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A new community information system designed by Amatica is bringing online services to local residents and business across Wirral. Known as 'Supportal', it enables community groups and individuals to access as well to publish information online.

Supportal brings together information and services from more than 100 community and public service organisations. It provides an invaluable resource for community groups, voluntary organisations and small businesses to publish information online where otherwise they could not afford their own web presence. Instead they use Supportal to communicate with their customers, users and partners.

Supportal includes facilities such as Amatica's 'Etcetera' knowledge management software which directs enquirers to accurate information and public service provider contacts. Other facilities include: fast information searching; administration tools to prevent the publishing of inappropriate content; business directories; and events diaries.

Each organisation subscribing to the Supportal can maintain their own content, whilst overall maintenance and support of the software and web technology is managed by Amatica.

Supportal is the culmination of a 6 year project to regenerate the Wallasey and New Brighton areas of Wirral. Initially part of the New Wallasey Regeneration initiative, it has grown to become a flagship community project and a prime example of public-private collaboration. Liverpool John Moores University has contributed towards the project through its ICDC project.

The organisation, as well as the technology, of the Supportal project has attracted interest from the wider Merseyside community and the North West Regional Development Agency.

An integral part of the project involves the deployment of community touchscreen kiosks. These kiosks, supplied and maintained by Amatica, will bring the benefits of this valuable online resource to members of the community who do not have their own Internet connection, either at home or at work. The kiosks will be installed in key locations in Wallasey and New Brighton and will have broadband connectivity. The first kiosk has been installed in a local branch of Abbey.

All parts of the community will thereby be able to publish content not only to the Internet but also to kiosks on the high street.

Amatica is not only the key technology supplier to the Supportal project but also a sponsor. Other sponsors include Abbey, Asda, Merseyside Police and Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.

© Amatica 25/11/2003