Imagine a digitally enabled nation where citizens and businesses use technology in the day-to-day life by default. This is not simply the fodder of dreams, but the vision of Digital Malta, the national ICT strategy. Stephanie Fsadni learns how ICT may improve the quality of our lives.
Information and communication technology (ICT) has infiltrated every aspect of our lives to a small or higher degree. There are benefits to be reaped for society as a whole, that is if everyone has the same access and tools to use it properly.
The national ICT strategy, Digital Malta, launched earlier this year, is addressing this issue. Developed by the Malta Communications Authority together with the Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA), the strategy aims to improve citizens’ life by providing better education, stronger businesses, an efficient government and sustainable economic growth among other areas.
“The aim is to have a digitally enabled nation whereby citizens and businesses utilise technology in the day-to-day life ‘by default’,” says Toni Sultana, chairman of MITA.
One part of the plan is focusing on creating the ‘digital citizen’ who knows how to use ICT to improve his daily life and work.
Everyone should grow as a digital citizen with rights, responsibilities and abilities to access and use ICT
Goals include boosting ICT competencies, digital literacy and the use of internet while equipping citizens with the ability to interact and use the internet safely and intelligently.
The strategy also aims to facilitate the access and use of assistive technology and provide free access to wireless internet across the islands.
The strategy pays particular attention to vulnerable groups, meaning those who “experience a higher risk of poverty and exclusion than the rest of the population”, such as the disabled, elderly, unemployed, those at risk of losing their jobs, people with a low level of education, and also women and children.
“Everyone should grow as a digital citizen with rights, responsibilities and abilities to access and use ICT, irrespective of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, education, economic means and race,” Mr Sultana says.
There will thus be a major focus on education and awareness programmes at appropriately-equipped ICT training centres that will be set up within local communities. Access and use of assistive technologies will be facilitated to help independent living of the elderly and vulnerable groups. This should also stimulate market demand for diverse, affordable technologies.
Those who aren’t technologically inclined will still benefit from ICT as they will be able to make use of services through agents that will act as intermediaries between public agencies and citizens or businesses.
“These intermediaries could range from local councils to private entities,” points out Mr Sultana.
This concept has already been implemented successfully in Malta. Examples include services such as driving licences paid through motor insurances agencies, bill payments made through Maltapost and financial returns for businesses made through accountants and auditors.
Digital Malta, however, will encourage every individual to take part in its initiatives. It will seek feedback from citizens and civil society in planning and implementing initiatives, and businesses, local councils, community learning centres and the public will have a role in designing and implementing new or enhanced services.
Among its various initiatives, the strategy lists offering portable devices to school-aged children and their teachers.
“Using a tablet in school will change how kids learn in the future and it will make learning more fun. The tablet fits the students’ lifestyles. With tablets and cloud-based computing systems, students can work from anywhere with greater portability and connectivity. If schools don’t implement what has now become everyday technology, we will be doing students a disservice,” claims Mr Sultana.
The important thing is that children and youths not only learn how to use the internet, but to do it safely.
“We must teach everyone to become responsible digital citizens in this new society. Children are tomorrow’s adults. If in the near future, we want to have responsible adults, we need to invest in our children. Hence, Digital Malta aims to equip children and youths with the ability to interact and use the internet safely and intelligently. Parents and carers will be involved together with educators and youth workers.”
Another key action is the free access to wireless internet in public buildings, main squares and other public spaces around the islands.
Logistically, the small size of the Maltese islands presents special opportunities for the ICT industry. These include the deployment of first-in-the-world nationwide projects or test-bed projects.
“This idea has some logistical barriers to overcome, such as technical challenges to have a well-managed Wi-Fi network serving efficiently hundreds or thousands of people. But it is possible,” says Mr Sultana. “In fact, earlier this year, a local communications company launched a free Wi-Fi broadband internet service, which is available in outdoor zones across Malta.”
Innovative ICT applications that lead to a better lifestyle will be promoted in a joint partnership with the private sector.
“Smartphones open a whole new world of shopping and engagement opportunities... Mobile devices and applications allow the delivery of personalised and relevant updates and alerts, and can present users with information about the world around them in an automatic way.
“Mhealth (medical services delivered via mobile devices) is on the rise and the data they track puts healthcare in the palm of the patient. Mobile technology can be used to remotely monitor and report data on patient indicators such as blood pressure, oxygen levels, cholesterol and other vitals. Data streams fed into tracking software can help doctors detect problems when they start, leading to earlier intervention. And for patients, smartphones can relay physician feedback and promote healthy behaviour.”
So with all these developments, how does Mr Sultana envisage Maltese society in 2020?
“By 2020, ICT will bring unique responses to society’s challenges such as the growing needs for sustainable healthcare and ageing well, for better security and privacy, for a lower carbon economy and for intelligent transport. More of the services related to shopping, entertainment, banking and healthcare will move into the convenient and ever-smarter world of mobile apps and services.
“Taking a more daring approach, it is envisaged that ICT will be everywhere – in our shoes, walls and body. In the future (perhaps beyond 2020), our devices will know us. They will be able to understand our moods or the conditions in which we’re working or communicating. We will make use of smart systems capable of automatically responding to external events, and 3D printing will reshape how physical goods are created.
“Technology is not separate from humans and we should not be scared: we make it, we control it. The future is going to be awesome.”
Individuals and businesses are encouraged to be part of Digital Malta. For more information, visit www.digitalmalta.gov.mt.
How ICT can improve your life
School-age children
From their earliest years, children should be identifying the uses of technology in their everyday lives. But any application introduced to children should not just be enjoyable – although this is important – but educationally effective too. Children need a variety of applications which encourage a range of developments, including creativity, self-expression and language. They need to see ICT used in a meaningful context and in real scenarios.
Students
ICT has introduced the easiest way of learning and teaching for both students and teachers. Students can use the internet to watch videos to get a better idea of the topics they want to research on. Projectors and interactive whiteboards are used in schools and other educational fields to discuss the work with the whole class. Students can also get ideas by reading blogs about different subjects and also discuss each other’s view using blogs. Students can also ask questions to their teachers using e-learning platforms while they are at home. This saves a lot of time for the students.
Senior citizens
ICT is a rich resource for identifying, managing and embracing changes arising from the ageing process. The internet provides access to information, facilitates direct knowledge exchange between people and helps in decreasing social isolation. Many seniors use the internet to access public services and carry out commercial activities. Internet-based communication technologies assist older people re-enter spheres of work and education more easily. ICT is also a resource for leisure and entertainment, both through the internet as well as specifically designed devices.