The Hindu Business Line : Bringing Silver surfers into the Web

Being excluded from the information society reinforces exclusion from society at large,” says Dr Andrew Sors, Head, Science & Technological Development, Delegation of the European Commission in India.

Dr Sors was recently in India to participate in the e-Sangathan international conference in Mumbai organised by Mahindra & Mahindra. The European Commission was also associated with the conference, which discussed the inclusion of ageing knowledg e workers in the information society.

Excerpts from a chat with eWorld:

Please tell us about the European Commission’s e-inclusion initiatives.

In 2007, the Internet attracted nearly 40 million new regular users in the 27 countries that make up the European Union (250 million in total). The European Union (EU), through its executive body, the European Commission, is making sure that more and more Europeans get online.

On the one hand, the European Commission pursues the rollout of the necessary infrastructure for accessing the Internet across Europe, for example by supporting the deployment of high-speed broadband Internet, an area where Europe is a world leader. On the other hand, the European Commission is also making sure that nobody is unable to take advantage of this improved Internet availability, by vigorously pursuing e-Inclusion.

Being excluded from the information society reinforces exclusion from society at large. For example, digital illiteracy makes it harder to apply for a job: few employers in the European Union accept a resume that has not been typed, and with 77 per cent of EU businesses having a high-speed broadband Internet connection in 2007, most expect job applications to be e-mailed. This digital divide is felt by as many as one in three Europeans today, and is present across the world. But the solutions are just as universal, among which are affordable access to technologies, accessibility and usability of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tools and services, and the ability and skills to use them.

We believe that promoting the use of ICT will help overcome social exclusion and improve economic performance. Empowering individuals with ICT widens employment opportunities, quality of life and social participation. As stressed by Viviane Reding, European Commissioner responsible for Information Society and Media issues, access to information by all citizens is a right and a condition for prosperity

In November 2007, the European Commission launched an e-Inclusion initiative to realise these goals on a wider scale and look at ways to “enable, accelerate and integrate”.

This initiative aims to: ensure e-accessibility, meaning ICT solutions that are affordable and adapted to particular individual needs, including people with disabilities; improve access to broadband and improved levels of digital competences; accelerate effective participation of those at risk of exclusion, and improve their quality of life. And last — integrate e-Inclusion actions in Europe and beyond.

The factors leading to digital divide vary in different geographies, as do the strategies to tackle them. Given this, how do you compare e-inclusion initiatives in Europe, Africa and Asia?

Although Europe, Africa and Asia have their own very specific e-Inclusion problems, many exclusion factors are, in fact, common.

Let’s take the problem of geography and skills. Indeed just like in India and Africa, large parts of Europe suffer from rural-urban digital divide where there is poor connectivity. Even when it is improved, people still need to get the skills to be able to make use of it and to know how to turn the technology to their own advantage.

So, the key is to learn from each other — in India, for instance, people are very innovative in the way they come up with new applications for the existing technologies.

In rural areas, for instance, mobile phones are used to enable farmers to earn much more than they otherwise would. Simple technology can have a huge impact on individuals and on society in general.

Another case to bring up here is the ageing of our population. It is already becoming important in many economies, Europe, India, China alike. We have a lot to share!

We are looking to gather similar evidence from all over the world as to how ICT is used to people’s advantage.

On that basis we will be able to arrive at the best strategies that are worth sharing not only between the European countries but internationally.

A good example of the impact of ICTs on the ageing workforce was discussed at the e-Sangathan conference. Indeed, through the use of technology, retired knowledge workers are able to keep working on projects if they wish to do so.

They can work from home, don’t need to travel but are able to remain active for longer and this has an extremely positive impact on their lives.

That is why our e-inclusion initiative includes an awareness raising ‘Be Part of IT’ campaign, so that people know about these options. In Mumbai, some very relevant examples of Indian e-Inclusion projects have already emerged, so India is already part of it!

The e-inclusion initiatives have philanthropic as well as wealth generation aspects. What are the socio-economic benefits of empowering people with digital literacy?

This particular initiative was born in Europe, launched by the European Commission in response to the fact that 30-40 per cent of the population in Europe does not fully benefit from the digital society.

Let’s look at the Internet: only 25 per cent of those with lower levels of education against 77 per cent of those with higher education use the Internet; only 10 per cent of people over 64 use the Internet, against 73 per cent of young people (16-24 age group). We could keep quoting the unemployed or living in rural areas, or both, as the exclusion factors reinforce each other.

