Ng Irene Y H, Lim Sun Sun, Pang Natalie
Department of Social Work, Social Service Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Department of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore, Singapore.
Univers Access Inf Soc. 2022 Apr 15:1-11. doi: 10.1007/s10209-022-00877-9.
Digital resources-which include devices, internet connection and digital literacy-have become basic needs. Thus with the global COVID-19 pandemic having accelerated digitalization, the urgency for universal digital inclusion has hastened. Otherwise, digital inequality will lead to social inequality and impede social mobility. Using Singapore as a case study, this article applies the insights learned from a participatory action research to recommend a policy framework for universal digital access, with practical humanistic steps towards full digital inclusion. Singapore is a digitally advanced nation with almost universal digital availability, yet when COVID-19 forced rapid digital adoption, gaps in access by vulnerable groups such as low-income households, elderly and migrant workers were found. From the learning points on gaps and measures taken by community groups, volunteers and policy-makers in our research, we recommend making access to all three digital resources automatic and affordable, with an undergirding principle to implement technology among the most digitally excluded first before national roll out. A public-community-corporate funding and partnership model is also proposed to sustain universal provision.
数字资源，包括设备、互联网连接和数字素养，已成为基本需求。因此，随着全球新冠疫情加速了数字化进程，实现普遍数字包容的紧迫性也日益增加。否则，数字不平等将导致社会不平等并阻碍社会流动。本文以新加坡为例，运用参与式行动研究得出的见解，推荐一个实现普遍数字接入的政策框架，以及迈向全面数字包容的切实人文举措。新加坡是一个数字先进的国家，几乎实现了数字资源的普遍覆盖，但在新冠疫情迫使人们迅速采用数字技术时，发现低收入家庭、老年人和外来务工人员等弱势群体在数字接入方面存在差距。根据我们研究中社区团体、志愿者和政策制定者在差距及所采取措施方面的经验教训，我们建议使所有这三种数字资源的获取变得自动且价格合理，并遵循一项基本原则，即在全国推广之前，先在数字排斥最严重的人群中实施技术应用。还提出了一种公共-社区-企业的资金和合作模式，以维持普遍供应。
