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Dr Chris Yapp has been working for some time with UK government on its Digital Inclusion agenda. As the digital economy expands, and its inter-relationships with the ‘real-economy’ deepen, the issues raised present important macro factors for our industry, the clients we serve and society at large. They also create some intriguing possibilities to enhance the general perception of the IT industry in this moment of downturn. I hope you find the read as thought-provoking as I did.
Digital Inclusion – guest post by Chris Yapp
A couple of weeks ago – Friday 24th October to be exact – saw the second “get online” day organised by the UK Online Centres.
I had the great pleasure to be there at Holborn library to see Paul Murphy, MP and Minister for Digital Inclusion launch a consultation document, the “Digital Inclusion Action Plan” as part of the day.
It has been a privilege to have contributed to this document and it lays out many challenges for all of us who believe passionately in the potential of IT to enrich society and the economy.
It is easy to glibly slip into such claims as “the internet is ubiquitous”, “everybody’s on the net” or as in Clay Shirky’s book title “Here Comes Everybody”. The problem is that sadly it just isn’t true.
In the UK alone 17 million people are not enjoying the benefits of digital technologies today.
For those of us who shop, bank, communicate and play online these technologies have become common place and part of the fabric of our lives.
The work of the UK Online centres has shown over the years that these technologies can benefit all the sectors that make up the major parts of that 17 million. On the first Get Online day 10,000 people made their first step into the digital world. We will shortly know how many have taken that step this year.
This isn’t just about Government. The private sector and the third sector (charities, NGOs and social enterprises) have a major part to play in ensuring that everyone who can benefit from digital technologies is in a position to do so.
And this is not just about social justice but has a hard economic edge. Many of the digitally excluded are in hard to reach and expensive to serve communities.
Let me illustrate with a few examples. There is now the first cohort of people retiring who have used computers at work but become excluded in retirement. We have tended to see inclusion as a one directional process. As the economy slows we will see others become excluded through loss of employment.
The challenge for us in industry is that if we can make these technologies pervasive then new business model innovations and innovative applications can contribute to areas such as learning, telemedicine and telecare, access to benefits and employment, entertainment, banking and shopping just to name a few.
There is another hard economic edge to this too. Social policy may in the end mandate digital inclusion and this could then see some of the assumptions of current Web business models severely challenged. The trick, as ever, is to turn the problem into the opportunity.
Whether your perspective is economic, societal or both, I hope you will take the chance to read the document and reflect on the issues it raises.
In difficult economic times, our industry’s capacity to innovate will give us a chance to show our full potential for the economy and society.
Often we feel in IT as if we are not taken seriously or understood. On this agenda I think we have a chance to show what professional IT can really contribute. The question is, are we up for it?
The Digital Inclusion Action Plan
More on the UK Online Centres
About the author
Thanks for the article. Digital inclusion is normally discussed in the context of developing countries. So, this is indeed an interesting document to ponder on from a developed country perspective.
Completely agree that private players have a major role to play. In my opinion, much more than the gov. Gov. can be enabler/facilitator. One of the key responsibilities of the gov, in addition to charting the right policies, is to clearly show the monetary benefits that private players can derive from this effort. Perhaps Champion can play this role. Because, IMHO, real success of any such initiative, though social by nature, requires a capitalistic mindset.
An analogous area of social nature that I can immediately think of is the “all things Green” initiatives in recent years. Today, “Green” has become a buzz word, almost a fad with all and any company, be it from the auto, IT, telecom or energy sectors are jumping into the bandwagon. This is the true measure of success and we need such momentum to build up in the case of digital inclusion as well.
Interesting to note that a good 28% of UK’s population is missing on the web. Considering that UK has more than 100% mobile penetration, one approach to reduce the digital divide is to use mobile as a channel.
In my opinion, opportunities for private players offering digital inclusion solutions in developing markets (with larger volumes) is perhaps higher than developed markets (with lower volumes)? Hence, gov’s role may be much more significant in developed countries I suppose.
One way for solution providers to achieve economies of scale is to re-use their innovative low cost solutions (for the developing world) in the developed world. There is definitely enormous scope for cross-learning.
Renjish
Renjish,
Thanks for your helpful comments and additions. The arrival of the $100 latop in the developed world is part of a process where I believe that we will see ideas develop in the world where they are needed and then diffuse rather than an assumption of developed to developing.In the context of moving to an information society and a knowledge economy then I would argue that we are all developing. That is why the opportunity for some countries to make stratgic leaps is so high.
Re mobiles. There is a lot os potential I agree but the need is for demand not supply. we have the technologies we need more than we have explained the relevance to those who do not yet use.
I have one caveat about mobiles as a vehicle for inclusion in the developed world. Take an example like buying a lottery ticket online. Compare the experience on a PC and a mobile. Now imagine someone in their 60s , with weak eyesight for instance who has never used a PC trying the mobile route. I just don’t see it happening. Work done for the UK Online centres have shown in the UK that those who use mobile internet are existing users. The number who use mobiles as first route is statistically insignificant.
That may well be very different in some of the developing world.. Again lots of opportunities for mutual learning
Regards Chris
Chris,
Completely agree that it’s a flat world. So as you said, anything that suits the need, irrespective of developing/developed is an accurate way to define things. Nevertheless, it is essential to consider the local sensitivities while adapting technologies. There is a difference in the “starting point” for each of these segments (developed/developing).
Taking your own example of buying lottery tickets online. For those whom mobile is the first and only means of connectivity and communication, there wont be any other benchmarks such as PCs to compare their experience. This is more true in a developing market as compared to a developed market where I assume that individuals at least have access to them at community centers such as libraries.
I agree that offering services of “relevance” is one of the key factors. Another key enabler is the technology. Though we have the essential technology today, it is the economic viability of technology which is an issue. In other words, the technology is not “low-cost” enough to offer the required experience to the target customers at the bottom of the pyramid. For instance, a mobile internet device (MID) is the best option for the old or the young to access services, in my opinion. However, the minimum cost of such device is nowhere below $300 today.
So, a lot more innovation is still required! No matter where it comes from.
Renjish