Digital systems with much greater efficiency and speed are replacing paper-based and people-intensive systems everywhere and including services that we are all obliged to use as part of our society.
What happens when some members of the community do not have the knowledge or connectivity to us these obligatory digital services?
Organisations requiring the public to engage with their services digitally will need to provide a digital platform, locally, for the public to use.
The simplicity of use, reliability, fast connectivity and some on-hand tech support will be necessary. Sections of the community that have no access and are excluded will need publicly available kiosks providing email access and access to now default-digital essential services.
At K4B we have been offering digital information solutions to Surestart centres for a decade or more. Digital inclusion programmes to provide access to digital services in recent times.
Local councils, care homes, housing associations, family hubs, libraries etc will need to provide digital access to services for some people in their community. Email platforms will be important to provide to enable communication and logins for services requiring an email address. Those without internet access will be excluded from services without publicly provided internet kiosks. Simplicity of operation and reliability are key aspects of gaining acceptance by new older users. Straight availability and reliability are needed for others without access.
The K4B solution for digital inclusion is typically a tablet, or touchscreen kiosk (desktop, wall-mounted or freestanding, depending on circumstance) with K4B “Information-Point" App featuring pre-setup free email platforms? (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo mail etc), banking apps and necessary utilities.
All can be pre programmed easily. Internet access can be further pre-set to offer the list of sites you choose – or to include all except the list of sites you need blocked. Information-Point has been doing this for 10+ years for many customers
Default digital services
Digital inclusion solutions help anyone to use digital services where they have no access. Lack of access is either lack of knowledge or no access to connectivity. Previous paper based and people intensive systems are being replaced by digital systems with much greater efficiency and speed using smartphones and tablets etc. But the default-digital approach relies on the service users having access to a PC, tablet or smartphone and internet connectivity.
To use digital services is a user choice where it is a discretionary service. But, as society and governments roll out default-digital services, the public is obliged to use this method of accessing services, paying for them and communicating with the service provider.
The Big Problem..
This presents a problem to those who have not used smartphones or tablets before or do not have the means or circumstances to afford their own
.
This section of the community is or will be Digitally excluded from these online services.
Availability of Public kiosks & Connectivity
As the digital, way of communication and service access is gathering pace, access to the fundamental services of life needs to be provided for those that are digitally excluded. For those who have never been involved with PCs and the internet, simplicity of use, training and on-hand tech support will be necessary. For others that simply do not have access to a PC or connectivity, locally available connected kiosks will be essential to be able to use the services,
K4B Complete solutions
Our creative Digital inclusion approach offers one of our interactive touchscreen kiosks loaded with our “Information-Point" “App" inclusion software, plus any internet connectivity required – the complete solution.
Our customer service team will help tailor the “App" to include all services suggested by our client – typically, all email platforms and all common default-digital only utilities, required by everyone in everyday life.
Click here to discuss your requirements.
