eInclusion

Action Line at Northen eDimensionAction Line at Northen eDimension

Linas PečiūraInformation Society Development Committee

Under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania

e-inclusion means new 'digital opportunities'

Access to information and Access to information and communication resources (not onlycommunication resources (not only the the internet, but also telephone or TV) is internet, but also telephone or TV) is increasingly considered as a basic social increasingly considered as a basic social need in modern, highly developed societies. need in modern, highly developed societies.

When, for any reason, a category of When, for any reason, a category of people are excluded from such access, the people are excluded from such access, the term 'digital divide' is often used. term 'digital divide' is often used.

Digital divide initiatives

The main activities to promote using The main activities to promote using ITT can be distinguished aiming in two ITT can be distinguished aiming in two directions: directions:

•ensuring availability of Internet ensuring availability of Internet access; access;

•and organisation of training.and organisation of training.

Internet access points are being widely established

• AustriaAustria • Luxembourg Luxembourg (public (public

access terminals)access terminals) • DenmarkDenmark • FinlandFinland • FranceFrance

• Sweden (in libraries, Sweden (in libraries, specialised centres)specialised centres)

• Holland (in Holland (in bookshops)bookshops)

• Spain (at institutions Spain (at institutions of regional and local of regional and local authorities)authorities)

Financial initiatives

European Union states apply tax European Union states apply tax relieves for different products related relieves for different products related to the use of new communications and to the use of new communications and information services (for computers, information services (for computers, the Internet, etc.). the Internet, etc.).

Educational initiatives

Intensive various teaching Intensive various teaching campaigns are carried out at campaigns are carried out at schools, PIAP’s as well as teaching schools, PIAP’s as well as teaching initiatives intended for the disabled initiatives intended for the disabled and elderly people are being and elderly people are being implemented in different countriesimplemented in different countries. .

The main factors driving people out the information society are:

•• Poverty and social exclusion; Poverty and social exclusion;

•• Education and skills gap in ICT (digital Education and skills gap in ICT (digital literacy);literacy);

•• Poor or no access to the internet in Poor or no access to the internet in remote areas or regions;remote areas or regions;

•• Personal factors such as age, gender or Personal factors such as age, gender or disability;disability;

NeDAP 2005-2006 agreed by the Heads of Government on 21 June 2004

The NeDAP 2005-2006 was The NeDAP 2005-2006 was agreed by the Heads of Government agreed by the Heads of Government on the 5th Baltic Sea States Summit on the 5th Baltic Sea States Summit in Laulasmaa, Estonia, 21 June 2004. in Laulasmaa, Estonia, 21 June 2004.

The main objectives of NeDAP 2005-2006 are as follows:

• To accelerate the Northern Dimension To accelerate the Northern Dimension region’s development of the Information region’s development of the Information SocietySociety

• To ensure closer cooperation between To ensure closer cooperation between the countries involved, taking into the countries involved, taking into account the need for improved co-account the need for improved co-operation between the EU and Russiaoperation between the EU and Russia

• To improve the environment for ICT To improve the environment for ICT initiatives and investments.initiatives and investments.

Action Line 8: eInclusion (Lithuania)Focus areas:

• Facilitating Internet access and promoting e-Facilitating Internet access and promoting e-literacy of digital divide part of societyliteracy of digital divide part of society

• Making sure that services, especially online Making sure that services, especially online public services, are available over different public services, are available over different terminals such as TV sets or mobile phonesterminals such as TV sets or mobile phones

• Digital content developmentDigital content development• Website accessibility issuesWebsite accessibility issues• Promoting services to the elderly and disabled Promoting services to the elderly and disabled

through the use of call centre technology.through the use of call centre technology.

Scope of the eInclusion AL

The eInclusion AL is complicated and The eInclusion AL is complicated and complex issue based on three pillars:complex issue based on three pillars:

•Access to infrastructure;Access to infrastructure;

•Competence development;Competence development;

•Digital content (e-Government Digital content (e-Government services) development;services) development;

Directions for further developments

• Promotion of e-literacy;Promotion of e-literacy;

• Encourage of development of local Encourage of development of local communities network;communities network;

• Closer collaboration on Website Closer collaboration on Website accessibility issues;accessibility issues;

• Dissemination of good practice;Dissemination of good practice;

Basis for further collaboration at Northern eDimention format

• European Computer Literacy European Computer Literacy Programme (ECDL)Programme (ECDL);;

• Towards Digital Communities;Towards Digital Communities;

• Web Accessibility Initiative;Web Accessibility Initiative;

• Private initiative “Window to the Private initiative “Window to the Future”.Future”.

