Promoting Wider Participation in the Digital Economy

6th May 2009

People affected by social exclusion could find it easier to access the life-changing benefits offered by digital technologies thanks to a £12million Digital Economy Research Hub being created between the University of Newcastle and the University of Dundee.

Poor health, disability, family breakdown, poverty and unemployment are just some of the reasons why people of all ages may become marginalised from society - and may lack the skills, confidence or opportunities to access and benefit from digital technologies that have the potential to transform their lives.

The Digital Economy Research Hub is one of three new centres being created by a massive investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to help develop digital technology to transform the lives of the elderly, disabled, and people in rural communities.

The investment was announced by Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and
Innovation.

Building on plans to provide universal connectivity to broadband in the UK, the new research hubs - Nottingham and Aberdeen will also host centres - are the biggest investment ever made by the research councils in creating a Digital Britain.

The University of Dundee will form a key part in the hub being led by Newcastle, which will address four fields where digital technologies and the building of a truly inclusive digital economy could deliver major social benefits: Connected Home & Community; Accessibility; Inclusive Transport Services; and Creative Industries.

“In all these areas, digital technologies can make a huge contribution to helping vulnerable people in our society,” says Professor Paul Watson from the University of Newcastle, the Hub’s Director.

“Moreover, as the digital economy evolves, more advice and information - on jobs, public services, sources of support and so on - will be available online rather than through traditional means. Tackling the problem of exclusion from the digital economy is critical to tackling social exclusion as a whole.”

Research groups at the University of Dundee have years of experience in working on inclusion in digital technologies, particularly with older and disabled people.

“We have considerable experience and expertise in this area and through our community computing centre and the user groups we have built up there we can contribute a great deal to seeing what works in getting people involved with the broad range of digital technology,” said Professor Vicki Hanson, from the School of Computing at Dundee.

The user groups provide benefits to both the older adults who come to the centre and to researchers. Instructors from the university help older adults learn how to use computers. In turn, these older adults help researchers by providing input about the usability and utility of new technologies.

The benefits of getting to grips with technology are clearly shown by Dundee couple John and Joyce Gibson, both 74, who are keen members of the existing user group at the School of Computing.

A critical aspect of shaping the Hub’s research will be by working closely with people who are affected by social exclusion. The team will work with a group of 3000 volunteers from the Dundee and Newcastle areas. This will include people from a range of age groups and with a variety of disabilities and learning difficulties.

“The volunteers will help determine the direction of our research from the outset,” said Professor Hanson. “We’ll also be able to work with this group to test potential solutions, including different ways of equipping people with the digital skills they need and providing them with information necessary to access services.”

A range of private sector businesses and public sector organisations will also make a fundam ental contribution to the work of the Hub. Collaborations with Philips Research, IBM and Microsoft will be developed, while Age Concern, the Alzheimer’s Society and other charities will be closely involved.

“Our aim is to generate a pipeline of high-quality ideas that can make a real difference to people’s lives, and then to start commercialising them as the Hub’s work nears its conclusion,” said Paul Watson. “As part of the Hub, we’ve set up a core technical team of software and hardware developers, so we’ll be able to produce prototypes that are as close to the envisaged eventual products as possible. That means we could see life-transforming solutions reach the market within three to five years.”

Gary Moulton, Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, said, “Information and communication technology can be instrumental in facilitating social
inclusion, yet determining exactly how older adults can best apply and use digital products and services requires extensive interdisciplinary and user-driven research.

“Within just a couple of years, the Hub will generate innovations that will be transformational for older adults while enabling them to maintain their quality of life. Microsoft, a global leader in inclusion for people of all abilities, is eager to participate and to help with this important work.”

Frances West, Worldwide Director of the IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center, said: “Technology that adapts to the unique needs of every individual - regardless of age or ability - is crucial to enabling economic self-sufficiency and lifelong independence.

“IBM is looking forward to collaborating with the Digital Economy Research Hub to address the needs of the aging population, which is such an important and rapidly growing part of the workforce and general population worldwide.”

Fred Boekhorst, Senior Vice President at Philips Research, said: “Applying sense and simplicity in the home and community domain will connect a yet unaddressed large group of people to the Digital Economy and thus society.

“The Digital Economy Research Hub will allow us to uncover consumer insights and translate these into meaningful innovations that will improve people’s lives.”

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