Following is the draft of our NII Award Application. Please feel free to
add/delete/edit/answer the questions. ***Please use asterisks* to mark
changes in the form***
Thanks! Have a nice day!
BL
Getting http://www.gii-awards.com/entry_forms/worksheet.html
1996 NII Awards Entry Worksheet
This worksheet is here to assist you in preparing your Entry.
All questions on the Official Entry Form are included below -
most questions ar simple multiple choice where you will check
boxes or buttons.
We recommend that you prepare all your answers to essay
questions offline in a word processor, then return to the
Official Entry Form for your category and paste those answers
in the appropriate text windows. Submitting your Official
Entry Form is final; no changes are allowed, so please prepare
carefully! Entry Instructions and Helpful Hints are also
available, and please review the Official Rules before
submitting your Entry.
If you have questions about the entry process or the NII
Awards program, please post them to the NII Awards Questions
& Answers bulletin board.
The Early Entry Deadline (to be eligible for our prize
drawing) is Wednesday, March 27, 1996; the Final Entry
Deadline is Wednesday, May 1, 1996.
(A) Project
A1. Title of Entry (8 word maximum):
WATPA/WLS Westchester PathMaster(TM)
[Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and Public
Access/Westchester Library System Westchester PathMaster(TM)]
Please provide a descriptive name for your Entry:
Westchester PathMaster(TM), Provides a World Wide Web Gateway
to Westchester County's non-profit organizations without
charge.
A2. Keywords
Think of some keywords that might apply to your Entry:
Non-profit, community, public access, volunteer effort
A3. Name of Entrant
Name of individual(s), company(ies) or organization(s)
submitting the Entry:
Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and Public Access,
Westchester Library System
A4 - A18. Contact Person (for internal use only)
The person who will be the primary contact for this project
for the NII Awards and Judges:
Salutation Mr.
First Name Norman
Last Name Jacknis
Title President
Organization: Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and
Public Access
E-mail (Direct): njacknis@ix.netcom.com
E-mail (for publication on NII Awards Website):
watpa@westnet.com
Phone: 914-592-8214
Fax
Address: WATPA @ Westchester Library System
8 Westchester Plaza
City: Elmsford
State NY
Zip Code 10523
Country USA
A19. Contact Relationship to Entry (25 word maximum)
Contact person's relationship to and role in the Entry:
Founder & Chairman, Westchester Alliance for
Telecommunications and Public Access, dedicated to ensuring
that NII implementation in Westchester County embraces the
entire community - business, public, educational.
A20. The Web address associated with this Entry, if any:
http://www.wls.lib.ny.us/watpa/index.html
A21. How did you hear about the NII Awards?
?
A22. Did you enter the NII Awards in 1995?
No
A23. Are you submitting video in support of your Entry?
No
A24. I will be sending a digital image for my Entry:
(Image submission is optional - Image Guidelines are
available) no
A25. I would like to participate in the early entry prize
drawings:
No
____________________________________________________________
(B) Overview
B1. Summary Description (100 word maximum)
Provide a summary description of your project:
Westchester PathMaster(TM) provides Westchester County with a
public/Internet accessible central site for the posting of
community information, services directories, and a new public
space for the discussion of contemporary issues effecting life
in our community. With technical assistance freely provided by
WATPA members, Non-profit Organizations are invited to create
WWW homepages where they may describe and promote themselves,
list their programs, activities, and calendars.
B2. One-Sentence Description (25 word maximum)
Provide a one-sentence description of your project:
Westchester PathMaster(TM), a WWW site created, managed and
sponsored by WATPA and hosted on Westchester Library System
server, provides Westchester County with a broad based
informational warehouse.
B3. Optimum Review Method (25 word maximum)
Describe how your project could best be reviewed (e.g., site
visit, electronic access, video documentation):
Browse our Website, Westchester PathMaster(TM), URL:
http://www.wls.lib.ny.us/watpa/index.html
B4. Background (300 word maximum)
Tell the story of how your project came about (you may include
partners, sponsors, the team, how you were funded, etc.):
Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications & Public Access
(WATPA) is a three year-old not-for-profit community
membership organization dedicated to the establishment of a
readily accessible telecommunications-based information
infrastructure for Westchester County providing all members of
the community, (citizens, educational organizations, business
and government) access to the benefits available online.