European Computer Literacy Programme (ECDL)

• The ECDL initiative is accessible for all Lithuanian residents via The ECDL initiative is accessible for all Lithuanian residents via Internet. There are 71 authorised ECDL testing centres in Internet. There are 71 authorised ECDL testing centres in Lithuania. Lithuania.

• Cooperation with ECDL representatives in Latvia, Poland, Cooperation with ECDL representatives in Latvia, Poland, Finland, Norway, and Germany. Finland, Norway, and Germany.

• Lithuanian ECDL TestEngine translated into Lithuanian ECDL TestEngine translated into Russian language. Russian language.

• e-Citizen - specifically developed e-Citizen - specifically developed to cater for those with a limited to cater for those with a limited knowledge of computers and knowledge of computers and the Internet.the Internet.

Digital communities

• Initiative of Open Society Fund Lithuania “Towards Initiative of Open Society Fund Lithuania “Towards Digital Communities”Digital Communities”;;

– The main objective of the project “Toward Digital Communities” is The main objective of the project “Toward Digital Communities” is to stimulate digital human capacity development and to foster to stimulate digital human capacity development and to foster usage of ICT in rural areas of Lithuania for economical, social, usage of ICT in rural areas of Lithuania for economical, social, cultural and civic activities.cultural and civic activities.

– The national network of rural communities, actively using ICT, has The national network of rural communities, actively using ICT, has been formed. The Internet portal been formed. The Internet portal www.bendruomenes.ltwww.bendruomenes.lt for the for the communities has been launched and series of initiatives were communities has been launched and series of initiatives were provided in order to strengthen the relations between provided in order to strengthen the relations between communities, local media, and communities support organisations.communities, local media, and communities support organisations.

Web Accessibility Initiative

• The goal is to increase accessibility of the Web The goal is to increase accessibility of the Web for people with disabilities in Lithuania. for people with disabilities in Lithuania.

• At least 15 central Government Web Sites are At least 15 central Government Web Sites are designed for people with special needs.designed for people with special needs.

• March March 2004 2004 by Committee Director’s Order “On by Committee Director’s Order “On adoption of methodology and adoption of methodology and recommendations for creating, testing and recommendations for creating, testing and assessing Web Sites designed for disabled assessing Web Sites designed for disabled persons”. persons”.

Private initiative “Window to the Future”

• In cooperation with central and local In cooperation with central and local government institutions all over government institutions all over Lithuania 175 public Internet access Lithuania 175 public Internet access points have been points have been established;established;

• 20.000 people were 20.000 people were trained in 9 months;trained in 9 months;

Next steps for the implementation of the eInclusion AL

• Working Group for eInclusion AL Working Group for eInclusion AL everybody are welcomeeverybody are welcome

• 1st Meeting of the WG could be held in 1st Meeting of the WG could be held in Vilnius on mid June of 2005Vilnius on mid June of 2005

• Projects drafting till October 2005;Projects drafting till October 2005;• 2nd Meeting of the WG could be held in 2nd Meeting of the WG could be held in

Vilnius Last decade of October 2005.Vilnius Last decade of October 2005.

All stakeholders of the All stakeholders of the Northern Northern eDimention are invited to participate eDimention are invited to participate inin eInclusion AL. eInclusion AL.

PaldiPaldieess!!

Linas PeciuraLinas PeciuraInformation Society Development Committee Information Society Development Committee

under the Government of the Republic of under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania Lithuania

Address:Address:Gedimino ave 56, Gedimino ave 56, LT- 01110, VilniusLT- 01110, VilniusTel: +370 5 2665 161Tel: +370 5 2665 161Fax: +370 5 2665 180Fax: +370 5 2665 180E-mail E-mail info@ivpk.ltinfo@ivpk.ltl.peciura@ivpk.ltl.peciura@ivpk.lt