Confederation of European Computer User Associations

Confédération Européenne des Associations d'Utilisateurs des Technologies de I'Information
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NEWS FLASH

Reaching out to the non-converted

 

CECUA Euro-news flash

Reaching out to the non-converted

In his opening speech at the recently held IS User Forum Conference in Stockholm, Dr. Bangemann emphasised the paramount importance that the Information Society becomes more acceptable to citizens.

He also stated that current attempt to make citizens aware of the implications of Information Society is not reaching those who most need it. Instead of preaching to the converted the focus now has to shift to preaching to the non-converted.

CECUA and its partners have been promoting the Information Society and have addressed citizens' concerns by introducing a Bill of Rights for the citizen in the Information Society. The Bill of Rights focuses on non-converted citizens by spelling out, in non-technical terms, his or her basic rights as a citizen in the Information Society. It uses plain language such as freedom of personal development, freedom of communication, cultural preservation, right of access, right for reliable and functioning services and right for accurate and understandable charging, etc. There are no fancy technological terms here. It is all plain vanilla.

The Bill of Rights provides the citizen with a "safety net" to give him support if he ever needs it. By knowing where he or she stands the citizen is encouraged to try his hand and get a practical experience of a system he sees beneficial to him. However, "aller Anfang ist schwer" (beginning is not easy). The Bill of Rights gives the citizen a holding hand when he steps over the threshold and into the Information Society.

There is an on-going discussion about the Bill of Rights is on the web. All citizens are invited to participate and comment and exchange views with fellow citizens. The address is:
www.cecua.org