There are three main elements to the parish plan preparation, research and action. The "virtual village" initiative which is a PC (laptop) based tool is used as part of the research section. It is a tool designed to be used by the younger or computer literate parishioners and is portable. The object of the exercise is to use this tool to get the views of this section of the local community about issues that affect our village. The software uses a digital aerial photograph and digital photographs of key buildings in the village to create a model of certain areas of the village. When complete a user can tour around these sections of the village. At certain points along the tour the user will be asked questions relating to the area they are touring. These questions will be varied and can cover things like traffic speed and volume, local services, economic or environmental and social and community matters. The answers to these questions are stored on the PC.
Once the views of a representative sample of the target population have been obtained the computer will help with the analysis and presentation of the results. The results then can be turned it to a timed , costed, action plan and become part of the main parish plan. On completion of the exercise the questions will be removed and it is hoped that "The Virtual Village of Riccall" will be incorporated into a web site which will enable anyone from anywhere in the world to tour around our village.
