Workshop on Internet Structure & Choke Points

(Paz Domínguez leading a workshop on Internet at Citilab)

 

1. Overview

The workshop teaches people how the Internet works, including its underlying structures. It also leads into what are its inherent weaknesses, exploring themes such as net neutrality, mobile phones and the Internet, security, and covers the different ways Internet connectivity can be distributed. It will give anyone attending a foundational basis with which to understand how the Internet works and threats to its existence and show you how to secure your own machines so that communications (email, instant messaging) and storage (file encryption of sensitive material) are protected beyond just installing anti-virus software. You will walk away safer and able to understand higher level discourse on these topics, improving decision making and giving insight into subjects where the Internet is concerned.

2. The workshop

A no-nonsense, hands on, participatory experience in which the participants will visualise the Internet through the physical creation of a human network, enabling them to envisage both strengths and weaknesses and preparing the terrain for exploration of the many issues raised by the existence of the Internet.

Workshops will show people how the Internet works, including its underlying structures. Exploring themes such as privacy, data security, civil rights in a digital environment, the workshop will give anyone attending a foundational basis with which to understand how the Internet works and show you how secure you are technically, legally and practically. You will walk away more aware of the inherent problems therein and with a more healthy paranoia, feeling safer when warranted and feeling properly insecure when not. You’ll be able to understand higher level discourse on these topics, improving decision making and giving insight into subjects where the Internet is concerned.

3. Team

Chris Pinchen

Chris is one of the coordinators and researchers on the ChokePoint Project. As well as working for the P2P Foundation, he is currently engaged in projects around the benefits of Information & Communication Technology for rural communities.

He was previously Social Media & Community Outreach Coordinator at Citilab and is co-founder and organiser of many events based around citizen participation and technology.

Chris is a long time activist whose 15 years of teaching experience as well as community outreach across all sectors of society enable him to communicate effectively and facilitate knowledge acquisition.

 

Ruben Bloemgarten

 

Javier Arturo Rodríguez

Javier is a software engineer and systems administrator with extensive experience including work for government, banks and financial companies, and the police.

He regularly speaks on security issues as well as open data, and delivers consulting, mentoring, systems auditing and training services to leading companies.

Javier is a strong supporter of open data and frequently participates in “hackathons” to create useful applications, using his skills to make public information accessible to a non-technical public. He is the co-founder of OpenDataBCN and developer of many mobile applications.

 

Much of the thinking behind the workshop is based on the work of Paz Domínguez Ara

Paz works in the fields of education, online communication and community revitalization.

As part of the Educational Area of Citilab, a center for social and digital innovation in Cornella de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain, she developed new working methods for cooperative learning and training programs for the Knowledge Centre Network in Spain.

Paz has a great ability to facilitate the visualization of complex structures and stimulate the interest of learners.

She describes herself as a “digital plumber”, recognizing the value of practical learning in a digital setting.

 

 

 

For more information about the workshop, please get in touch: