Welsh Digital Inclusion Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, MP has urged industries, organisations and government departments to consider usability when designing equipment to help combat social and digital exclusion.
Speaking at the Ofcom conference, Usability in the Communications Sector, Mr Irranca-Davies said: “Digital inclusion isn’t just only about access, skills or confidence - it is also about designing usable equipment for all without the need for special adaptation or specialised design.
“Digital inclusion is a key objective of this Government, to make sure that everyone in the UK, regardless of their circumstances has the opportunity to benefit from the information revolution. Overcoming this digital exclusion is not just a social necessity, it is estimated that it could be worth up to €85 billion to European companies and governments over the next five years.
“Over the coming months the Government will publish a Digital Strategy Action Plan which will outline the actions we will take to make everyone more digitally included.
“But the message today is that inclusive design is good design. This isn’t just about disabled people or older people. It’s about making it easier for everyone to use technology and access communications. And the size of the market for usable equipment will increase as the population ages and more and more people begin to use technology.
“Our aim is to inspire progress and to encourage industry, other government departments and other organisations to exploit and examine the benefits of easily usable equipment and to help input into an Ofcom-wide strategy on usability to combat social and digital exclusion. There is no better place to start than at the design stage - promoting the benefits of easy to use software and equipment.”
[From PublicTechnology.net]
