Responsible Digital Day – Round table to close the day: Bridging the digital divide
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Digital responsibility and the digital divide are issues that are particularly close to our hearts. We strive to raise awareness of these issues among our customers, and are aware of our role in doing so. This article provides a summary of the event organised in Geneva by the universities, the state and the city of Geneva.
Bridging the digital divide, not thinking about it
This is not a mistake, but an intentional play on words on the part of the organisers of this event. It's about finding solutions to reduce inequalities in the digital world. This round table brought together a number of issues that exacerbate this divide. The digital divide and the problems of digital literacy are indeed of concern to the public authorities.
A round table with teachers
At the round table, professors discussed the challenges, risks, prospects and concrete examples of how to limit and reduce the digital divide. There was talk of people being reintegrated into society, job seekers and apprenticeships, as well as the fundamental problem of gender in IT professions. Many of the discussions focused on artificial intelligence and how a technological advance can further widen the digital divide.
Speakers and key positions
The panel of speakers was made up of 4 experts in the field :
- Noria Foukia - HES HEPIA professor, emphasised the lack of understanding of technical skills among young people. Although they have considerable intuitive skills with technical tools, they often lack an understanding of the underlying workings and associated issues.
- Isabelle Collet - professor at UNIGE, addressed the systemic problem of the over-representation of white males in the tech world.
- Daniele Beltrametti - lecturer FAPSE UNIGE, highlighted the growing digital divide among illiterate people.
- Jérôme Duberry - managing director Tech Hub and senior researcher IHEID, stressed that all technology is political and that we absolutely must think about its societal impact, encouraging young people to have an impact on the future and to express their views on the role of technology in our society.
Rethinking spaces to access services
Digital technology is often seen as a factor in increasing disparities, and unfortunately this is indeed the case. Digital transformation, as opposed to physical services, is a reality today. However, proper support should never be called into question. If a city already manages all its data and procedures digitally, it has and always will have a duty to remain accessible to the entire population. This means that services must be offered by a member of staff at the counter or in a space that is neither stigmatising nor discouraging, for all those who do not have the ability or desire to use an online self-service platform.
What does Antistatic mean?
From the outset, we have been designing interfaces that simplify users' lives. We create tools that improve communication. The digital divide is always on our minds when we design and develop our projects. We think about accessibility, usability and simplifying interfaces. However, there is still room for improvement in the way we support our customers so that we can take all these people into account.