WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the global village continues its digital evolution, it is critical that all of its citizens be able to use its products and services, and that includes the disabled and the elderly.
That was the key message in a speech that CRTC secretary general Robert Morin made Tuesday to the Global Forum conference in Washington.
“We live in a world where technology is evolving at such a fast rate that it’s sometimes hard to keep up”, Morin said. “Who would have thought 10 years ago that we would be able to access the Internet from almost anywhere on our cellphones, laptops, netbooks and other mobile devices? People of all ages and backgrounds are interacting with each other on social networks.
“And yet a significant proportion of the population may face obstacles in accessing and participating in all of its economic, social and cultural dimensions.”
Morin pointed out that roughly one in seven Canadians is presently over the age of 65, and that this proportion of the population is set to grow as baby boomers approach retirement. He also noted that more than 4 million Canadians, or 14% of the population, have some form of a disability, and these numbers will likely rise as our population ages over the next 10 to 15 years. These demographic trends are not unique to Canada, and most developed countries are noticing a comparable trend, he added.
He then detailed a number of decisions that the CRTC has made to facilitate access to communications services for all Canadians, such as requiring that wireless service providers offer at least one type of cellphone to serve the needs of people with disabilities, and the national Internet Protocol relay service rolling out this year whereby an operator will convert text messages into voice calls, and vice versa, using any Internet-enabled device for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Morin encouraged the private sector to assist with initiatives of this nature, for example, by developing products and services tailored to every segment of the population.
“The more technologically dependent we become, the higher the risk of isolation or social exclusion”, he continued. “The public and private sectors must work in a coordinated fashion to create an inclusive digital society for all. Given the opportunities before us, the investments we make today will benefit our countries for generations to come.”
– Lesley Hunter
