Unlike Digital Divide POK Fook-sun Chief Development Officer Information Technology Resource Centre The Hong Kong Council of Social Service 22 January 2013
Content 1) Why Accessible to All 2) Digital Divide Measurement 3) Impact of Digital Divide 4) Digital Divide Local Measurement 5) Conceptual Framework of Digital Inclusion 6) Tackling Digital Divide 7) Digital Solidarity Fund 8) Q&A
Did You Know? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymwwrgv _aie
Why Accessible to All Utilitarianism It is just to sacrifice minority for maximizing the benefits of majority. People with disadvantage is minority. Common people is the majority. We can benefit the majority at the expenses of the minority. When developing the information and communication technology (ICT), we do not need to take care of the minority.
Why Accessible to All Libertarianism Every one has freedom and rights to manage his properties. We do not want government or others to intrude my rights and freedom. I set up a web site. It is mine. Please do not tell me any rules and regulations. I have the rights to build it according to my wish.
Why Accessible to All John Rawl Justice as Fairness The Liberty Principle states that every individual has an equal right to basic liberties. The Equality Principle states that social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged. The Difference Principle regulates inequalities: it only permits inequalities that work to the advantage of the worst-off.
Why Accessible to All If accessibility to ICT is for all, government has the following roles: To ensure every citizen has the right to access it. To ensure the disadvantaged is also accessible to ICT. To tolerate the inequalities in the use of ICT provided that they benefit the disadvantaged.
Digital Divide Measurement International Statistics How many Internet users in the world today? 2,405,518,376 ( 34.3%) How many Internet users in China today? 538,000,000 ( 40.1%) How many Internet users in Hong Kong today? 5,329,372 (74.5%) Source: http://www.internetworldstats.com
Digital Divide Measurement Internationally addressed as the divide between the rich countries and the poor ones in terms of ICT usage Key issues are: Accessibility and Affordability Top level: Across Countries Second level: Within Countries, across cities and regions Third level: Within Cities, across ethnicities and disadvantaged groups
Digital Divide Measurement Digital Divide is a complicated issue Rich / Poor West / East North / South Able bodies / Disabled Digital Divide Developed / Underdeveloped White / Colour Educated / Non-educated
Digital Divide Measurement International DD Measurement ITU Digital Access Index World Development Indicators, World Bank Digital Opportunity Index, ITU & Korean Agency for Digital Opportunity (KADO)
Impact of Digital Divide Changes the operational modes of business and trade Shifts the power base towards those who could master the technology Those who are less ICT competent would be sacrificed
Impact of Digital Divide Life chances Employability Access to resources Citizen rights Quality of life Widen poverty gap
Digital Divide Local Perspectives
Digital Divide - Local Measurement Government statistics (thematic household surveys report 32) From 2001 onwards compiled annually
Digital Divide - Local Measurement Computer Users by Age Age Computer 10-14 15 - Users 24 25 by - 34 Age 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 % 99.4 99.4 95.6 86.6 68.7 39 9.4 Monthly Household Income Internet Penetration by Household Income < 10,000 10,000-19,999 20,000-29,999 30,000-39,999 40,000-49,999 50,000 % 34.4 80.4 91.5 94.6 96.7 96.7 Census and Statistics Department, HKSARG, Dec 2009 17 Internet Penetration by Household Income Remarks: USD 1 ~ HKD 7.75
Digital Divide - Local Measurement Computer and Internet Usage among different ICT disadvantaged groups % having a computer % having used Internet Older People (60+) 7.8 6.7 New Arrivals 56.3 54.0 Single Parents 43.8 43.8 Female Homemakers 18.8 18.2 Children (low income) 96.7 94.6 PwD/CI (all age) 16.4 15.1 Age 60 6.1 5.4 Age<60 49.3 46.5 All Disadvantaged Groups 31.4 29.9 Non-disadvantaged Households 78.6 78.0 Department 18 of Social Work & Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, June 2009
Conceptual Framework of Digital Inclusion Affordability ICT Skills/Literacy Availability Accessibility Usage Socio-cultural factors Content/Application
Conceptual Framework of Digital Inclusion Accessibility Having a home computer (desktop and/or notebook computer) Having home computers connected to the Internet Having a good quality computer Having broadband connection Having computer at home that they can use without permission
Conceptual Framework of Digital Inclusion Usage Whether having ever used a computer Length (measured in the number of years) of having used a computer Frequency of using the Internet Average duration (no. of hours) of using Internet each time (in the past three months)
Conceptual Framework of Digital Inclusion Computer skills/literacy Knowledge (self-assessment) of doing various kinds of online activities Amount of training (no. of hours) received in using computer/internet Overall knowledge (self-perception) in using computer/ Internet