WATPA's mission is to provide the citizens, government,
educational, and business organizations of Westchester with
objective advice, knowledge, and expertise on emerging
telecommunications, information "highways," technology and
related services in Westchester. WATPA seeks to find ways of
accelerating the growth of inter-connected networks within the
county and to assure the general public's access to those
networks, regardless of where they live, their social or
economic circumstances.
Westchester PathMaster(TM) represents attainment of one of
WATPA's goals, providing a readily accessible site for the
dissemination of community information. The Westchester
PathMaster(TM) site has grown in its first three months from
four simple text-based homepages to ...., covering a broad
spectrum of community information.
Creation of the site may be attributed to the dedication of
our volunteer community-oriented membership and our ability to
provide the technical expertise, without charge, to not only
create the site but to actively recruit content providers and
aid them when necessary, also without charge, in constructing
their homepages.
B5. Highlights (100 word maximum)
What aspects of your project should judges pay closest
attention to?
Our project was accomplished without incurring significant
expenditure. WATPA brings together a multi-talented group of
individuals who embrace and advocate responsible use of
telecommunications by all strata of our community. WATPA
members give freely of their time and expertise to accomplish
our Mission objectives.
B6. Objectives(100 word maximum)
What are the key objectives of your project? Specifically,
what need(s) was it created to address?
WATPA realized that no central place existed in Westchester
County where any one with Internet access could find
information on the many community organizations concerned with
quality of life in our county. These organizations provide
the services that enhance our community and make it an
attractive place to work, live and learn. Many of these
organizations are small, volunteer organizations. They often
lack the technical expertise to utilize the Internet. Our key
objective was to provide them with the means to take advantage
of the benefits afforded by the Internet.
B7. Results, Benefits (300 word maximum)
Describe the results or outcomes actually achieved by your
project. What benefits have been realized by you and/or your
users? Be as specific as possible in the context of the
Category Definition:
[Public Access: (Sponsored by the United States Postal
Service): Projects, programs, activities, venues that increase
or improve the public's access to and use of the information
infrastructure; that make access easier, more affordable, more
valuable to the public.]
[Community: Uses of the information infrastructure that that
improve the quality and effectiveness of community-based
services, strengthen community ties or increase citizen
participation in community life through serving the needs of
members of physical communities or communities of interest.
Uses that, for example, bring aid, comfort, information,
support, or services to targeted community groups.]
B8. Measurement(75 word maximum)
How were the results, benefits and outcomes described above
measured?
[Web Site Visits? Number of participating Organizations?]
B9. Innovation(200 word maximum)
Describe the way(s) in which your project is innovative. What
makes it unique?
[Widely copied!]
By partnering with the Westchester Library System and
utilizing an existing server (Westchester Library System), we
were able to avoid significant hardware costs, complement the
WLS role as information storehouse for our county's diverse
population and expand their role as information provider by
creating an inexpensicve means for our non-profit community to
access and enter the realm of online telecommunications.
B10. Success Factors(100 word maximum)
To what do you attribute your success(es)?
WATPA consists of a cadre of committed volunteers with strong
interest in Internet advocacy and the technical skills
necessary to create and maintain the site, recruit and assist
content providers in preparing their homepages.
B11. Future Plans (100 word maximum)
What are your plans for expanding your project? How will it
evolve as the capabilities of the information infrastructure
grow?
Westchester PathMaster(TM) plans to expand its content to
include local government homepages. Inherent in these plans
is the creation of a virtual "Public Square" where community
members may speak out on local issues and engage local
officials in meaningful public policy discussions.
(This question is for Entries in the Telecollaboration
category only)
B12. Real-Time Collaboration(100 word maximum)
Describe the real-time collaboration (required for
eligibility) associated with your entry. How and where does
real-time collaboration happen?
(This question is for Entries in the GII Next Generation
category only)
B12. Next Generation (100 word maximum)
Describe where networking at 45Mbps or greater is used and why
you consider your entry a "next generation" application:
____________________________________________________________
(C) Users and Usage
C1. Date of First Use Month and year when people first began
using the project (mm/yy):
01/96
C2. Users
Approximate number of people actually using/interacting with
the project on a per-month basis:
2-100; 101-100; 1,001-5,000; 5,001-50,000; 50,001-100,000;
100,001 +
C3. User Profile(50 word maximum)
Describe who your users are and where they are located:
Our users are primarily county residents with Internet access
from their homes, offices, schools or via the Westchester
Library System 38-member public library system's publicly
accessible Internet terminals.
