Bringing Life To Web Content For Use In A Developing Setting, Improving the Quality and Quantity of Locally Generated Content.

The tutorial/manual provides the underlying concepts and practical guidelines on a participatory web design methodology - A People's Approach to Produce Web Content (PAPWEC). The information will equip you with the know-how and knowledge on how to use web technologies to their maximum potential. The web design methodology can be used to build web based information resources for use in developing settings.

Why participatory? Because the people who will eventually use the web sites will be involved in the formulation of what content will benefit them most or meet their goals, whether personal or business right from the begininning of the web site building project. The rationale is that web sites built for people in developing countries have been designed with little involvement of the target audience with the consequent effect of weakening the impact of these technologies in those settings.

PAPWEC is designed to be used to prepare web content for use by people and organisations in developing settings. It is specifically geared towards producing relevant content that can be used as catalyst for change, innovation and development - increase the impact of web sites in the every day lives of people and organisations residing in developing settings. It's particularly suitable to build that content that can be of relevant to them.

A phenomenal increase in the number of locally produced web sites for use by local people is the spirit that is the driving force behind the concepts, tools and techniques enshrined in PAPWEC and this Web Knitters' Manual.

The tutorial's appeal is the ease in which complex concepts are presented in clear and succinct language that the MESSAGE brings you the right information that will build the knowledge base and equip you with the creative and analytical skills essential in the knitting of content that will result in action based results by people living in developing settings. The Web Knitters Manual gives you the impetus to be creative and innovative in the use of Internet technologies as tools for development.

Your comments and feedback are welcome to make this manual useful in efforts geared towards reducing the digital divide.