Making Research Count Conference, UCLan, 22 January 2016. Keynote Presentation slides and notes. Seven critical lenses for exploring the social impact of the internet and promoting digital equality.

1. The social impact of the Internet:
promoting digital equality
Making Research Count Conference
22nd January 2016
Sue Watling
s.watling@hull.ac.uk

2. Image from https://www.flickr.com/photos/umpcportal/4581962986

5. Image from http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/assets/0707/0000/0013/millbank2.jpg

6. Change the way you think about Hull | 7 October 2009 | 6

11. digital assumptions
…never assume
equivalent, equitable
internet access…

12. I’m sure that in addition there are
other ways folk can be digitally
excluded. We won’t fix it all, but
having the conversation and then
taking action is a good start.
You have certainly made me
think about some of the digital
assumptions I make.

13. Mouse, Eyes, Ears (MEE) Model
MEE model influences understanding of
• Digital Access
• Digital Support
• Digital Design

15. Stephen Hawking; scientist with
motor neurone disease
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFLVyWBDTfo
Mike Phillips One Thumb to Rule
Them All
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BhHwk9qSvI
Giesbert Nijhuis; graphic designer
who is quadriplegic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x31u1seLTo0
Richard Bernard retired social
worker with vision impairment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b95AIcTTHAA
Aliya Farmi sight loss and
problems of having personal
letters read out loud by others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G73U-JJbLc

16. Digital assumptions can lead to digital exclusion
In a digital society where the platforms
of the public sphere are increasingly
being digitised, if you are digitally
excluded you risk being silenced and
rendered invisible.

18. Potential for digital exclusion
o Older people.
o Children.
o Fixed incomes.
o Lacking formal
qualifications.
o Lacking digital
literacies.
o Homeless.
o New immigrants.
o Language barriers.
o Traveller/Romany.
o Physical, cognitive,
sensory impairment.
o Poor internet
connections.
o Cultural restrictions.

19. • Go On UK charity http://www.go-on.co.uk/
• Set up by Martha Lane Fox to replace Race
Online 2012
• Addressing the UK’s lack of Basic Digital
Skills ‘in order to sustain economic growth,
productivity and social mobility’.
• 17 million people unable to make use of the
internet

20. http://www.go-on.co.uk/resources/heatmap/?utm_source=heatmap_info_page&utm_medium=heatmap&utm_campaign=rh_nav_bar

21. Social work students, practitioners and
educators can find themselves both sides of
the digital divide.
Digital exclusion for service users might involve, for
example, the mother in poverty trying to apply
online for universal credit; the visually impaired
person struggling with inaccessible websites; the
personal budget holder wanting advice on using
online market places or the older person who
would benefit from telecare. In each of these cases
a well informed and digitally savvy social worker
can bring net benefit to individual lives.
Digital literacies always raise complex issues
but for social workers in a digital society they
are essential requirements.

22. Social impact of the internet
Viewed through 7 critical lenses
• digital identity – online profiles
• digital boundaries – public and private
• digital surveillance – digital footprints
• digital assumptions – MEE Model
• digital exclusion – invisible
• digital by default – health, welfare, lifestyle
• digital equity – for everyone

23. ‘The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by
everyone…is an essential aspect.’
Tim Berners Lee (1997) https://www.w3.org/Press/IPO-announce
https://digitalacademicblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/15/digital-exclusion-as-linguistic-lockout

24. Multimedia Birds of a Feather image from https://www.flickr.com/photos/james_nash/
Sue Watling
Email me: s.watling@hull.ac.uk
Tweet me: @suewatling
comment on my blog
https://digitalacademicblog.wordpress.com