The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), Hong Kong SAR, announced on 6 February 2017 that a new batch of government-funded mobile apps developed by non-profit social service organisations has been launched. All five mobile apps are now available for free download via www.ogcio.gov.hk/en/dima.
“Information and communications technology (ICT) such as mobile apps brings convenience to our daily lives. However some people, like the elderly and the underprivileged groups, may not be able to enjoy fully the advantages of technology advancement. In this regard, the Government has been implementing various initiatives to facilitate needy groups to improve their quality of life with technology. These include funding support for non-profit social service organisations to collaborate with the ICT industry in developing customised mobile apps to provide practical and user-friendly contents and services,” a spokesman for the OGCIO said.
The newly launched mobile apps were developed by non-governmental organisations that have been serving the relevant target groups, including persons with visual or hearing impairment, elders and children with learning difficulties or Down Syndrome, in the community. With a good understanding of the target groups, these mobile apps can better cater for their needs in terms of contents and services, thus enhancing their quality of life and learning abilities.
Details of the five mobile apps are as follows:
Tap My Dish (developed by Hong Kong Blind Union) – Provides speech augmented food menu information for persons with visual impairment
Smart and Fit DS Kids (developed by Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association) – Provides training for children with Down Syndrome on their muscular and co-ordination abilities
AngeLINK (developed by Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association) – Assists elderly persons to produce booklets of life memories
Early Literacy (developed by SAHK) – Provides training for children with learning difficulties on their reading and writing abilities
Silence Sign Language Interpretation App (developed by Silence Limited) – Provides an instant sign language interpretation service for persons with hearing impairment using video communication
Since 2012, the Government has launched three rounds of application for the OGCIO’s funding scheme to support non-profit social service organisations to develop mobile apps that cater for the needs of the underprivileged groups. A total of 17 mobile apps have been funded and developed for free use (full details are available at www.ogcio.gov.hk/en/dima).
