Hi, this is an interesting report about UK eGovernment initiatives (mostly) failure to engage with socially excluded groups: http://www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1074872
This report considers access to services as a key element of e-government. To be effective and efficient, e-government needs to reach people who need local authority services most. These are often the most disadvantaged people in communities - unemployed, people with disabilities, people with language and literacy difficulties, elderly, lone parents etc. These groups (and others) are recognised as being at risk of a digital divide - not being able to access electronic services, and not having digital literacy skills or motivation. Accessibility is being addressed to a certain extent through web accessibility standards, or legislation such as Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). However, there are serious gaps in understanding the diverse needs of citizens and how to make e-government inclusive. Digital inclusion is core to this. Ella Smith International Teledemocracy Centre Napier University 10 Colinton Road Edinburgh, EH10 5DT Telephone: +44 (0) 131 455 2392 Fax: +44 (0) 131 455 2282 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.teledemocracy.org This message is intended for the addressee(s) only and should not be read, copied or disclosed to anyone else outwith the University without the permission of the sender. It is your responsibility to ensure that this message and any attachments are scanned for viruses or other defects. Napier University does not accept liability for any loss or damage which may result from this email or any attachment, or for errors or omissions arising after it was sent. Email is not a secure medium. Email entering the University's system is subject to routine monitoring and filtering by the University. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
