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Urban cyberspace policy initiatives in Manchester, UK, 1989–1999

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Knowledge, Technology & Policy

Abstract

As the world is becoming both digital and urban, cyberspace advancements pose a serious challenge to the study of modern cities’ development. This research work stresses the importance of investigating the intervention and effectiveness of public policies and agencies that involve the development of the cyberspace in urban restructuring. Thus, the present paper reviews and analyzes the deployment of urban cyberspace policy initiatives in Manchester, during the 1989–1999 decade, reflecting critically upon the questions raised from the literature regarding the cyberspace paradigm in urban policy and planning.

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Abbreviations

BT:

British Telecom

CAB:

Citizens Advice Bureau

CeeC:

Centre of Expertise in electronic Commerce

CER—MMU:

Centre for Employment Research—Manchester Metropolitan University

CIDS:

Cultural Industries Development Service

DDS:

De Digitale Stant (Digital City Amsterdam)

DoE:

Department of Environment

DTI:

Department of Trade and Industry

EC:

European Commission

EIG—MCC:

Economic Initiatives Group—Manchester City Council

ERDF:

European Regional Development Funds

ESF:

European Structural Funds

EVH:

Electronic Village Halls

EU:

European Union

G-MING:

Greater Manchester Information Network Group

ICT:

Information and Communication Technology

IDEA:

Innovation in Digital and Electronic Arts

IRISI:

Inter-Regional Information Society Initiative (EU)

MAGIC:

Manchester Gateway to Information for the Community

MAN:

Metropolitan Area Network

MaNAP:

Manchester Network Access Point

MCC:

Manchester City Council

MCIN:

Manchester Community Information Network

MIPC:

Manchester Institute for Popular Culture (Manchester Metropolitan University)

MITER:

Manchester Institute for Telematics and Employment Research (former CER; Manchester Metropolitan University)

MMCN:

Manchester Multimedia Centre and Network

MMU:

Manchester Metropolitan University

MTTP:

Manchester Telematics and Teleworking Partnership

MUWIC:

Multimedia for Women in the Cultural Industries

NQN:

Northern Quarter Network

NWNMN:

North West New Media Network

SMEs:

Small and Medium Enterprises

UCP:

Urban Cyberspace Planning

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Authors

Additional information

Vassilys Fourkas graduated in Civil Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessalonica in 1993 and he then followed a post-graduate research program in the area of computer-simulation techniques in urban planning, at the University of Venice-Dept. of Architecture-DAEST/Italy. He is currently working at the Egnatia Odos SA, as the Head of the Observatory Unit which is concerned with the measurement, evaluation and study of spatial impacts caused by the Egnatia motorway (a TEN, EU-funded project). His academic and research interest focuses on the issues of virtual geography, urban cyberspace planning and virtual cities in relation to modern urban regeneration strategies and plans in European Union. In September 2003 he received a post-doctorate grant from the Greek government (Greek State Scholarship Foundation) to carry out a research project regarding the development of Greek cities over cyberspace.

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Fourkas, V. Urban cyberspace policy initiatives in Manchester, UK, 1989–1999. Know Techn Pol 18, 86–111 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12130-005-1017-8

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