, CEO for Childnet. “But there are so many more to reach. Additionally, as young people begin to access the internet on an increasing number of devices, and are doing so at an earlier age, it makes the challenges of keeping them safe online more complex. That’s why being part of Upgrade Your World is so important.”

 To find out more about the work Childnet is doing to help make the internet a safe and amazing place for young people, visit their website.

     The right tools, in the right hands can help everyone – regardless of our frailties – to achieve our true potential and advance as a civilisation.

~Stephen Hawking

     Technology should empower people, not limit them. It seems a fairly simple proposition, and one that is at the heart of Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. For people with disabilities the promise – and the challenge – of this mission can be particularly complex.

     For many people with disabilities, technology such as computers, smartphones and tablets are a lifeline that can transform their life, connect them with family, friends and work colleagues and give them a sense of independence. And we’re a richer society for it. Would we have the same understanding of the universe if technology hadn’t empowered theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking to conduct and communicate his work in quantum mechanics?

     There’s also a challenge with technology, however. For millions of people with disabilities and impairments, using technology can be a daunting task. Take the example of the visually challenged, whether that is partial sight, complete blindness or age-related deterioration. Reading text in the default font size of any computer is, for the most part, impossible. Similar challenges exist for people with dexterity or physical challenges such as motor neuron disease, making it difficult to type, move a mouse, or swipe a finger across a screen.

     Fortunately, companies such as Microsoft have spent millions of pounds and decades of effort to make our technologies accessible to all. And that’s where AbilityNet comes in. AbilityNet helps people with any disability and of any age to identify the best way to unlock the power of the technology in their life. There is no one size fits all solution - every person is different, everyone uses their technology differently and often needs detailed expert information as well as one-to-one guidance and support.

      AbilityNet works with people in the workplace, in education and supports them at home. Their expert staff combine technical knowledge with a thorough understanding of the impact of different conditions and disabilities. As well as one to one services, AbilityNet provides a wide range of free information and advice on their website and through a free helpline.

     This work makes AbilityNet a perfect partner for Microsoft in our global initiative, Upgrade Your World. This year-long project celebrates people and organisations doing great things, including partnerships with 10 global and 100 local charities, 10 of which are in the UK. Each charity will receive $50,000 (roughly £33,000).

     “Our goal is to share our expert knowledge with as many people as possible,” said Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion at AbilityNet. “This support from Microsoft will help us upgrade the resources we offer, and in particular to improve the reach and usability of ‘My Computer My Way’, our comprehensive guide to accessibility features built into widely used technology. We already reach almost half a million people each year and, with this help, we can reach even more.”

To find out more about how AbilityNet is helping to empower people with disabilities, visit their website: https://www.abilitynet.org.uk/

         The T3 Awards were last Thursday and categories ranging from tech personality of the year to brand of the year, the competition was as fierce as ever. Presented by Continental, the night included a reception with a fine three course meal, a some-what comedic host and that tense feeling of who will win brand of the year throughout the building. There were a total of 13 categories and winners were wisely judged by a panel of ‘tech savvy’ celebrity individuals along with the public who were given the opportunity to vote online. To start off the night, Olympus EM-5 Mk II won camera of the year for its ease of travel and ‘retro’ design. Huge congratulations for Microsoft HoloLens for taking home the award for design innovation of the year (I mean, does anyone even come close to HoloLens? Not really, no).

          The Sound Award went to Naim Mu-So in a group that combined both speakers and headphones. Spencer Kelly was voted Tech Personality of the Year, who you can watch on BBC’s own tech show, ‘Click’. Unfortunately, Sony’s Playstation 4 won Gaming Product of the year, beating our very own Xbox one. Well done Playstation, well done. Apple watch won the Wearable of the Year trophy beating Fit Bit Charge and LG Watcher Urbane. Car of the Year was next, which rightfully went to BMW i8 for its sleek and snazzy design. The Entertainment of the Year winner was Amazon Prime, which was surprising as Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Sky GO were in the same group!

          It’s time to get down to business – Laptop or Tablet of the Year. And the winner is… iPad Air 2, with Surface Pro 3 left behind. This may be upsetting to some of you, just know that next year will be Surface’s year!

          LG EC970V won TV of the Year and then it was time to announce Outstanding Contribution to Tech awards. For his creation of the Oculus Rift, Palmer Lucky joins a prestigious group of individuals including Sir Alan Sugar and Sir David Attenborough. The Home Technology award winner was Works with Nest (basically a really smart on/off switch for technology in your home). This was followed by Phone of the Year which Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge proudly took over Apple iPhone 6.

