Digital inclusion: the vision and reality

The benefits of a digitally inclusive society are vast and the need for such inclusion is now a requirement for full participation in our society. While the basic concept of universal digital inclusion is simple, the reality is a long way from the vision. Despite efforts to reduce it, inequality of access still exists. The beneficiaries of a digital society are not just the individual, but all stakeholders in the wider society. While the challenges to achieve a fully inclusive digital society are considerable, the knowledge of how to create such a society already exists. The creation of local venues f or inclusively designed ICT (Information and Communications Technology), support and learning in familiar places along with the harnessing of political will could make such a society a reality rather than a vision. With the cooperation of all stakeholders , actualisation of the vision of a digitally inclusive society, while challenging, will yield opportunities that eclipse the cost of implementation