practice eInclusion
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ePractice.eu provides its members with a blog in which all registered users can post opinions, questions and links to news related to eGovernment, eInclusion and eHealth. Your point of view is what makes ePractice.eu relevant to other public administrators all over Europe, so feel free to post and...
03 September 2009 | 1471 Visits | Rating: 4 (maximum:5)
eInclusion
I have often wondered if the older generation would not be so digitally excluded if the technology available was not so over bloated and complicated. I have found that many older people would like to use the Internet, email, VOIP, eGovernment etc. if they had technology that matched thier skills and physical ability. For instance why are there no touch screen computers with large icons and only that on them which is needed.
Anyone know of any initiatives along this line?
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Showing 7 comments
e-Inclusion
In the following web site you can find information about events related to e-inclusion.
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http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/tl/soccul/eincl/index_en.htm
e-Inclusion
In the following web site you can find information about events related to e-inclusion.
Â
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/tl/soccul/eincl/index_en.htm
e-inclusion
There is another web site about e-inclusion.
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http://www.einclusion-eu.org/
Links
Thanks for the useful info
Smart phones
I agree Dafydd, Smart phones being an example, an i-phone could have some really handy apps on it but would not be easy for all to get their heads round.
eInclusion, older users and software bloat
I agree that bloated and complicated software can be barriers for older users (not only for them but for anyone new to ICT). Some software programs have been designed to remove some of the complexity of their better-known alternatives or predecessors. For example, Firefox is much simpler than its predecessor, the Mozilla Application Suite (currently known as SeaMonkey). However, it lacks a few features that would benefit older users, such as easy access to zoom. AccessFirefox.org provides useful add-ons and tips, but you can't count on older users finding out about this. There are also simpler alternatives to word processors such as Microsoft Word and OpenOffice.org Word, for example AbiWord (cross-platform) and Bean (Mac OS X). In the past, some software programs have been available that presented a simplified interface to new users and revealed more functionality as the user gained experience with the software. However, most users don't know about software such as Firefox and AbiWord because they are not available by default (on Windows), and community centres that provide computer training usually focus on Microsoft products.
I don't think that touch screens would solve the problem, at least on desktop or laptop computers. A touchscreen is useful on a handheld device, but not - in my opinion - in systems where users would need to lift their arms to touch the screen ("gorilla arm"; see also David Pogue's article "Wee Mousie, Fear Not a Touch PC", The New York Times, 10 March 2010 and Rupert Goodwins' article "Windows 7? No arm in it", ZDNet UK, 28 May 2008). Touchscreens also require that applications have been designed or adapted for them, with buttons and other user interface components that are big enough to tap with your fingers. (Maybe devices like the iPad will create demand for such applications.) And touch screens aren't much use in word processing.
eInclusion
Regarding eInclusion I think there are very interesting thinks, which are being carrying on. DIEGO is a new project which aims to fight against these barriers in the eGovernment field.
You can have more information in www.diego-project.eu