Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion
David Robinson and Thomas Crawford
May 2015
agenda
• introducing Texthelp
• digital inclusion challenge
• overcoming the barriers for the print disabled
• social business model for assistive technology provision
• browsealoud assistive technology – reading support for the web
from literacy to life
partners
Digital Inclusion – What is it?
● Global initiative that aims to address inequalities in society
● Exists when everyone in society can access technologies and benefit from
their use in ways that are personally meaningful and relevant
● Encompasses a number of inter-related themes…
Example Text
Access
Access to technologies e.g. mobile phones, computers,
tablets, the internet, a broadband connection
Use
Using, and being able to use, the technologies that you
have access to
Empowerment
Having basic digital skills and being self-sufficient
Participation
Beyond civic engagement to include e-learning
millions of citizens in need of help
80,000,000
79,940,000
in Europe
don’t have
basic online skills
population of Netherlands,
Belgium, Greece, Czech
Republic, Portugal, Hungary,
Austria
50,000,000 people in Europe are dyslexic and
many face impaired access to education and work
Source: European Dyslexic Association, 2014
people in Europe with reduced mobility represent
40% of the population
Source: European Disability Forum, 2014
30,000,000 people in Europe are
blind or partially sighted
Source: European Blind Union, 2014
millions of Europeans live outside their country of
origin
Source: neweuropeans.net, 2015
the divide is widening
divide widening
harder to find
and get jobs
Pay higher prices for goods &
services that are offline
Unequal access to public services
that are increasingly moving online
divide widening
Increased social exclusion as
relationships go online
Ageing population
Young people without home
internet may struggle with
educational attainment
digital inclusion matters to everyone
Digital Inclusion Challenge
Barriers to Inclusion:
• No Physical Access
• Economically Disadvantaged
• Print Disabled
Dyslexia
Mild Visual Impairments
Non-native Speakers
Low Literacy
Ageing Population
Example Text
Overcoming the Barriers for the Print Disabled
Many Forms of Assistive Technology can help
●
Example
Text
Screen Readers for people who are blind or seriously visually impaired
● Screen Magnifiers and Text Enlargers to help people with milder visual impairment
● Text Readers for people who have dyslexia or difficulty reading
Assistive Technology Ownership
Microsoft & Forrester Research found:
Example Text
There is a negative correlation with disability and earning power.
●
People who need Assistive Technology cannot afford it.
There is a higher proportion of disabled people among lower socio-economic groups.
●
People who cannot afford assistive technology are more likely to need it.
social business model
free at the point of use
we’ll take care of the tough stuff
boosting digital skills
engagement and achievement
introducing browsealoud
browsealoud toolbar
hover highlighting
text magnification
text selection
screen mask
translator
web page simplifier
MP3 maker
customisable settings
dual colour highlighting
browsealoud toolbar
translator
• written and spoken translation in 35 languages
• written translation in a further 43 languages
• option to switch on/off as desired by website owner
MP3 maker
• website visitors can convert text to MP3 file
• website owners can create their own MP3 files
browsealoud toolbar
text magnification
• magnifies text as it is read aloud
• text displayed along top of the screen
• large, x large and xx large text sizes
screen mask
• blocks distractions on the screen
• letterbox reading window
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
7,000 Websites Worldwide including:
browsealoud demo
New Look browsealoud – Coming very soon:
● New toolbar - New Mobile toolbar
● New “Launch Pad”
● New easy integration options
o
o
Choose your toolbar
Choose your Launch Pad location
● Increased usability, increased discoverability, increased accessibility
● Keyboard Accessible
http://babmqa.texthelp.com/uitest/orange-top-right.html
why browsealoud
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•
•
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helps remove barriers to digital inclusion
promotes social inclusion and personal empowerment
provides support and information to vulnerable groups
fully scalable
works on all common platforms: pc’s, mac’s, tablets, smartphones
reduces costs
99%
savings
interaction cost:
PWC
in person
phone
post
online
$16.45
$5.29
$18.90
$0.12
David Robinson
General Manager – Corporate
Thomas Crawford
International Business development
tel:
+44 (0) 28 9442 8105
email: d.robinson@texthelp.com
t.crawford@texthelp.com
web: www.texthelp.com