[_] Fwd: Futurelab first call for ideas
Paul Deane
paul.deane at aardman.com
Fri Nov 23 16:26:02 GMT 2001
not so much Friday fun, but something to get you thinking over the weekend.
paul
>>
FIRST CALL FOR IDEAS
Introduction
The NESTA FutureLab opens for business in February 2001 at the Watershed
building in Bristol. With our partners, we plan to get at least eight
major
'pioneer' projects started soon. This is our first call for ideas and we
want to hear from small and large companies, and individuals, that have
innovative ideas for ways in which computer technology and high-speed
networks could be used in the future to enhance the learning process
dramatically.
Don't be constrained in your ideas by the limitations of today's technology
or markets, or by the specific requirements of today's curriculum. We
shall
only support the most original and innovative projects. We are
particularly
looking for ideas based on new kinds of content and services which could
take advantage of the talents of the games and media industries.
As far as possible projects will be developed in a spirit of open
exploration, sharing ideas about what works best - but FutureLab will
respect your intellectual property and keep ideas confidential when
necessary. FutureLab is not-for-profit. We shall expect a royalty
reflecting the value we add, but we shall probably not be taking products
and services to market ourselves. That will be the job of our private and
public sector partners, with the agreement of everyone involved.
What makes a FutureLab project? (To be discussed on a case by case basis)
Our first group of projects will
* be created in partnership with people, companies and organisations
throughout the UK - and FutureLab will respect the intellectual property
rights of all our partners
* enhance learning for young people up to early adulthood
* focus on science (including technology and health), languages,
creativity (including music and arts), thinking skills or citizenship - or
a
combination of these.
* include major elements designed to work at their best in the
technological landscape of 2005 and beyond
* if school based, also link to homes and the community
* have definable learning outcomes
* be extraordinarily innovative and future-oriented
* would not be likely to be developed within the present market
The Process
1. We shall acknowledge receipt of your ideas very quickly and respond
within two months.
2. Selected projects may be invited to take part in brain storming and
'incubation' sessions involving all parties.
3. FutureLab will allocate small amounts of time and cash (up to £10K
in value) for feasibility studies, concept testing, project assessment and
research on related ideas. This work may be undertaken by FutureLab or by
partners, or it may be contracted out.
4. Some projects will be selected by the FutureLab team for initial
small-scale investment in cash or kind as 'pioneer' projects.
5. Concepts will be analysed and tested for their likely educational
efficacy, this process will be managed by FutureLab's Director of Learning.
6. The projects which survive this process will be submitted to our
advisory group and on their recommendation may be approved by the NESTA
Enterprises Board for initial investment of up to £50,000 - plus facilities
provided by our partners and/or by the originator of the project.
7. These projects will then be taken to advanced prototype stage and
tested carefully with their intended user groups. At this point a process
of control and approval will be agreed between the partners.
8. Some of these will in due course be taken to local or global markets
with the agreement of all concerned. Some will be used to share the
lessons
we have learned with the development community. In such cases a percentage
of any sales or profits will be agreed to plough back into NESTA
FutureLab's
call funds.
9. A film or DVD will be made by the FutureLab team about the
development of every project selected for significant investment.
We shall do our best to move through the processes described above as
quickly as possible, but given that our team and management systems have
only just been put together, it may take some months to complete all the
selection processes.
Where can project ideas come from?
* from individuals involved in teaching or learning
* from people in the creative community
* from small or large companies that may not have the resources
themselves to make models of the future
* from the FutureLab team itself and from our working partners
* from our sponsors
*
* Keep your initial proposal brief
*
* Please answer the questions that follow, preferably in that order,
and make sure the total document comes to no more than five pages in all,
deliver by e-mail to nestafuturelab at nesta.org.uk, to which address any
queries/questions should also be sent.
*
* If you have already made a proposal to NESTA or to FutureLab please
re-present the project in this format.
*
* You can put in more than one project proposal if you want to do so.
*
* We look forward to hearing from you.
<<...OLE_Obj...>> *
* Martin Freeth
* Chief Executive, the NESTA FutureLab
*
*
*
*
*
* FUTURELAB LEARNING PROJECT PROPOSALS TEMPLATE
*
*
* Working Title
*
*
*
* Description
* A couple of paragraphs only
*
*
* Subjects
* Science, Languages, Creativity, Thinking Skills, Citizenship, Other
* (Also list specific subjects to be covered)
*
*
* Learning objectives
* Top level; curriculum subjects/stages only if relevant
*
*
* Target audiences/users
* Ages and whether school, college, home, community
*
*
* Potential ultimate markets
* UK and global
*
*
* Stage it is at now
* + blue skies incubation phase needed or not
*
*
* Existing partners
* Companies, organisations and key people
*
*
* Partners still needed
* Who could provide skills & resources needed which you do not have
access to already
*
*
* Technology
* Likely delivery platforms, including mobile devices if appropriate
* Networks
* Special hardware or software
* Data bases
* Special skills needed
Research
What research is needed?
Production
What media assets will need to be created?
Design
Graphic and interactive design considerations
Assessment
Ideas for psychological assessment and user testing; methods of evaluation
Costs
Guess likely cash requirements over what period for the various phases, and
guess the likely value of FutureLab or other resources needed
Estimated value of existing assets
Content, software, etc.
Intellectual property
Notes on potential IPR issues
NESTA assets
Connections with existing or likely NESTA projects or developments, if
relevant
Potential return
Any thoughts about potential returns to FutureLab and partners within a
five-year time frame?
Likely time scale
Will this be a 'quick hit' or not?
Risk level
Level of confidentiality required
_____________________________________________________________________
This message has been checked for all known viruses by the MessageLabs
Virus Control Centre.