Conceptual Framework of Digital Inclusion Constructing Digital Inclusion Index Accessibility index Affordability index Usage index Knowledge index
Findings of Digital Inclusion Index Sub-indexes Older People New Arrival s Single Parent s Women Childre n (low income) Disabilities &/or Chronic illnesses All Disadvantage d Persons Accessibility Sub-Index 0.50 0.70 0.71 0.75 0.72 0.53 0.62 Usage Sub- Index Knowledge Sub-Index Affordability Sub-Index 0.04 0.50 0.19 0.06 0.88 0.17 0.26 0.04 0.52 0.41 0.05 0.92 0.14 0.26 0.50 0.71 0.48 0.62 0.00 0.54 0.52 CDII 0.27 0.61 0.45 0.37 0.63 0.35 0.41
Tackling Digital Divide Policy Level Program Level
Tackling Digital Divide Policy Level: Government policy and targets to tackle digital divide Programme Level: Providing Access Skill/Capacity Building Proper Design Application and Content
Tackling Digital Divide Some examples of Providing Access Provision of equipment and connectivity Establishment of Cyber Point Subsidy or loan for disadvantaged groups to purchase or borrow computers Recycling old computers or organizing donations of new computers Support the not-for-profit IT operations or Internet Service Providers
Tackling Digital Divide Skill/Capacity Building Induction and training to the underprivileged Establishing and maintaining a group of volunteers Facilitation for the disadvantaged individuals to support each other
Tackling Digital Divide Proper Design Promote practical design of equipment to suit the use of people with special needs Barrier-free design of websites and software for people with disabilities International Standards
Tackling Digital Divide Application and Content Cyberspace for disadvantaged population to learn, to share and to work Vertical portal sites for various disadvantage groups
Tackling Digital Divide Roles of Government Establish Strategies and Policies on Digital Inclusion Legislation, use of market force Pro-poor elements in e-govt policies Digital Inclusion and Poverty Eradication Support research/measurement on Digital Divide Establish targets for Digital Inclusion Leadership in multi-stakeholder-team Establish sustainable financial infrastructure for NGO
Tackling Digital Divide Roles of Business Sector Turn digital divide into digital dividend Finance digital inclusion as business investment Charity Supply of volunteers to support DI programs in community Expert knowledge in ICT (design) Work with NGOs in program level
Tackling Digital Divide Roles of NGOs Know the needy groups in community, feel their pulse mobilize volunteers, promote mutual help conduct programs at community levels Accumulate know-how via practice Reflect needs of people to policy-makers Participate in policy review and planning
Tackling Digital Divide Multi-stakeholderism Some examples: Digital Solidarity Fund Cross bureau task group for Digital Inclusion Govt led, Business sector supported, NGO conducted programs
Digital Solidarity Fund Ad hoc Fundraising Programs Dragon Boat Day (2006) Raised over HKD500,000 (USD 70,000)
Digital Solidarity Fund IBM HK 50 Anniversary Stamp campaign (2007) Raised over HKD500,000 (USD 70,000)
Digital Solidarity Fund Annual Fundraising Programme DSF City Dash City Adventure Race since 2010
Digital Solidarity Fund Best Practice Sharing - Casebook Published in 2008 Included stories of beneficiaries, sharing by project organizers and major sponsors
Granted Projects "Project Insider" by an Integrated Youth Centre ICT as a means to promote racial harmony Use of digital photography and video production to engage teenagers of ethnic minority group with local youngsters Screening and roadshows of productions to promote message on social inclusion
Granted Projects "Photosnap Training Class "by Rehabilitation Agency on Mental Illness Digital Photography classes for Ex-mentally ill persons "Train-the-trainer (volunteer)" approach Supplemented with training on photo editing and album / blog usage Exhibition to showcase photos / productions of clients
Media coverage Title: "Photography helps Ex-mentally ill persons to communicate"
What You Can Do? Donation You or your company can make donations to Digital Solidarity Fund in support of digital inclusion programs organized in communities to help disadvantaged access and learn ICT. Participation You can participate in digital inclusion programs as a volunteer or supporter. Join our coming fund-raising program, City Dash, or volunteer to help District Cyber Centers to teach basic ICT courses for disadvantaged. Information Subscribe our email service so that you can keep posted of the latest development and progress of digital inclusion programs and initiatives.
Contact Information Pok Fook Sun Title: Chief Development Officer Office: 2922 9255 Email: fs.pok@hkcss.org.hk Digital Solidarity Fund Website: www.dsf.org.hk Email: dsf@hkcss.org.hk Tel: (852) 2922 9280
Voices of the Disadvantaged: If I were computer illiterate I wouldn t have obtained employment Kim, visually impaired
Voices of the Disadvantaged: I don t want to be left behind by society I am still useful I can use computer to do lots of things.. Mr Chan, 70+
Thank You