7. Challenges of Technology (digital communication)

The IFF Board and Academy Committee recognised at a very early stage the significance of modern technology like digitally transmitted information, archiving documents (organisations’ memory!) and providing interactive website space for co-edits or feedback to business issues. Needed professional IT solutions conflicted with IFF budget lines. Instead practitioners volunteered as web designers, web masters or website committee members drafting website structures and text. These commitments resulted in tremendous overload of those involved.
Implementing new ways of digital communication is far from being just a technical task. Colleagues’ divergent understandings of concepts, proceeding priorities or aesthetic tastes interfere with different technical skills, knowledge and personal styles in contributing to the task.

Examples on constraints

§       In 2003 a sophisticated group mind express (GME )website system −unique in the Feldenkrais community at that time − provided interactive tools for Board, Member Organisations and Academy purposes. Unfortunately it could not be maintained when the GME provider unexpectedly increased fees for large numbers of users.

§       A freeware website system promised to be more suitable (Dupral, started 2005). Transfer and restructuring of huge piles of documents proved to be less simple than indicated. Additional software was written but deleted (including data already transferred) during upgrades. Some functions, like overviews of Academy evaluations or efficient interactive tools for IFF Board, Member Organisations and Academy members could not be provided or did not function properly.

§       Therefore essential documents like archived updates to Members, Academy Materials such as Modes of Attention Process and Role Play manuals are now “buried” on the former website (GME), accessible only for Board and committee members.

Personal experiences

• In the long run it is more expensive to rely on website volunteers supported by paid professional staff members. The other way round would cause less costs and erosion in people: a professional solution in conjunction with non paid volunteers.
• We knew about far reaching consequences on errors while setting up website systems. But we did not know which errors might turn up. Decision making on Website design and structuring was therefore handicapped, especially when Website Committee or Board members disagreed on where to go and how.
• The current IFF Academy Website provides very rich information on the IFF Academy, its history, concepts and examples of best practice. Nevertheless the website is still under construction to achieve that functionality in easy access, interactive navigation, storage of evaluations and attraction for practitioners that we hoped in 2002 the Website would provide.