Introduction

This is the seventh annual Virtual Festival and, as in previous years, it includes events and activities that explore how local people are using the internet and what benefits it can bring.

Brighton & Hove Virtual Festival 2004 is organised by Sussex Community Internet Project.

It’s not a technical event so much as a chance for all of us to find out more about what’s on the internet and think about its impact on local business, education and our communities.

SCIP started running the Virtual Festival in 1998 as the Internet, email and web pages started to hit the public consciousness. Many people were starting to hear about the wonders of the Net but relatively few were actually getting access to it.

In the past six years we have run two big events in the Corn Exchange, a series of outdoor events from Rottingdean Beach to Hove Lawns, via Pavilion Gardens and St. Anns Wells Gardens. We've held events in community centres, libraries, bars, cybercafes, pubs and (of course) in cyberspace.

We have run taster sessions for young people, old people and all ages in between. We've looked at business uses for the Net, its influence on education and the ways that it can help build stronger communities.

We've been trying to put technology in its place - showing it as a tool for information and communications for everyone, not just the few who can afford it.

In the past three years we’ve also run the highly successful Brighton & Hove Web Awards, which help promote the many high quality web sites that are made in and about Brighton & Hove.

Taking the hype out of hyperspace...

History of the Brighton & Hove Virtual Festival »