While societies are rapidly growing thanks to IT (Information Technology),
many people cannot benefit from the technology and are left behind. As
the competition for technological development is becoming severer, the
digital divide between those who can use IT and those who cannot is expanding
more and more.
IBM is in partnership with business partners and administrative and non-profit
organizations in various countries and regions, and is engaging in activities
to solve the digital divide problems.
1.
PC Education for Severely Disabled Persons IBM Japan supports a project that enables disabled persons with difficulty
leaving their homes to receive training at home by talking "Face to
Face" with instructors in other locations through the screens of their
personal computers.
2.
Braille Transcribing Plaza (Tenyaku Hiroba) This is the first social contribution activity in Japan provided by utilizing
IT for the purpose of bridging the digital divide for the visually disabled.
3.
Braille Dictionary Program A dictionary for the visually disabled has conventionally been equivalent
to a bookshelf full of Braille data and has not been portable. Thanks to
the Braille dictionary program, the visually disabled can now commence
their study wherever they are.
4.
Japan Blind person Outdoor Support association (Ayumi no Hiroba) Whenever the visually disabled go out, a variety of troubles accompany
them. IBM has helped the visually disabled to go out and to use the Internet
by supporting the Japan Blind person Outdoor Support association (JBOS).
5.
Accessible Tokyo "Is this building accessible by wheelchair?" Whenever disabled
persons need to enter a building, information especially for these persons
is necessary, such as information on the accessibility of the building
to wheelchairs and guide dogs. Accessible Tokyo is a summary of such information
especially for these disabled persons in the Tokyo area.
6.
IT Education for an Aging Society In order to narrow the digital divide of the senior generation, IBM Japan
supports the organization of IT training courses delivered by senior citizens
for senior citizens and promoted by the NPO "e-elder."
