A few days ago I discovered the UK Online Centres and the incredible work that is been accomplished in Britain to address digital and social inclusion. I went looking for Canada’s strategy in this regard and have found evidence of some progress. I’ll be posting regularly on this subject as I believe the government’s leadership in delivering accessible ICT opportunities for all citizens is critical in a world reliant on digital literacy. My hope is that with leadership coming from the government (like Britain), the non profit and educational sectors will understand the cultural changes occurring and be more open (responsive) to using social media tools as an integral aspect to working with their communities. Social media tools are effective mechanisms for building inclusiveness in society. It’s not about the tools though! It’s about including people in a networked world so they are not left out or kept out of our communities and economy.

Below is an excerpt from IT Business Canada that gives an overview of Canada’s work in adopting social media and web 2.0 tools.

The Federal government’s decision to create a comprehensive system for future online collaboration and social networking projects is growing proof that Canada acknowledges the explosive potential of Web 2.0, industry experts say.

“This definitely signals a long term commitment on the part of the government to move forward on Web 2.0,” according to Michelle Warren, analyst for Info-Tech Research Group based in London, Ont.

She said governments are usually cautious in adopting new technology, and Canada hasn’t been an exception.

The term Web 2.0 is used to refer to online collaboration and user-generated content and the tools that enable these – such as blogs and wikis. Government 2.0 refers to the application of these tools by government agencies. Read the full article……

picture from Digital Inclusion & Enterprise Program

Brent Uncategorized government, inclusion, web2.0