On June 4, 2007, members of the Italian Senate, California State University at Long Beach (CSULB), Japan's Kyoto City government,Texas' Travis County government and IBM Business Partner Hamer Enterprises were recognized at the ComputerWorld Honors Program Awards ceremonies for their vision and outstanding IT implementations that focus on digital inclusion for the promotion of positive social, economic and educational change. All four organizations were selected as program laureates and awarded a gold medallion signifying their achievements and role in the ComputerWorld "search for new heroes". The recognition continued later in the evening with a black tie gala event to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of these and other visionaries.
Each of these government agencies and CSULB have successfully bridged the "digital divide", extending the reach of their web-based IT systems to all people — regardless of age or ability — through the use of accessibility technologies from IBM.
Human centric approach to Information Technology
The Italian Senate needed to re-design its Web site. Often out of date, not user friendly and not accessible, the Italian Senate's site was in need of a make over and the government took action. Working with IBM's European Accessibility Center, the site was revamped and emerged as Europe's leading government Web site in terms of ease of use and accessibility. Thanks to technologies like IBM Easy Web Browsing, users who have low vision, macular degeneration or color blindness can customize/magnify font sizes and colors, turn off pop-ups and or opt to have the page text read aloud. With simple-to-use, free-to-the-user technologies, the Italian Senate was able to transform their Web site into an exceptionally functional, accessible information vehicle.
Universities have always been a breeding ground for new ideas, new ways of doing things, and for innovation. At California State University at Long Beach, their vision for diversity has gone beyond the academic and has instituted a policy of inclusion for the entire campus. In an effort spearheaded by Dr. Wayne Dick, chair of CSULB's computer engineering and computer science department and a person with low vision since birth, the university has created an on-line environment that is friendly to users — regardless of their ability. CSULB sought to find a technology that could assist those individuals with visual, mobility and learning impairments with campus applications and web-based information.
Travis County, Texas Tax Office sought to simplify their voter registration process. In an area with a large citizen population that spans both rural and urban areas, the county needed an effective way to deliver end-to-end voting via the Web. Working with IBM and IBM Business Partner Hamer Enterprises, Travis County created an on-line voter registration system called eAccess. eAccess provides everything from sample ballots, directions with maps to polling precincts and accessible voter forms. It also allows users to get property tax information online and provides everything from statements and payments to filings for exemptions and information about properties in foreclosure. Creating a solution that was accessible, based on IBM services and technologies, Travis County has been able to greatly improve efficiencies at the tax office and has created an inclusive environment for all its constituents.
"To attract the world's cultures" — Kyoto City created an accessible Web site that allowed people, regardless of their age, abilities or native language, to be able to easily access information in the format that they prefer. Accessibility is about inclusion – enabling human capability through technology to ensure that everyone can maximize his or her potential. The Web site is available in four languages, and uses IBM Easy Web Browsing technology to enlarge text and read it aloud. The technology is easy to use and is offered free to the user. Senior citizens, who often have vision difficulties such as low vision or cataracts, can now access all the information on the Kyoto City Web site through enlarged text or as a "screen reader." The screen size can be customized to focus on areas of the display – like using a zoom lens on a camera. The zoom feature is from 50% 600%. Easy Web Browsing also enables the user to change the color of the Web site background to help those with color blindness and other color-related vision impairments. For children and non-Kyoto natives, the IBM Easy Web Browsing "reading aloud" function helps increase comprehension. Offering this enhanced communications functionality as part of its Web site increases the user's comfort level with technology — even for novice users. This helps make Kyoto City "a city open to the free exchange of world ideas" for all people.
What is the ComputerWorld Honors Program?
Established in 1988, the Computerworld Honors Program is dedicated to a singular and ongoing mission: "A Search for New Heroes." This search annually identifies and records the accomplishments of the men and women, organizations and institutions that are creating the global best practices in leading the world's ongoing IT revolution.
Each year, members of the Chairmen's Committee identify the organizations whose use of information technology has been especially noteworthy for the originality of its conception, the breadth of its vision and the significance of its benefit to society. These nominated organizations must meet established standards and are then asked to contribute a case study to the program's collection.
Each case study submission must meet 10 criteria to be designated Laureate status. The recognition of these case studies that meet Laureate status is celebrated with a formal medal ceremony where a Laureate from each case study organization is publicly recognized.
From the Laureates in each of 10 categories, a distinguished panel of 38 CIO-level judges selects finalists in each category. In June, the program honors these finalists with a special ceremony. At this ceremony, the Chairmen's Committee presents the 21st Century Achievement Awards to the 10 organizations selected by the judges as first among their peers within the Finalists.
Independent of the Laureate recognition, The Computerworld Honors Program also annually presents its Leadership Awards, each designed to honor the extraordinary lifetime achievements of selected individuals whose positive contributions to the IT revolution have left an indelible mark on the world. Primary source materials related to all of the above (including case studies, oral histories, conference proceedings, publications, video tapes/DVDs and other records generated by this ongoing "Search for New Heroes") are preserved, protected and made available to scholars and the general public on the Internet at www.cwhonors.org and through source and license donations to some 350 affiliated universities, libraries and research institutions around the world.