People who are unable to use technology will eventually be “cut off from their communities”, a Geelong councillor has warned.
Councillor Rod Macdonald’s sombre assessment followed an inaugural Communities Accessing Technology forum that urged community groups to help expand “digital inclusion” in Geelong.
“In the future everything that can be digitised will be, so if people can’t access technology they will be cut off from their communities,” Cr Macdonald said.
“It’s therefore crucial that we raise awareness of the issue of digital inclusion and partner together to address skills gaps and engage at this community group level.”
The forum was part of National Year of Digital Inclusion activities to enhance technology access and skills among segments of the community including the elderly and disadvantaged.
Author and forum speaker Brad Howarth addressed the need to ensure equity of technology-access across society.
“Technology will provide benefits to society as a whole but will technology benefit the whole of society?
“This is the question we need to ask and have at least partially answered if we are to address the issue of digital inclusion,” Mr Howarth said.
More information about the National Year of Digital Inclusion is available at geelongaustralia.com.au/nydi.
