Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to learn so much about Digital Inclusion – thanks to amazing ex-colleagues like Daiana Beitler, PhD and Marija (Maria) Ralic from the Microsoft Asia Philanthropy team.
Learning which has been further shaped by two stories:
📚STORY 1: “When you do not intentionally, deliberately include…you will unintentionally exclude.”
This quote I saw during a visit to Microsoft’s ‘Inclusive Gaming Lab’ in Seattle in 2018.
The lab is focused on creating gaming experiences that are inclusive – meaning inclusion and equity are built in at the design stage.
During an inspirational afternoon, we:
- Learned how military veterans who had lost limbs in combat could play Xbox games and stay connected with friends with accessible gaming
- Saw how Microsoft’s Adaptive Controller allowed children with disabilities to play the same games on an equal footing with all their friends
- Watched the remarkable video of a blind man playing a game through sound and vibrating consols – and beating a fully sighted person!
I still get goosebumps when thinking about that afternoon.
📚STORY 2: “You kids buying me the iPad was one of the best things. It’s helped me stay connected, learn and just keep my mind active.”
In early 2020, my 82-year-old mother came to Singapore for her 6-week winter break from the UK and soon found herself stuck for two years as borders closed during the pandemic.
Like most of us, she leaned into technology through Covid – but at mum’s age, it was amazing to see her:
- Use FaceTime to stay connected with family and friends around the world
- Teach cooking classes on Zoom during the lockdown
- Learn new recipes from YouTube (we’re never too old to learn!)
- Watch religious and spiritual shows/ceremonies on YouTube
- Listen to Bollywood tunes on Spotify
- Track her daily walks and sleep with a Fitbit (she put us to shame, clocking up 10,000 steps a day!)
Now at 85 and back in the UK, she’s slowed down – but very much uses technology daily to stay connected and keep her mind active.
📱Our efforts towards inclusion in gender, race, and other areas are incomplete without digital inclusion. True inclusion in our interconnected world is impossible without digital literacy and access.
In a world advancing rapidly towards AI, ensuring everyone, especially the least tech-savvy, remains included is not just a necessity but a responsibility – to ensure meaningful connectivity and inclusion for all.
🎮”When everyone plays, we all win” (Xbox advert)
