Mainstreaming Knowledge on Ageing: Thinking Digital Accessibility.

By technology, aging & longevity, , , , ,

Over the last few years I have attended the online speaker series – Mainstreaming Knowledge on Ageing organized by UNITAR – (United Nations Institute for Training and Research), which brings together a collaborative group of agency supporters such as ITU – the International Telecommunication Union, GIA – the Global Initiative on Ageing and ILC – the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance; all in aid of advancing dialogue about global issues facing ageing populations.

Staying with the theme of ageing and technology from my last two posts, last week’s UNITAR session focus was on The Right to Science and Access to Technologies for Older Persons. Naturally there are several aspects to this, but here there seemed to be less on science and more on the access to digital technologies as used in the daily lives of older citizens; the lack thereof in training on how to use technology or moreover the inequity in terms of access by those with disabilities.

Two presentations stood out for me, both which bring useful information and insight for anyone working in the field of ageing and longevity who are trying to apply standards and frameworks to the implementation of better access points to digital technologies for older persons less fortunate and/or underserved in their communities – it’s all down to improving Digital Accessibility as discussed by Loly Gaitan – Programme Officer at ITU, the first presenter.

Opening the session, Gaitan shared the UN Global Perspectives statistic that by 2050, two thirds of the global population will need to use fully accessible technologies or ICT’s (Information and Communications Technologies) in order to participate in areas such as health care systems to name one. And with that Gaitan referenced the 2021 ITU report “Ageing in a digital world – from vulnerable to valuable” which lays out the case for the growing need to meet this demand.

“Digital accessibility enables digital inclusion and ensures inclusive communication for all people, regardless of their gender, age, ability or location.”

So heads the ITU – ICT / digital accessibility web page; and further, to help public agencies, academia, governments and other organizations assess and structure their pathway, there is the ITU toolkit – Towards building inclusive digital communities download.

 

For me it was the insightful presentation on inclusive design by Jutta Treviranus – Director, Inclusive Design Research Centre, OCAD University in Toronto that caught most of my attention with the clarity in explaining her thinking approach to designing for diversity. Though it may not be news to those in the design world, Treviranus proposed that in the design process true innovation is found “at the jagged edge” of our human starburst. Yes this begs more explanation.

After the session I found this thorough, easy to understand 2019 article by Treviranus titled Inclusive Design: The Bell Curve, the Starburst and the Virtuous Tornado (as if that doesn’t grab your attention). Essentially for this conversation, if a technology is only designed to meet the needs of a majority of average users and regressively does not meet the needs of a minority of users on the edge such as those with disabilities, then the technology is not designed to be inclusive.

The final two UNITAR sessions in this series for 2025 are on October 16th – Accountability and Redress in Cases of Intersectional Discrimination Against Older Persons and on Nov.13th – Increased Demographics, Urbanism, and the Right to Food for Older Persons and you can register from this link 2025 – AGEING & OLDER PERSONS.