Moseley: e-boondock to you

According to a survey and social profile of net-savvy Britons, Moseley is about as backward as it gets.

The results are presented through a tool called e-Society profiler. Entering a postcode in the e-Society profiler search box returns a result characterising the type of technology use in that postcode area. It also lists areas with similar profiles within Great Britain. Best of all, it shows us what we look like.

Tell me about my neighbourhood:
Postcode district 'B13' is located in...

Map data ©2006 Tele Atlas - Terms of Use

That's us alright.
Now that we know we're looking at the right place, let's see who our peers are.

Wish You Were Here?
The following table shows the top 10 most similar postcode districts. Moseley is on par with these other places, for better or worse, though from what I know about Moseley, all of them must be pretty decent places to live and enjoy good web service:

Rank, District, Town
1. CT1, Canterbury
2. HP20, Aylesbury
3. SE3, London
4. SL1, Slough
5. LA1, Lancaster
6. PA1, Paisley
7. EX1, Exeter
8. L17, Liverpool
9. CH1, Chester
10. SS0, Westcliff-on-Sea

Given the flattering comparison to places like Canterbury and Chester, let's see what sorts of fine things the profiler has to say about us. We've been assigned to two categories, with a decided emphasis on the first:

Whatcha Like?
1. Group A: E-unengaged

The 'E - unengaged' are typically groups that do not have access to electronic communications or technologies. ... Within this Group there are low levels of literacy and many people do not feel that their life outcomes are much subject to their own decisions. ... Unsurprisingly, these people have a very low level of using email at any location (home, work and other locations) or participating in other on-line activities. Members of this Group tend to live in the poorer areas of traditional mining and manufacturing towns and to have conservative social attitudes.

Yep, that sounds a lot like the Moseley I know. Exactly, in fact

So, how do we fare in the second category?

2. Type A05 : Too old to be bothered

This Type consists mostly of very old people who feel that they predate anything to do with electronic technologies. Members are particularly unlikely to be found purchasing or reading 'techie' magazines and are among the least likely to find the computer a useful medium for playing computer games - or even watching videos. Members of this Type have little interest in acquiring E-technology skills.

That's spot-on. I can't think of anyone here who reads techie magazines. I do know Nigel who plays computer games and watches videos, so I guess he's an exception. But the exception proves the rule, right?

The best thing about this profiler is that it shows a typical e-resident. This gives us a means of visually confirming what we have learned by reading our e-profile. It means I can go out into the streets of Moseley, and see my e-community reflected in the people there.
So, what does my e-community look like?

Have a look:
On the left is my Group A representative, and on the right is my Group A05 rep. I am pretty sure I saw the guy on the right this morning, walking his dog. I wonder if the guy on the left hangs out in one of the local pubs. Must do, since I never see him on hte streets.


What It All Means
Above all, this profiler proves one thing: that Britain is still obsessed by class, and ever-evolving ways of defining it. Oh, and one other thing. This project was developed by University College London, University of Leicester, and University of Nottingham. Let's not go look at how their postcode districts rank.
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