What do the Italian Senate, the China Disabled Persons Federation and China Welfare Fund for the Handicapped and Travis County Texas' Tax Office have in common with California State University at Long Beach? Each of these government agencies and CSULB have 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.
To serve and protect
Government agencies are charted with the care of its populace. With political, economic and social pressures today's governments are looking to information technology to extend their reach to their constituents. Government IT systems must now accommodate a diverse citizen population which includes seniors, multi-lingual households, novice computer users and People with Disabilities (PwD). The vehicle for this accommodation is the World Wide Web. Accessing government services and information via the Internet is a critical communications tool. More and more people are demanding this level of self-service using the Web from governments, education institutions and businesses alike. The responses from governments are to develop Web sites that are based on inclusion.
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 Often out of date, not user-friendly and not accessible, the Italian Senate's site was in need of a make over and the government took action.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 such as 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 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. In November 2006, the Italian Senate was honored with an "Osc@r of the web" award for the "Best Public Administration and Public Utility" Web site. Nominee Web sites were judged for overall richness and quality of information, functionality and online interaction, and ease of access and usability.
China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPH) and China Welfare Fund for the Handicapped (CWFH) worked together to create a government campaign called "A Harmonized Society through Accessibility." This campaign sought to extend access to information technology and the Internet to the nearly 60 million people with disabilities in China. In its initial phase, the campaign, which is seen as a critical step in the social development of China, will teach more than 100,000 blind citizens to use computers. The CDPH, CWFH and the China Braille Press are working with IBM to deploy IBM accessibility technologies such as IBM WebAdapt2Me and IBM Easy Web Browsing. The software will help users to customize the Web to access information according to their personal preferences which could include captioning of video files, changing font sizes and colors or having the text read aloud.
Travis County Texas Tax Office sought to simplify their voter registration process. In an area with a large citizen population that lives in both rural and urban areas, the county needed an effective way to deliver end-to-end voting using 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.
The font of knowledge
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 (CSULB), their vision for diversity has gone beyond the academic and they have 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 every user — 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. They turned to IBM and were able to install and use WebAdapt2Me throughout the campus to satisfy those requirements.
What distinguished these four "Top Innovators?" Their vision to use innovation that matters to society. Their commitment to accommodate everyone. And, their desire to serve the needs of the individual user based on their unique preferences and experiences.
Read more about the Top Public Sector Innovators.