removing barriers to digital inclusion. chair: mark mccusker, ceo, texthelp ltd panelists: dave...

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Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin, CEO, Funka Daryl Novak, Director of Operations, Southern Ontario Library Service

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Page 1: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion.

Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp LtdPanelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, TexthelpSusanna Laurin, CEO, FunkaDaryl Novak, Director of Operations, Southern Ontario Library Service

Page 2: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion

David HerrCorporate Business Manager

Texthelp

Page 3: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Digital Inclusion – What is it?

• Access to technologies e.g. mobile phones, computers, tablets, the internet, a broadband connection

• Using, and being able to use, the technologies that you have access to

• Having basic digital skills, that empowers individuals to be self-sufficient

• Allows participation beyond civic engagement to include e-learning

Page 4: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Global Awareness of Need

United Nations Pledge: to get everyone online by 2030…..

….but millions of world citizens need help

Page 5: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

The Divide is widening…

• harder to find and get jobs

• Pay higher prices for goods & services that are offline

• Unequal access to public services

Page 6: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Barriers to Inclusion

• No physical access• Economically disadvantaged• Print disabled

DyslexiaMild visual impairmentsNon-native speakersLow literacyAging population

Page 7: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion

126 million US citizens lack the digital skills to access information or shop online independently

with confidence

Source: US Census Bureau

Page 8: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

An Aging Problem Globally

• 1975 = 122 centenarians in Australia

• By 2055 = ?

Source: Intergenerational Report

Page 9: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

An Aging Problem Globally

• 1975 = 122 centenarians in Australia

• By 2055 = 40,000 centenarians predicted

Source: Intergenerational Report

Page 10: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Overcoming the Barriers

• Assistive Technology can help– 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

Page 11: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Microsoft & Forrester Research

There is a negative correlation with disability and earning power.

– People who need Assistive Technology often 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

Page 12: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Social Business Model

• Free at the point of use• Cost borne by the website owner• Economic benefits of being digitally inclusive

Page 13: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Assistive Technology Toolbar

Range of tools: Text-To-SpeechWritten and spoken translationText magnificationPage simplificationScreen maskingMP3 generationPersonalized settings

Page 14: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion

Susanna Laurin, CEO [email protected]

Twitter @FunkaNu

Page 15: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Something is happening!

• Regulation on Procurement

• Proposed Web Directive

• Measuring methodology

• Section 508

• The future of WCAG

• Several national initiatives

Page 16: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Mobile is Missing

Page 17: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

The Reality

• Business focus on mobile

• Conversion rates means user testing

• UX and accessibility go hand in hand

Page 18: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Smart 2014/0061

Monitoring methodologies for web accessibility in the European Union

Page 19: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

The current situation

Page 20: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Trends in EU + 4

• New interface usually means better

• Economic crisis drives private sector

• Blind users in focus

• Far too little multi media in public sector

• Mobile lacks standards

Page 21: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

The road to success

• Not too precise legislation

• Good policies and guidelines

• Competent industry

• Active user organizations

Page 22: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Removing barriers to digital inclusion

Design for all – what is the alternative?

Page 23: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Case Study

Daryl Novak

Director of Operations

Page 24: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Southern Ontario Library Service

1. Context– Ontario Public Libraries– Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS)– Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

(AODA)

2. Browsealoud, SOLS and public libraries

Page 25: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Ontario Public Libraries

• Ontario population 13.0 million +• North and south split• 191 libraries in south• As small as an on-reserve with a population of

250• As large as Toronto, 4th largest in NA, highest per

capita circulation in world• Provincial legislation; municipally funded &

operated at arm’s length

Page 26: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

SOLS

• “QUANGO”• Non-membership based services, some free• ILLO and delivery• Training and development• E-resources and e-collections• Collective purchasing agreement (CPAs)

Page 27: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

CPAs

• Vendors of record-tenders /sole source /broader public

• Preferred vendor• Terms and conditions• True DISCOUNTS

Page 28: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

AODA

• Customer Service• Information and Communication• Employment• Transportation• Design of Public Space

Page 29: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Customer Service

• Accessible formats• Accessible websites• Emergency procedures• Public libraries

Page 30: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Browsealoud, SOLS & Public Libraries

• Vendor approach 2013, free access for SOLS• 13/14 – 20 libraries spent $60,000, saved

$13,600• 14/15 – 18 libraries spent $41,500, saved

$10,400• 15/16 – 29 to date!

Page 31: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Browsealoud, SOLS and Public Libraries

Average ‘hits’ 500-800 per library 183 SOLS

Page 32: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Vendor Support and Follow-up

• Annual statistics and updates• Marketing, webinars• Product enhancement and new product

development

Page 33: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion

Page 34: Removing Barriers to Digital Inclusion. Chair: Mark McCusker, CEO, Texthelp Ltd Panelists: Dave Herr, Corporate Business Manager, Texthelp Susanna Laurin,

Thanks for listening!

Mark McCuskerCEO Texthelp

[email protected]

Dave HerrCorporate Business Manager, [email protected]

Susanna LaurinCEO [email protected]

Daryl NovakDirector of Operations, [email protected]