ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL4.SIT/2024/TP.6
Country: Arab region, Global, Arab Republic of Egypt, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Sultanate of Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
Publication Type: Information material
Cluster: Statistics, Information Society and Technology
Focus Area: Inclusive development, Technology & innovation
Initiatives: ENACT project, Arab Digital Inclusion Platform, Digital Development , Reducing inequalities, Arab-European Research Network on Disability , Including persons with disabilities in the labour market
SDGs: Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Keywords: Accessibility, Digital technology, Ageing persons, Arab countries, Artificial intelligence, Australia, Canada, Case studies, Communication technology, Egypt, Government policy, Information technology, Jordan, New technologies, Oman, Persons with disabilities, Policy making, Recommendations, Saudi arabia, Republic of korea, Technological innovations, United arab emirates, United kingdom, United states, Technical cooperation
Model of national policies for accessing new technologies
January 2025
As digital accessibility advances in the Arab region, the continual and rapid development of emerging technologies offers significant opportunities and poses new challenges in achieving digital inclusion for all. Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, the metaverse, mobile video chat, eye control and robotics, hold great potential to enhance accessibility, but more needs to be done to enable older persons and persons with disabilities in the Arab region to use them.
As part of its efforts under the Arab Digital Inclusion Platform to assist decision makers in developing national policies and guidelines on digital accessibility, bridging the digital divide, and providing accessibility for all, ESCWA has developed a model of national policies for accessing emerging technologies. The present report examines the impact of these technologies on digital accessibility, provides insights and recommendations on enhancing digital accessibility through emerging technologies, and proposes general guidelines for policymakers in Arab countries on how to develop and update national policies to benefit from these technologies.
Related content
Inclusive development
, Technology & innovation
,
As digital accessibility advances in the Arab region, the continual and rapid development of emerging technologies offers significant opportunities and poses new challenges in achieving digital inclusion for all. Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, the metaverse, mobile video chat, eye control and robotics, hold great potential to enhance accessibility, but more needs to be done to enable older persons and persons with disabilities in the Arab region to use them.
As part of its efforts under the Arab Digital Inclusion Platform to assist decision makers in developing national policies and guidelines on digital accessibility, bridging the digital divide, and providing accessibility for all, ESCWA has developed a model of national policies for accessing emerging technologies. The present report examines the impact of these technologies on digital accessibility, provides insights and recommendations on enhancing digital accessibility through emerging technologies, and proposes general guidelines for policymakers in Arab countries on how to develop and update national policies to benefit from these technologies.
