Sight Loss and Technology Briefing
This briefing brings together existing evidence on the role and uptake of technology by blind and partially sighted people.
Title: Sight Loss and Technology Briefing; Author: Emma Edwards; Publisher: RNIB
Background
This briefing has been produced and published on behalf of the sector working group on technology. It brings together existing evidence on the role and uptake of technology by blind and partially sighted people. Details of the sector partners can be found at the end of the briefing. Evidence used was the latest available at time of writing in 2020.
Key findings
- People with sight loss are twice as likely to be digitally excluded when compared to the general population.
- If current trends continue, over the next six years, nearly all people across the UK will be online, yet it will take an additional eight years before nearly all people with sight loss are online.
- Blind and partially sighted people equipped with digital knowledge and skills could take advantage of the benefits of technology such as improved communication, access to information and access to services.
- Effectively tackling barriers associated with the factors of age and knowledge is likely to reduce the divide and speed up the adoption of technology by blind and partially sighted people, but the role of both digital exclusion and digital capabilities must be considered as a sector wide strategy is developed.
- Further research is required to better understand which audiences to target, how to reach them and how best to boost their knowledge of and opportunities to engage with digital.
