12 September, 2003
© Beep Knowledge System and case owners, 2002-2003
Within this section we have a collection of case studies highlighting good practice in social inclusion. These studies have been gathered by the Beep project, and further analysis of these studies and more can be found on the Beep Knowledge System. The menu on the left indicates the various areas covered by the case studies.
Social Inclusion Cases
Social inclusion - participation of all European
citizens in the digital economy because they have the information tools
and skills that are necessary. Achieving social inclusion depends on mitigation
of the digital divide (between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’).
It encompasses not just technology literacy, skills and competence but
also access, affordability and awareness issues.
Digital divide - a term that refers to the gaps in access to information
and communication technologies and networks, either because of lack of
economic resources or lack of skills.
The domain ‘social inclusion’ addresses the digital divide in Europe, and particularly those dimensions of it related to income, age, gender, ethnicity or ability. It is assumed that narrowing the digital divide is an important contribution to the larger objective of achieving sustained social inclusion in the information society.
It has widely been recognised that the promises of the information society cannot be realised if too many people are "falling through the net", i.e. if they are not in a position to participate in and benefit from this development. If the emerging digital economy is to become a major driving force for Europe's economic well-being, it will be a major policy challenge to ensure that as many Europeans as possible have available the information tools and skills that are critical to their participation. Otherwise, there is the threat of a widening "digital divide" – a term that refers to the gaps in access to information and communication technologies and networks, either because of lacking economic resources or because of lacking skills.