Now Back Again Into Digital World

Liked past Kate Lancaster and three others

This article is part of the Forum Network series on Digitalisation

The digital transformation is deep, enduring and dynamic. Digital technologies are effortlessly crossing borders and revolutionising economies, rattling the way we do policy. The unrelenting speed of alter has caught not only government, simply also business and others off-guard. With gild at the heart of this rapid transformation, the panel sought to know how we could exist better co-ordinated and more proactive in club to foster inclusive growth and to harness digital technology to build a earth that we not only desire, but demand.

The hereafter is already here…

Smart phones, social media and big information accept transformed the mode nosotros work, learn and organise our lives. Digitalisation has enabled a new-look globalisation and powered a wider engineering revolution but we can't forget that engineering science must work for the good of people – be its beast of burden – pulling the heavy loads. Mobile phones are being used to improve the welfare of lower-income and excluded groups in developing countries through the mPesa projection, providing millions of Kenyans with access to bones banking services. Deject computing is reducing IT costs for small business, allowing entrepreneurs from all segments of society to have a shot at business organisation success. Governments are using social media to reach specific groups with information respective to their needs, meaning better citizen-regime communication, and social media is likewise helping disadvantaged groups connect and co-operate.

… but is it evenly distributed?

Digital technologies tin can indeed help serve the needs of citizens better, through easier access to health intendance, financial services and learning, and create new economic opportunities for firms and individuals. Only access and usage of digital technologies are not uniform: in 2015, 2 billion people didn't have a mobile phone and sixty% of the world population didn't have a broadband subscription. And we tin can't forget that the internet as well enables criminal activity and poses challenges to privacy and security. Some say digitalisation could exist a chance to make up for the shortcomings of globalisation by reducing the divide betwixt those profiting and those feeling left behind. Achieving this means actively tackling digital divides.

Equipping workers with appropriate skills to bargain with structural modify resulting from automation and other engineering-driven changes is necessary to reduce geographical inequality and the split between generations. While young women are just as much "digital natives" as young men, gender gaps remain to exist addressed in use of digital technologies and interest in digital-oriented industries. Innovation in industry, health and agriculture must attain less-developed economies, while poorer and less-educated people in richer countries need affordable Net access and the skills to use it, to unleash the opportunities in this new economy. Better distribution of the benefits of the digital transformation volition help rebuild the dwindling trust between governments, the private sector and citizens.

Is there a policy → engineering gap?

Recognition of the gap between applied science 4.0 and policy 1.0 is pushing digital problems higher upward on policy agendas. Addressing inclusion is a critical facet of closing this policy-engineering science gap. There's much work to practice in ensuring that the digital economy is open up to all, fugitive domination past a few, and edifice in protection of consumers and marginalised groups. A more proactive, whole-of-authorities approach, including unions, civil society and the tech community, can help shape the digital transformation to work amend for people and deliver on global action plans such as the Paris Climate Agreement and 2030 Calendar for Sustainable Development.

Going digital and leaving no one backside

This session explored why inequalities and gaps exist in the access and use of digital technologies and what nosotros tin can do to bridge them. Public policy inherently has a key role to play, specially as we endeavor to rebuild trust in our private and public institutions. We heard from thought leaders nearly how nosotros tin utilize innovative thinking in policy to maximise the advantages while minimising the negative impacts of digitalisation and create societies that everyone wants to alive in.

"Educating users, particularly in developing countries, must be a priority to promote the digital empowerment of individuals."

Going digital and going for ameliorate lives?

Faced with the question, "What tin governments do to make the digital transformation piece of work for people", posed by scene-setter Andy Wyckoff, OECD Director for Science, Technology and Innovation, the panellists quickly agreed that the future is already here simply that information technology'due south not distributed evenly. Gaping gaps are obvious in admission, historic period, gender, didactics, skills and geography.

The Internet and social media tin be a autonomous opportunity but we take to recognise that it's a powerful tool for manipulation. Educating users, especially in developing countries, must be a priority to promote the digital empowerment of individuals. We have the tools to shape this transformation and some countries in Latin America are showing great leadership in demonstrating that the digital revolution is an opportunity to give people new opportunities and construct future societies that are resilient and inclusive.

The ability of information

Much give-and-take revolved around the power of data and the question arose of whether "information is the new oil". At that place was understanding that information has much more than value than an entity such equally oil. Data portability is very important to a thriving digital economic system only we need to work on the trust element in the use of information past giving the customer dorsum control. On the human relationship with artificial intelligence (AI), it was noted that nosotros need to pay attention to homo intelligence and skills as well. AI is not about computers doing things instead of humans; rather, information technology'southward a complementary, partnering human relationship and nosotros demand to support AI development to help it become the greatest opportunity for flesh, not its biggest threat.

In that location's hope, we have the technology

In order to accost the challenges and immense opportunities that the digital transformation presents, governments need to acknowledge that real life is the digital life. A rapid but comprehensive "reboot" of analogue-era policies for a digital age is needed, along with a existent effort to bolster skills and digital capacity in authorities. Governments should foster a spirit of experimentation, exploration and innovation. Frontrunner countries need to lead and show how technology can be used in new means that improve pedagogy, health and social issues which contribute to rebuilding the necessary trust in our private and public institutions. This would go some mode in ensuring that as nosotros are going digital, we leave no i backside.

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Session panelists:

• Jason Karaian, Senior Europe Correspondent, Quartz, @jkaraian
• Malavika Jayaram, Executive Director, Digital Asia Hub, Faculty Acquaintance, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University, @MalJayaram
• Carlos Lopez Blanco, Global Head, Public & Regulatory Affairs, Telefonica, @Telefonica
• Boris Koprivnikar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration, Slovenia, @kobo00
• Nicklas Lundblad, Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations Europe, Middle East and Africa, Google, @nicklaslundblad

Watch the video of the session "The digital world nosotros want" at the OECD Forum

OECD piece of work on the digital economy

Telefonica's blog article on The Digital globe nosotros desire

craneomarm1958.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.oecd-forum.org/posts/18410-what-digital-world-do-we-want

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