Crafting meaningful digital experiences
While only half of the world’s people are considered to be online, even fewer have access to meaningful internet. At The Engine Room, we’re looking to support civil society in achieving digital inclusivity that transcends basic access. We advocate instead for digital experiences that are inherently meaningful and genuinely inclusive.
As part of this effort we’re launching the Digital Resilience Hub, a platform providing tools, strategies, and ideas to support organizations working towards social justice (in all the many different ways that manifests!).
Our first set of resources in the Hub look at resources for meaningful connectivity, focusing on alternative tech tools for knowledge sharing. Over the coming months, we’ll be expanding into two more thematic areas: meaningful engagement, and memory preservation.
Read more about each of these below!
Meaningful connectivity: bridging digital divides
True digital inclusivity begins with connectivity that bridges the digital divide, offering solutions that are accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location. This includes:
- Alternative Technology: We’re looking at solutions that minimize the technological barriers to access. This includes software that runs smoothly on older devices and operating systems, mesh networks, and low-resource technologies ensuring that the digital world is accessible to everyone, not just those with the latest gadgets.
- Empowering Offline Access to Information: In recognizing the critical need for information access in all circumstances, we’re looking into offline-capable websites and services. This feature ensures that information remains accessible even in the most remote or internet-challenged moments.
Cultivating meaningful engagement: fostering inclusivity and participation
Engagement in the digital sphere should be inclusive, encouraging active participation and collaboration from all users, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds.
This includes:
- Universal website accessibility: We believe that digital environments should be navigable and understandable for everyone, including those with disabilities. For this reason, we’re looking into standards and tools that promote accessible experiences for users.
- Inclusive communication: We believe in communicating in ways that resonate with everyone, that embrace diversity in languages, cultures, and needs. We’re looking into ways to make content clear, easy, and enjoyable to read.
Enhancing meaningful ways to preserve memory: Securing our digital legacy
Backing up content and documenting knowledge contributes to the preservation of an organization’s and culture’s memory. As our lives and legacies become increasingly digitized, memory preservation has to be intentional.
- File Archiving: Storing and archiving an organization’s memory is crucial for ensuring that the wealth of knowledge and culture available is preserved for posterity. We are looking into practices and tools that make this process easier and a regular part of the organization.
- Documentation: It’s important for organizations to preserve their institutional learnings in ways that are accessible and relevant to the team. We are looking into best practices for knowledge documentation in particular looking at ways of organizing information to make it easier to find.
Let us know what you think!
At The Engine Room, our vision of digital resilience is a digitally inclusive world where technology serves as a bridge, not a barrier. It’s a world where digital platforms empower all users, promoting self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration. We hope to continue to grow this resource, based on what we hear from our communities, and what we learn from our research and from our direct support.
Image: Musa Omusi