The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced recently that CBP
Gives 2017, together with IMDA and South East Community Development Council (CDC),
will host
close to 30 Digital
Clinics for senior citizens to become more proficient with interacting and
transacting using their mobile phones, in support of Singapore’s vision of a smart nation.
CBP Gives 2017 is a community service project led by IBM for
businesses in the Changi Business Park (CBP) vicinity to come together and
contribute to the community. Around 400 volunteers from the participating
companies will engage with more than 1,000 senior citizens within the next year
to provide one-on-one assistance to help seniors become more digitally savvy.
Digital Clinics are customised for seniors 50 years old and
above, providing them with learning opportunities and one-on-one assistance in
using their mobile devices, such as smartphones. For example, they can learn to
connect to Wi-Fi hotspots, personalise accessibility tools on their devices,
and adjust their phone settings and functions to best suit their needs.
Seniors can also learn about applications and transactions
relevant to their lifestyles like mobile payments, and participate in national
initiatives like SGSecure. The Clinics will cater to users of both iOS and
Android devices.
The first two Digital Clinics were piloted at IMDA’s Silver
IT Fest roadshow in June 2017 and at Tampines Regional Library in September
2017. Due to overwhelming response from those two occasions, the Digital
Clinics will now run till September 2018, across the eastern part of Singapore.
The Clinics are supported by Corporate Friends of Silver
Infocomm (FSI), a programme under IMDA’s Silver
Infocomm Initiative, where volunteers from organisations come together to
encourage seniors to adopt digital technology. More than 150,000 seniors have
benefitted from the SII initiative and activities, such as the annual Silver IT
Fest organised by IMDA, in partnership with Institutes of Higher Learning
(IHLs), industry partners and the community and Intergen IT Bootcamps, which help
seniors cross the digital divide while bonding with the younger generation.
In June 2017, IMDA launched
the IM Silver Portal (www.IMSilver.sg) to
serve as a one-stop online infocomm learning resource for senior citizens,
offering them access to online guides, ebooks, videos and seminars.
“Even as Singapore embraces exciting opportunities enabled
by technology as a Smart Nation and a digital economy, we must continue to
ensure that all segments of our society can participate meaningfully in the
digital future. It is heartening to see passionate volunteers from the
people, private and public sectors come together to support our seniors in
navigating the digital world, and reap the benefits of technology.” said Mr.
Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive, IMDA.