C4. What approximate percentage of your targeted users are
internal to your organization (e.g., employees, customers,
members), versus people outside your organization?
10% inside, 90% outside; 100% of users are outside the
organization
C5. Who are the targeted users of your project? (check all
that apply):
Children; Young adults; Adults as consumers/citizens; Adults
as workers/employees; Senior Citizens; Females; Males; Other
C6. Frequency
How often does your typical user use your project? (select
one)
Several times per day; Daily; Several times per week; Weekly;
Several times per month; Monthly; Several times per year;
Yearly; Once or a few times only (event)
C7. Functionality & Usage (250 word maximum)
How does your project work? How do users use it or participate
in it and what do they do?
C8. User Feedback (optional; 250 word maximum)
What positive feedback have you received from your users? (you
may include quotes, stories, anecdotes, etc.)
1) Two WATPA members, parishoners at an area church, created
one of our first non-profit homepages and report the following
anecdote as an example of how Internet connectivity blossoms:
Shortly after we put our Church's home page up on the Web,
which listed my e-mail address as our official mailbox, I got
a phone call from Jim, our minister. He had decided it was
time to enter the electronic age and was attempting to use
e-mail for the first time. Could I help him?
The next day, I got an e-mail from Jim (intended for my
husband) which began:
"Following up on your questioning of the term "true religion"
as I used it in my sermon last Sunday: I understand "religion"
as being ultimately concerned about..."
My husband Duane e-mailed a long and carefully thought out
response two days later. The next Sunday, with Duane's
permission, Jim read the e-mail notes to the congregation, and
took their content as the subject of his sermon.
2) Our Page for public discussion of current issues includes
reference to the Communications Decency Act of 1996 under the
banner "Should WATPA sport a blue ribbon"? A visitor sent the
following post to the author:
>Bravo! I couldn't agree more. I think you've written a very
thoughtfully crafted and compelling piece. I learned a lot!
[...] If this kind of rigorous, challenging perspective is
what WATPA is all about I want to be plugged into it. Beth
C9. Geographic Focus
The primary geographic focus of your project is:
Regional/local
(D) Technical and Production
____________________________________________________________
D1. Infrastructure (250 word maximum)
Describe the technological infrastructure used for delivery of
and access to your project, the number of places that are
connected and how they're connected:
D2. What are the primary network services on which your
project is hosted?
Dial-up Telephone Service; Internet (other than WWW); World
Wide Web; Commercial Online Service; Private Network; ISDN;
X.25; Frame relay; ATM; Cable; Cellular or other wireless;
Interactive Television; Other
D3. Development Budget (for internal use only)
What was the approximate budget (in US$) to create your
project
(including content, technology and people)?
less than $10,000; $10,000 -$100,000; $100,001 - $500,000;
$500,001-$1M;$1MM - $5MM; greater than $5MM
D4. Maintenance Budget (for internal use only)
What is the approximate annual budget (in US$) to maintain
your project (including content, technology and people)?
less than $10,000; $10,000 -$100,000; $100,001 - $500,000;
$500,001- $1M;$1MM - $5MM; greater than $5MM
D5. Revenue
Does your project generate revenue directly? (check all that
apply)
No
(E) Knowledgebase
By contributing your answers to these questions, you will be
building the foundation for the NII Awards shared
knowledgebase. We would be grateful for your insights on these
issues.
____________________________________________________________
E1. Barriers (optional; 200 word maximum)
Were there major barriers or challenges to implementing your
project or to achieving acceptance of it? If so, what were
they and how were they overcome?
E2. Advice (optional; 200 word maximum)
What advice can you offer to other people and organizations
that would seek to follow your example? What should they do to
maximize their chances for success?
E3-5. Wish List (optional; your Wish List will be published on
the NII Awards Website in an effort to connect you with the
resources you desire).
In order to more fully realize your project's goals, do you
need additional:
Funding? If so, please describe your needs:
Technology/tools? If so, please describe your needs:
People/expertise? If so, please describe your needs:
E6. Feedback to Awards (optional; for internal use only)
Please provide feedback and/or suggested improvements to the
NII Awards program, including questions you feel we should
have asked.
(This information will not be available to judges during the
judging period and wll not influence the judging of your
Entry.)
