
Older persons face digital exclusion despite enthusiasm for new technology, Australian study finds
Older people in Australia are on the whole enthusiastic about embracing new technology, but continue to be digitally excluded because service providers and the larger community exclude them from the digital experience, a new report by YourLink and PwC has…

Qatar IT Conference and Exhibition 2019 organized under the theme of ‘safe smart cities’
The Qatar Information Technology Conference & Exhibition (QITCOM) took place from 29 October to 1 November 2019 under the theme “Safe Smart Cities”. One of the topics highlighted by this year’s event was the importance of digital inclusion in the…

Local government in the UK awarded funds for digital inclusion projects
The Local Government Association (LGA, the national membership body for local authorities in the UK) will disburse close to £200,000 to ten councils to fund initiatives which promote digital inclusion in their local communities. The supported projects focus on reaching…

Australian Digital Inclusion Index shows affordability is key barrier to inclusion
The fourth Australian Digital Inclusion Index (DII) has found that affordability remains a major barrier to digital inclusion, and that Australians with low levels of income, education, and employment are significantly less digitally included. The index measures Australians’ online participation through…
Swedish regulator to award SEK 2 million for innovations in digital inclusion
The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) has launched its sixteenth annual innovation competition, this year under the theme of digital inclusion. Organisations can apply for funding to support service and product development or research studies focused on electronic communication until 7…

Smart Nation Ambassadors volunteer to help Singaporean citizens become more digitally savvy
Singapore’s Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) has announced that 600 volunteers have enlisted as Smart Nation Ambassadors since the initiative was launched in February 2019. Individuals can sign up at Volunteer.SG to volunteer at Smart Nation events to…
Smart Cities for All initiative launches playbook for accessibility
Smart Cities for All, a global initiative of G3ict and World Enabled, has launched the Inclusive Innovation Playbook to help cities mainstream accessibility and inclusion in urban innovation ecosystems and thereby make sure that smart city solutions work for everyone….
The United Kingdom publishes national standards designed to boost digital skills for adults
The standards are based on the UK’s essential digital skills framework. The UK government has announced the launch of free digital courses to up-skill adults, aiming to give everyone the opportunity to participate in the digital world and take advantage…

University of Kansas researchers implement digital literacy programme designed for low-income, minority senior citizens
Researchers at Kansas University’s Center for Digital Inclusion have implemented a digital literacy programme designed specifically for low-income, minority senior citizens. Often the target of online disinformation and scams, this group stands to benefit the most from digital literacy skills…

‘Smart homes’ to help older persons acquire digital skills in the UK
A number of ‘smart homes’ enabling older people to improve their digital skills through peer-to-peer training will be established in West Essex, UK. Led by Uttlesford Council for Voluntary Service, the scheme identifies older people who will become ‘digital boomers’,…