Page 61 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

ARTICLE

Leaving No-one Behind in Digital Inclusion

In an intelligent world, the ultimate goal is
to leave no-one behind. Digital inclusion
means every individual and organization
can equally access and use information
and communications technology.

Our world is rapidly advancing as technology accelerates the
advent of the intelligent society. But while the convenience of
science and technology propel the evolution of society, it is also
creating what has become known as a digital gap, which separates
members of the community who are technologically savvy versus
those who are less familiar. Bridging this gap by actively pursuing
digital inclusion is essential in order to create a cohesive society
in which everyone benefits equally.

The digital gap is a global phenomenon. In many cities in China,
elderly people may be unable to hail a taxi on the street because
taxis today are booked predominantly through mobile phones.
Inhabitants in the Comoros islands, as recently as two years
ago, were isolated from the outside world because they had no
communications network. In Bangladesh, women in particular
have limited opportunities to learn about computers.

As the infrastructure of the intelligent world, the information and
communications technology (ICT) industry has played a vital role Charles Yang
in promoting national economic growth, as well as boosting social President
welfare and happiness. ICT can contribute to the realisation of the Huawei Middle East
United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enabling
humanity to address challenges such as poverty, inequality,
climate change, environmental deterioration, economic issues,
and healthcare problems.

In an intelligent world, the ultimate goal is to leave no-one
behind. Digital inclusion means every individual and organization
can equally access and use information and communications
technology. Technology shouldn’t sit in an ivory tower. When it
is accessible to all, it has the potential to be life-changing; it can
provide visually impaired children with the joy of endless reading,
enable people to decipher the frequencies that whales sing to
their loved ones, and open up whole new worlds of experiences.

61 NOVEMBER 2019