          Brand of the Year. The nominations are: Apple, Google, LG, Microsoft, Samsung and Tesla. Who do you think won? Yes, it was Apple. I know disappointing. But to make it somewhat better Windows was then inaugurated into the Hall of Fame, joining Playstation.

         The night ended with one final award going to Apple, Gadget of the Year for Apple Watch. Some claim the T3 Awards as the ‘Oscars of Tech’, so just being nominated let alone winning two awards is truly an honour. Thank you so much T3 for having us and even bigger thank you to all our supporters out there! You guys are incredible!

Check out T3’s website for further insight on how the night went: http://www.t3.com/

Two very short stories: first, a young man who, at 18, was homeless and became dependent on drugs and alcohol. Suddenly, he found himself performing live at the O2 Arena. Then, there’s a story about frustrated teenager who felt disempowered and ignored. She is being formally recognised as one of the rising stars under 30 at one of the largest and most well respected management consulting firms in the world.

While these two stories of transformation may seem to be quite different on the surface, they share a few things in common. First, they’re absolutely true. Second, they aren’t “short” stories at all. These transformations occurred over years (and are still ongoing) through the hard work and dedication of a handful of committed and caring individuals. Third, both of these young people found their voice because of UK Youth’s work.

UK Youth is a leading national charity that empowers 700,000 young people, aged 11-25, to take control of their own lives and provides the support, encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential. At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and organization to achieve more, so it makes perfect sense for us to partner with UK Youth in our global initiative, Upgrade Your World.

This year-long project celebrates people and organisations who are doing great things while partnering with 10 global and 100 local charities, 10 of which are in the UK. Each charity will receive $50,000 (roughly £33,000).

“There are so many stories about our inspiring young people that we could tell – that we want to tell,” says Anna Smee, CEO of UK Youth. “Upgrade Your World will really help us to do just that. Our partnership with Microsoft will support our Youth of The Year Awards: a new initiative designed to celebrate the fantastic work that young people do throughout the UK, and inspire others to reach their full potential.”

This video  gives you a first-hand glimpse at some of the young people that UK Youth are helping to achieve great things.

For more on UK Youth, visit their website: http://www.ukyouth.org/

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.

~ Victor Borge

For the past 30 years, Comic Relief has been shortening the distance between people; often through laughter, but also by using its global stage to shine a spotlight on issues that may otherwise be neglected. Whether that’s helping remove the stigma of mental illness, championing the rights of the elderly, or making human trafficking a bigger part of the public debate, Comic Relief has helped to put a human face (albeit with a bright-Red Nose) on these problems.

Their work goes beyond awareness to empowerment, taking real action to tackle the root causes of poverty and social injustice in the UK and across the world. The impact that Comic Relief continues to have wouldn’t be possible without the tremendous fundraising efforts – over £1 billion raised so far – of staff, volunteers and everyday folks, together with celebrities and key corporate partners   across the country. Technology has played a significant role in these efforts: mobile giving, social media sites, and online social platforms for giving have made it much easier to connect with supporters.

Comic Relief are now looking at how the role of technology could work equally well for service delivery. In April 2015, Comic Relief launched its Tech for Good programme. The goal of the programme is to support not-for-profit organisations in using digital technology to create social change by delivering new ideas and more effective services.

This goal makes Comic Relief a perfect partner for Microsoft in our global initiative, Upgrade Your World. This year-long project celebrates people and organisations doing great things, including partnerships with 10 global and 100 local charities, 10 of which are in the UK. Each charity will receive $50,000(roughly £33,000).

“This partnership will help expand on the initial success of Tech for Good”, says Billy Dann, Grant Manager at Comic Relief. “We’re venturing into new territory by supporting charities and not-for-profit organisations completely rethink their offers of support to and with the people they help, by using digital technology in a range of exciting new ways.”

So far, the programme has given support to a diverse set of projects ranging from an online dispute resolution service to a Bluetooth-enabled tool to help the visually impaired navigate the London Tube. Regardless of their goals, each project has been selected for its ability to make a tangible impact and for the ability to be shared and replicated by other charities. In other words, Tech for Good is inspiring people of action to do great things: exactly what Microsoft and #UpgradeYourWorld are all about.

Visit the Comic Relief website to find out more about how they are working with others towards a just world free from poverty: http://www.comicrelief.com/about-us