Utilisation of New Technologies

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Utilisation of New Technologies
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Utilisation of New Technologies

• What has technology got to do with Social
  Disadvantage?
• Today, we access vital information that affects
  our daily lives by using electronic devices to
  retrieve that information.
• By not having access to such technology, people
  in our society are disadvantaged.

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Information Society

• Equality through communication
• Information is useless unless it is communicated
• Ability to access and interact with information

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Communication is a Two Way Process

• We as a species have a genetic compulsion to
  communicate. (Mobile Phones)
• Those of us, who have difficulty in the realm of
  communication, are therefore disadvantaged
• If we cannot receive or transmit information we
  are isolated and disadvantaged

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Negative Effects

• Excluded from knowledge,
• From information,
• From learning
• From growing as individuals

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Negative Effects

• Cannot access well-paid jobs
• Have very low incomes
• Generally have poorer health.
• Have very little hope of a better future.

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Utilisation of New Technology

• The innovative and effective utilisation of new
  technology promises a better future.
• But a better future for whom?

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Is Technology an Effective Aid

• TO SOCIAL INCLUSION
• OR
• A MASSIVE BARRIER TO MEANINGFUL
  INTEGRATION

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Utilisation of New Technology

• How would we describe these people?

• Technologically Excluded

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Utilisation of New Technology

• If people cannot access that new technology,
• How can we utilise modern technology to their
  continuing benefit.
•  

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Utilisation of New Technology

• Today some people with disabilities do
  communicate
• How

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Utilisation of New Technology

• Visually impaired
• Computer screens that magnify words and letters
• Convert text to speech and speech to text.
• Braille keyboards and computers that print to
  Braille printers

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Utilisation of New Technology

• Hearing Impaired
• Use discreet electronic hearing aids
• Use Minicom for telephone communication
• TV programmes films have subtitles

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Utilisation of New Technology

• People Without Motor Skills
• Drive and navigate electric wheelchairs, operate
  other machinery
• Communicate, by simply blowing in a thin tube
  connected to air pressure switches.

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Utilisation of New Technology

• Such people are small minority in Europe,
• and
• are so a small number in terms of mainstream
  employment, so as to be almost immeasurable.

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The Philosophy of Access to New Technology

• To new ideas
• To new systems
• To new technology

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The Philosophy of Access to New Technology

• We must Ensure those least able to connect
• Keep pace with progress
• And not further segregated or isolated from
  society

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Consequences of Failure

• A new technological underclass will emerge from
  the poor
• From the unemployed
• From the disaffected
• From people with disabilities
• The dangers of repeating the mistakes of the past
  are self-evident

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Our Message Is Positive and Strong

• People with disabilities
• and
• other disadvantaged groups
• need to be included now.

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So What Must We Do

• Apply pressure to national governments
• Local Authorities and the EU
• Engage with hardware manufacturer
• Software developers and product distributors
• Engage with large corporations
• Public bodies

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Why Must We Take Those Actions

• Such organisations agree
• That as they update and replace their equipment
• They distribute recycled computers and supply
  them free of charge?
• Ensure equipment is affordable
• Easy payment terms

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How can we do this

• Communication campaign
• Email all the chief executives
• Directors and shareholder
• Procurement managers of major companies and
  institutions.
• We sell the benefits of employing people with
  disabilities

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How Can We Do This

• We deliver basic skills basic computer skills
  training
• We operate Equal Opportunities Policies

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How Can We Do This

• We create an exciting and effective website
• highlighting good practice
• promoting the social and commercial benefits of
  equality of employment
• advertising the ethos of inclusion in society and
  the work place.

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What Else Must We Do

• Within our own organisations
• Ensure we maintain awareness of these issues
• Educate our subordinates
• Senior managers
• Stakeholders

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Utilisation of New Technology

• We know what is possible now.
• We know some of what may be possible in the
  future.

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Our Goal 

• What we as a team should achieve
• is a clear and communicable vision
• of the actions that we believe are immediately
  necessary
• to eradicate technological exclusion.

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Utilisation of New Technology

• We have a moral responsibility to actively target
  those most in need.
• We have a social duty to positively contribute to
  a fairer and more caring European society.

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Utilisation of New Technology

• We must act quickly and with a certainty of
  purpose and use our current and future
  technological skills to ensure effectiveness and
  success.

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Utilisation of New Technologies