Bristol’s successful role as part of the 3e Houses European project is being celebrated on Monday 20^th May at the start of a week –long showcase of activities across Europe.  3e Houses was designed to help residents in social housing reduce their energy consumption through use of ICT and SMART metering systems and was developed in partnership by the Future Cities team at Bristol City Council, Toshiba Research Europe, IP Performance and Knowle West Media Centre.

The Create Ecohome will host an ‘open house’ event demonstrating the 3e Houses technology that was trialled in 3 groups of homes in Bristol.  The Ecohome was chosen as a ‘test bed’ that simulated a real home environment in order to prepare the system for roll out and will continue to run the equipment in future.

The event will be an opportunity to see the equipment in operation and learn about the technical solution – including the visual interface developed by Knowle West Media Centre – enabling residents to monitor their energy consumption in real time.  Members of the UK development team will be on hand to discuss the benefits and the challenges of using smart metering technology in the domestic environment, with the aim of reducing energy consumption in social housing.

If you would like to come along please register your interest on Eventbrite

The European Commission has recently released its proposals for a Directive on the accessibility of the public sector bodies’ websites. As more and more public bodies and authorities ‘channel shift’ service users toward digital channels this kid of directive will become increasingly important to all of us.

The proposal is aimed at

“approximating the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States related to the accessibility of the content of public sector bodies’ websites to all users, in particular people with functional limitations including persons with disabilities”.

The Commission said an example of how the proposals would work in practice would be where public sector bodies’ websites allow visually impaired people to “hear descriptions of images when using a screen reader” and for the hearing-impaired to see “written captions for audio files”. In addition, the Commission said that “all parts of a website” would have to be accessible using keyboards only as well as through using a computer mouse.

The proposal is currently being discussed in the European Parliament and Council. The proposal document is attached as a PDF.  If you have any comments on it or recommendations post them to the site as comments.

The 9th May is Global Accessibility Awareness Day focusing on raising the profile of digital (web, software, mobile app/device, touch screen kiosk, etc.) access for people with a range disabilities. Why not take some time today to pick up some valuable information or guidance about making your website and digital content easier for everyone to enjoy?

Here in Bristol we recently established Accessible Bristol, a cross sector group focused on making this City a centre for best practice, and leading advocate of accessible technology design. Sign up to the group today (its free) and we will invite you along to future events, seminars and presentations. The Accessible Bristol twitter feed will also be sharing useful tips throughout the day so do sign up to follow.

Over three days in May this year, the team members at Artswork Media (part of Bath Spa University) will be showcasing the wide range of work that has been completed throughout the degree, so come along and see exactly what Artswork team are all about.

Artswork Media is a media production company where the third year students on the BA (Hons) Creative Media Practice course can nurture existing skills and learn new ones. Whilst gaining invaluable B2B experience is one of the many skills the students have learnt, keeping a professional, yet friendly, relationship going even after the project has finished, is another.

The showcase will take place in the Paintworks Event Space, Paintworks, Bath Road, BS4 3EH. If you want to go along email Isabel Ayres at isabel.ayres09@bathspa.ac.uk by 23 May 2013.

If you are interested in how Smart Energy systems might work in homes in the next few years come along to a tour and presentation at the City Council’s Ecohome on Monday May 20^th.

Interested parties will get the chance to hear from experienced practitioners about how ICT can contribute to energy efficiency in buildings and to see equipment deployed in a home setting.

There will be the chance to view the technical solution – including the visual interface developed by Knowle West Media Centre – to allow participants to monitor their energy consumption in real time.

People will be on hand to discuss the benefits and the challenges of using smart metering technology in the domestic environment, with the aim of reducing energy consumption in social housing.

You can visit the Ecohome, in the Create Centre, Smeaton Road, BS1 6XN any time between 10am and midday. Please confirm your attendance via the Eventbrite address below:

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5965365569

On Thursday 25^th April, our digital inclusion coordinator, Kerry and 4 volunteers will be hitting the Odeon Cinema in Broadmead with iPads for the Silver Screening of the new Maggie Smith Movie. Before the screening of ‘Quartet’, we’ll be in the lobby offering those going to see the film the chance to use an iPad and see some of the useful features they have.

Come on down at 10.30 for a cuppa and film for only £3.50!  film starts at 11am

If you are fortunate enough to be in Barcelona 22-23 May you might like to come along to the conference on “ICT Solutions for Energy Efficient Residential Buildings”. Part of the conference will focus on the results of the 3e Houses project which has see technology deployed here in Bristol for the last year. You can download a leaflet covering the two day event.

3e Houses is an European project that integrates common information and communication technologies (ICT’s) and places them in the residential sector to support homes and occupants to save energy.

The project began in 2010 and focuses on social housing in 4 European cities. It has been possible to study how new technologies might help save energy and shift the demand curve. Partners will present the results and to share the European partners’ learning about how ICT can contribute to energy saving in buildings.

If you want to take part in the event email 3eHcongress@3e-energea.com to book your free place.

The Times has a Rich List, Bristol has a Happy List and our own digital inclusion champion, Kerry Bradshaw has made that list – voted as one of the 50 people who bring smiles and cheer to their fellow Bristolians every day.

Kerry Bradshaw coordinates the Get IT Together project with Citizens Online and the Bristol City Council to offer free computer clubs for the over 55’s and people with a disability in Bristol.

Do you have a good idea that could become a technology based business? Are you starting out on the commercialisation of an innovative product or service? Are you still in employment, or contracting, and want to make the leap to running your own business?

The 2013 Tech School Startup (TSS) series of seminars organised by Science City Bristol could provide the help and advice to get your idea off the ground or reach the next level.

Seminars will be held on Monday evenings in May and June at;

For more information and to book visit the Science City website.