14 million French people say they are far from digital technology: they feel in difficulty using the Internet and therefore have little or no use of it. However, today, the dematerialization of administrative procedures, the digitization of education and the search for jobs via the Internet highlight the importance ofdigital inclusion. The Government, aware of the challenges ofdigital access and committed to reducing factors of exclusion, wishes to promote the emergence of an inclusive and humane digital society. In order to guarantee access to public services for all, it has deployed a National Strategy fordigital inclusion.
Digital inclusion and illiteracy: definitions
THEdigital inclusion refers to the process by which it is possible to make digital technology accessible to all. It is then a question of transmitting the necessary skills to individuals while being distant, so that digital technology becomes a lever for social and economic integration for them. THEdigital access is in fact closely linked to the subject of access to the rights of the most socially fragile people who lack digital equipment and/or skills. While the dematerialization of public services is a time saver and a comfortable flexibility for those who are comfortable with digital technology, it represents a real obstacle for others. People excluded from digital technology encounter great difficulties in exercising their rights, accessing and maintaining social benefits, looking for a job, monitoring schooling as well as accessing training and information. The use of digital technology is currently essential in almost all professional or private situations in our daily lives:digital inclusion therefore concerns a very large audience and no longer only the oldest or those with disabilities.
People who do not have the skills necessary to use digital equipment are referred to as suffering from illiteracy. They are then unable to communicate, use basic software or even navigate the Internet due to a material deficiency (lack of computer tools) or pedagogical (lack of skills). The accumulation of these difficulties does not depend solely on access to equipment at home, but on a more global situation ofdigital access which is exacerbating social inequalities. Today, 3 out of 5 French people say they are unable to carry out administrative procedures online and more than 19% of French people over 15 years of age are illiterate according to INSEE.
National strategy for digital inclusion: the 3 areas of development
As part of his five-year term, President Macron has committed himself to the theme of digital exclusion and illiteracy. To fight against these societal phenomena, in 2018 he announced the launch of the National Strategy fordigital inclusion. It aims to train in the use of digital technology by mobilizing social organizations, local authorities and large private companies. This strategy is based on 3 fundamental axes providing concrete answers to the challenges ofdigital inclusion in France.
Equipping and training caregivers
The first area of development of the National Strategy intends to professionalize the digital mediation sector by training caregivers, whether they are volunteers, social workers or even public service agents. They are required to support non-autonomous people and provide them with answers to digital emergencies — whether it is filing a tax return to CAF or registering their child in the canteen. At the same time, the State will finance the modernization of local structures in order to equip digital caregivers. The aim here is to provide resources to social centers, third places, but also to town halls and libraries by offering specific support dedicated to the acquisition of computer equipment or docking stations.
Support local networks and finance training
The second axis of the National Strategy shows the ambition of the State to offer people who wish to do so the opportunity to train for free in the uses of digital technology. These individuals will be able to access training by being guided by professionals in various places — digital public spaces, third places, libraries, France Services, social centers — near their homes. The State wants to help by financing these training courses and by supporting the multiplication of places intended to support everyone in learning digital technology.
Defend the initiatives of local authorities and territories
The third axis of the National Strategy sets out the need to support the initiatives of local authorities in order to implement coherent actions adapted to the real needs of the inhabitants. In response to this need, new regional players, the territorial hubs, have emerged in order to animate the territory by ensuring the training of mediators, access to digital mediation services, but also the support of projects rooted in their territory.
Promoting digital inclusion: 3 solutions
In order to develop thedigital inclusion, the State has already put in place a number of mechanisms to meet the three main challenges of its strategy.
Facilitate the work of carers with appropriate resources
People who are illiterate require the assistance of trained and equipped social workers. To this end, the State has already deployed for staff supporting:
- Caregivers Connect: this tool aims to legally secure the digital helper in carrying out an online process for the benefit of a user;
- Rapid intervention kit: this device produces advice guides intended to support digital caregivers;
- FranceConnect: this identification and authentication system was developed in order to offer universal access to more than 700 French e-government services from a single individual account.
Develop digital access with dedicated tools
Since the announcement of the launch of the National Strategy fordigital inclusion, a number of tools have been deployed for the public, including:
- The digital pass: presented in the form of a checkbook with a unit value of €10, it gives beneficiaries the opportunity to register for support workshops and digital training courses free of charge;
- The Pix tool: this public service accessible online makes it possible to carry out a diagnosis of the user's skills. It also offers various digital training courses and delivers a certification aimed at attesting to the acquisition of digital skills after evaluation.
The digital signage is one of the communication media that can be used in training locations and support todigital access. This dynamic, attractive and fun channel makes it possible to broadcast a wide variety of interactive content with a high degree of memory. The Cenareo solution contributes to the development and dissemination of communications dedicated to promotingdigital inclusion. Easy to use and very flexible, it is an ideal partner for deploying engaging campaigns on all its screens.
Carry out a digital network of territories
The State wishes to provide concrete answers with the necessary dimensions. This is how it intends to develop a certain number of structures and local spaces, intended to revitalize territories:
- Territorial hubs: regional actors whose role is to animate their territory by providing their expertise, but also by providing training, services and support;
- Third places: workspaces open to the public in order to learn and share knowledge around digital technology;
- Inclusive digital territories of action: a label and incentive system for local authorities in order to set up their own local digital strategies and to potentially benefit from the support and tools necessary for the development of their strategies.
The Cenareo solution dedicated to digital signage in business, the partner for the distribution of attractive, relevant, memorable and always contextualized content. Son internal communication software multi-channel, intuitive, flexible and easy to use, meets the goals of tomorrow's public policies, to transform any screen into a powerful and inclusive communication channel.
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