Such disparities not only mean that people are missing out on the opportunities but also worsen existing divisions in our society.

This will result in fewer jobs, higher costs, less social cohesion, and ultimately a less competitive Europe.

Let’s take the e-Sangathan’s ageing workforce again as an example. People who don’t work any more either receive unemployment benefits or pensions. Costs of healthcare are about to explode due to the rising number of people who will require it as the population is getting older. Less people to produce and create wealth and more to maintain and ensure they have decent lives. This means the need to re-design our socio-economic systems. A new social vision is needed.

Digital literacy will help the disabled, aged and others become more independent and confident in handling the struggles of daily life. It is more philanthropic than business in this case. Also, digital empowerment can enhance the resourcefulness of people. More number of people with computer skills would enhance the labour market. Your views…

Indeed, the history of the e-Inclusion policy lies with more philanthropic intentions to empower people (particularly people with disabilities) with technology so that they can live with dignity and as independently as possible. While technology can be a great enabler, it can also be a barrier. People with disabilities constitute about 15 per cent of the European population and many of them encounter difficulties when using ICT products and services (for example, using the phone when one is hearing impaired or using the computer and navigating the Internet when one is sight impaired). Those aspects need to be kept in mind when new e-Inclusion initiatives are launched.

Our research projects have revealed that some of the technological innovations in the field of disability are directly relevant to a very large part of the society, especially to older people. This finding is very important in today’s world as aging is becoming an issue all over the world.

The flow of the argument is — initially technology was designed with specific disabilities in mind; then it turned out that this technology can have wider market applications because of the ageing of population. At the same time a study in the US found that 60 per cent of working-age adults can benefit from the use of accessible technologies because they experience mild impairments or difficulties when using current technologies.

Summing up these factors, the equation is clear: making the benefits of accessible ICT available to the widest possible number of people is a social necessity and economic opportunity. We can even go one step further: empowering people with e-skills and competences, they can be lifted up from their difficult situation and therefore become a more productive part of the society. In a landmark Declaration made in Rig, Lithuania, in 2006, ministers of national governments from the European Union committed themselves to clear targets, such as halving the gap in Internet use and in digital literacy by 2010. Such targets could deliver benefits of €35-85 billion over five years. These are very tangible economic benefits and a triple win for the citizens, society and economy.

How do you view the e-inclusion initiatives in India and its future course of action? Tell us about the EU-India exchange in e-inclusion.

India is spreading both basic digital literacy and e-skills amongst its people, and provides quality education through the use of ICT tools across the nation.

One good example is obviously the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B), which has started telecasting its lectures to engineering colleges, free of charge, around the country. In parallel, there are several other initiatives to help people in rural areas. Nasscom and Knowledge Centres are particularly exciting, showing that even a relatively small investment in the form of a PC or Internet connection brings huge impact on the lives of the individuals and the communities they live in.

The role of the e-Inclusion campaign is to encourage organisations that run similar projects to become associated with the 2008 e-Inclusion initiative. After all, exchange of good practices will be valuable for all parties involved, across the world.

In terms of research activities, Indian organisations can take part in EU research programmes (called Framework Programmes) and receive funding. Many Indian programmes have already been successful (eSangathan is one of the examples). This is obviously a very tangible outcome of the EU-India dialogue on Information Society that started in 2001.

How will ICT initiatives help tackle the challenges faced by the European social model?

The countries of the European Union have set a goal for Europe: become a highly productive and competitive knowledge-based economy. More and better use of ICT throughout economy and society is one of the main ways that they plan to achieve this. ICT already accounts for 40 per cent of productivity growth in the European Union.

There is no better illustration of the key role of ICT throughout European society than the way it makes its demographic development into an economic opportunity.

By 2020, 25 per cent of the EU’s population will be over 65. It is fair to say that we associate the Internet with youth, and marvel at how quickly younger generations adapt to the Internet. Indeed, 80 per cent of Europeans aged 16-24 are regular Internet users. However, older Europeans are also important consumers with a combined wealth of over €3,000 billion. That is why we are investing more than €1 billion in making the Internet a paradise for silver surfers, making sure research and innovation produce technologies that help them get online and live the lives they want.

manu@thehindu.co.in