____________________________________________________________
(F) Survey
The primary use of the information in this section will be as
input to a study being produced by IDC. As a benefit of
entering, you will receive a copy of the Executive Summary of
the study. This information will not be used for judging
purposes.
____________________________________________________________
F1. Which of the following best describes the Entrant's
sector/industry?(check all that apply):
[Non-profit organization]
Information Services; General Services (e.g., consulting);
Arts; Entertainment; Media/Press/PR; Manufacturing -
Information Technology; Manufacturing - non IT;
Retail/Wholesale; Small Business; Individual/entrepreneur;
Medical/Health Care; Federal/National government; State/Local
government; Banking/Finance/Insurance; Telecommunications; Pre
K-12 School; University; Non-profit organization; Library;
Other
F2. What functional areas of your company/organization does
your
project directly involve? (check all that apply):
Delivering service to citizens
F3. What do you consider to be the primary obstacles to the
growth and adoption of your project? (for internal use only;
check up to 3)
No obstacles; Cost of user access; Ease of access, ease of
use;
Security of transactions; User privacy concerns; Your funding;
Lack of payment mechanisms; Censorship; Public policy;
Intellectual Property law; Bandwidth cost; Bandwidth
availability; User awareness of your application or service;
Other (please specify):
F4. What is the primary metric you use for monitoring the
internal use of yur projct? (for internal use only; select
one):
Not Applicable
F5. What is the primary metric you use for monitoring the
external use of your project? (for internal use only; select
one):
Not Applicable; Number of users; Frequency of use; Number of
transactions of any kind; Revenues from orders taken; Reduced
number of telephone/fax/other inquiries; Number of orders
taken; Other
F6. At what speed(s) do your users directly access your
project?
(check all that apply):
9600 bps or less; 14.4 Kbps; 28.8 Kbps; 56K/64K; 112K/128K;
1.5Mbps (T1/E1); 1.5Mbps-45Mbps (up o T3/E3); greater than
45Mbps (greater than T3)
F7. What collaborative tools are used in your project? (check
all that apply):
ae; Desktop videoconferencing; Other videoconferencing; Shared
documents; Groupware (e.g., Lotus Notes); Chat; Electronic
whiteboard; Multimedia e-mail; Other
F8. Do you charge access to your project? (check all that
apply):
No
F9. What hardware is currently used for your project's
Internet/Web
servers? (for internal use only; check all that apply):
UNIX System; Other workstation or midrange system; Mainframe;
Other
F10. What hardware do you plan to use for your project's
Internet/Web servers in the next six months? (for internal use
only;
Don't know
11. What is the primary Webserver software currently used for
your
project? (for internal use only; check one):
Not applicable; Netscape; NCSA (Win HTTP); WebStar (Mac
HTTP); CERN; Apache; OpenMarket;Website; Purveyor; Don't know;
Other
F12. What Web server software do you plan to use in the next
six months? (for internal use only; check any that apply):
Not applicable; Netscape; NCSA (Win HTTP); WbStar (Mac
HTTP); CERN; Apache; Open Market; Website; Purveyor; Don't
know; Other
F13. Does your project currently make use of any of these
tools? (for internal use only; check any that apply):
Internet voice telephony tools (e.g., Digiphone, Webphone,
etc.); Internet broadcast audio tools (e.g., Real Audio,
Streamworks, etc.); Internet broadcast video tools (e.g.,
CU-SeeMe, VDOLive, etc.); Internet 3D tools (e.g., Webspace,
WebFX, Worldview,etc.); Java; Shockwave; Visual Basic; Other
Internet multimedia/application tools; None/Don't know
F14. Do you plan to make use of any of these tools in the next
six months?(for internal use only; check any that apply):
Internet voice telephony tools (e.g., Digiphone, Webphone,
etc.); Internet broadcast audio tools (e.g., Real Audio,
Streamworks, etc.); Internet broadcast video tools (e.g.,
CU-SeeMe, VDOLive, etc.); Internet 3D tools (e.g., Webspace,
WebFX, Worldview, etc.); Java; Shockwave; Visual Basic; Other
Internet multimedia/application tools; None/Don't know
__________________________________________________________
Submission of an Entry constitutes full and unconditional
agreement to and acceptance of the Official Rules.
_________________________________________________________
Copyright -1996, National Information Infrastructure Awards.
All rights reserved.
All references to the products and vendors mentioned herein
are the respective trademarks of their owners.
*********************************************