The current discussion related to eGovernment and participation is deteriorating continuously, as it focuses on the present primary use of social media: a “Like” or short Tweet with a maximum 140 characters.
However, the much spoken of and desired participation means more than that.
As current cloud, mobile and social trends show, users are facing significant changes in information technology. The classic desktop era, which began its success story in 1995, has for some time now been stagnating. For several years sales figures have been recording a significant trend towards notebooks. Sales of tablet-PCs are currently skyrocketing (Gartner forecasts the sale of 119 mio mobile devices in 2012: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1980115)
Let me start by limiting the scope of my topic. This first paragraph actually elaborates and explains the headline which, apparently, should not go on forever.
1. This article deals exclusively with the accessibility of software programmes and web services.
2. Furthermore, it is restricted to legal requirements and compulsory directives in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
Based on current statements by leading analysts and market researchers, the dominant trends in the coming years are called Cloud, Mobile, Social Networks and Big Data.
Many CIOs will continue to regard these trends as mere prognoses. However, a second glance will reveal that these topics specifically have the potential for essential changes reaching far beyond the existing IT structures.
This article provides information on user-friendliness, or accessibility, for users with a broad range of skills, i.e. for people with the widest range of physical, sensory and cognitive abilities, including those who are temporarily disabled, and the elderly. I am pleased with this definition, which has been taken from the standard ISO 9241-171 for ergonomics guidance and specifications for the design of accessible software for use at work, in the home, in education and in public places. It covers issues associated with designing accessible software for people with the widest range of physical, sensory and cognitive abilities, including those who are temporarily disabled, and the elderly.
Nearly everyone in a responsible position will agree that companies and public institutions must place increasing emphasis on data security. However, I would like to challenge the sense of how this is currently enacted in regard to mobile access.
The study ‟(N)ONLINER Atlas 2011‟ by ‟Initiative D21‟ shows that the number of NONLINER (“non-users of the Internet “) in Germany is slowly declining (27% 2009 | 24% 2010 | 22% 2011).
A closer look and comparison within Europe confirms this positive trend.
Examined from a bird’s eye perspective, reports on Open Government give a thoroughly positive impression:
The utilization of Internet services is increasing constantly, as the E-Government Monitor 2011 study (text in German), despite regional differences, clearly demonstrates. Sweden and Austria reached 69 and 68 points respectively in the utilization of eGovernment services.
However, for small administrative units, such as small councils, online services quickly prove a financial drain. Continue reading
The social web continues to grow – and so does its importance – both for the purpose of social interaction and for commerce. Although there are sporadic cases of companies excluding themselves from the social media environment, today’s consumer sector, in particular, can hardly do without these instruments.
And the development doesn’t exclude the public sector. This summer, for instance, the Japanese town Takeo moved its entire Internet site to a Facebook page (info).
Does this mean that Facebook will be deciding the age of Social Government in the future?
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