_____________________________________________________________________
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paul
>>
FIRST CALL FOR IDEAS
Introduction
The NESTA FutureLab opens for business in February 2001 at the Watershed
building in Bristol. With our partners, we plan to get at least eight
major
'pioneer' projects started soon. This is our first call for ideas and we
want to hear from small and large companies, and individuals, that have
innovative ideas for ways in which computer technology and high-speed
networks could be used in the future to enhance the learning process
dramatically.
Don't be constrained in your ideas by the limitations of today's technology
or markets, or by the specific requirements of today's curriculum. We
shall
only support the most original and innovative projects. We are
particularly
looking for ideas based on new kinds of content and services which could
take advantage of the talents of the games and media industries.
As far as possible projects will be developed in a spirit of open
exploration, sharing ideas about what works best - but FutureLab will
respect your intellectual property and keep ideas confidential when
necessary. FutureLab is not-for-profit. We shall expect a royalty
reflecting the value we add, but we shall probably not be taking products
and services to market ourselves. That will be the job of our private and
public sector partners, with the agreement of everyone involved.
What makes a FutureLab project? (To be discussed on a case by case basis)
Our first group of projects will
* be created in partnership with people, companies and organisations
throughout the UK - and FutureLab will respect the intellectual property
rights of all our partners
* enhance learning for young people up to early adulthood
* focus on science (including technology and health), languages,
creativity (including music and arts), thinking skills or citizenship - or
a
combination of these.
* include major elements designed to work at their best in the
technological landscape of 2005 and beyond
* if school based, also link to homes and the community
* have definable learning outcomes
* be extraordinarily innovative and future-oriented
* would not be likely to be developed within the present market
The Process
1. We shall acknowledge receipt of your ideas very quickly and respond
within two months.
2. Selected projects may be invited to take part in brain storming and
'incubation' sessions involving all parties.
3. FutureLab will allocate small amounts of time and cash (up to £10K
in value) for feasibility studies, concept testing, project assessment and
research on related ideas. This work may be undertaken by FutureLab or by
partners, or it may be contracted out.
4. Some projects will be selected by the FutureLab team for initial
small-scale investment in cash or kind as 'pioneer' projects.
5. Concepts will be analysed and tested for their likely educational
efficacy, this process will be managed by FutureLab's Director of Learning.
6. The projects which survive this process will be submitted to our
advisory group and on their recommendation may be approved by the NESTA
Enterprises Board for initial investment of up to £50,000 - plus facilities
provided by our partners and/or by the originator of the project.
7. These projects will then be taken to advanced prototype stage and
tested carefully with their intended user groups. At this point a process
of control and approval will be agreed between the partners.
8. Some of these will in due course be taken to local or global markets
with the agreement of all concerned. Some will be used to share the
lessons
we have learned with the development community. In such cases a percentage
of any sales or profits will be agreed to plough back into NESTA
FutureLab's
call funds.
9. A film or DVD will be made by the FutureLab team about the
development of every project selected for significant investment.
We shall do our best to move through the processes described above as
quickly as possible, but given that our team and management systems have
only just been put together, it may take some months to complete all the
selection processes.
Where can project ideas come from?
* from individuals involved in teaching or learning
* from people in the creative community
* from small or large companies that may not have the resources
themselves to make models of the future
* from the FutureLab team itself and from our working partners
* from our sponsors
*
* Keep your initial proposal brief
*
* Please answer the questions that follow, preferably in that order,
and make sure the total document comes to no more than five pages in all,
deliver by e-mail to nestafuturelab at nesta.org.uk, to which address any
queries/questions should also be sent.
*
* If you have already made a proposal to NESTA or to FutureLab please
re-present the project in this format.
*
* You can put in more than one project proposal if you want to do so.
*
* We look forward to hearing from you.
<<...OLE_Obj...>> *
* Martin Freeth
* Chief Executive, the NESTA FutureLab
*
*
*
*
*
* FUTURELAB LEARNING PROJECT PROPOSALS TEMPLATE
*
*
* Working Title
*
*
*
* Description
* A couple of paragraphs only
*
*
* Subjects
* Science, Languages, Creativity, Thinking Skills, Citizenship, Other
* (Also list specific subjects to be covered)
*
*
* Learning objectives
* Top level; curriculum subjects/stages only if relevant
*
*
* Target audiences/users
* Ages and whether school, college, home, community
*
*
* Potential ultimate markets
* UK and global
*
*
* Stage it is at now
* + blue skies incubation phase needed or not
*
*
* Existing partners
* Companies, organisations and key people
*
*
* Partners still needed
* Who could provide skills & resources needed which you do not have
access to already
*
*
* Technology
* Likely delivery platforms, including mobile devices if appropriate
* Networks
* Special hardware or software
* Data bases
* Special skills needed
Research
What research is needed?
Production
What media assets will need to be created?
Design
Graphic and interactive design considerations
Assessment
Ideas for psychological assessment and user testing; methods of evaluation
Costs
Guess likely cash requirements over what period for the various phases, and
guess the likely value of FutureLab or other resources needed
Estimated value of existing assets
Content, software, etc.
Intellectual property
Notes on potential IPR issues
NESTA assets
Connections with existing or likely NESTA projects or developments, if
relevant
Potential return
Any thoughts about potential returns to FutureLab and partners within a
five-year time frame?
Likely time scale
Will this be a 'quick hit' or not?
Risk level
Level of confidentiality required
_____________________________________________________________________
This message has been checked for all known viruses by the MessageLabs
Virus Control Centre.
_____________________________________________________________________
This message has been checked for all known viruses by the MessageLabs Virus Control Centre.