Providing access to the Information Society for disadvantaged groups. Discussion

The paper will cover four main areas: ■ Who are disadvantaged groups and what is their relationship to the Information Society. With the development of new information technologies we will consider whether new areas of disadvantage are emerging creating new forms of exclusion. ■ Barriers to the accessing of information and technology will be considered in detail including, physical, emotional, cultural, and those related to gender and class. This will be examined in the context of new skills and techniques required to gain access to, and to participate in, the Information Society. ■ Measures to address these barriers will be discussed using examples of the strategies employed by some community-based projects. ■ From some of the issues raised by these projects suggestions will be made for areas to be addressed to ensure genuine access to the Information Society.