Senior citizens enabled to reap benefits from the Internet

NACSCOM partners with IBM to provide accessibilityWorks program for four more Information and Communications Technology centersFrom left to right: Yang Berbahagia Datuk Lum Kin Tuck, President of NACSCOM, Yang Berbahagia Datuk Dr. Soon Ting Kueh, Deputy President of NACSCOM, Eric Wong, Marketing Director, IBM Malaysia

Petaling Jaya, 30 June 2008 – The National Council of Senior Citizens Organizations Malaysia (NACSCOM) and IBM today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the IBM accessibilityWorks program. The program will increase Web accessibility and usability for senior citizens, and newly-developed applications to be employed will further bridge the digital-divide in Malaysia.

IBM launched accessibilityWorks in 2005 as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The initiative employs Linux® software and the Mozilla Firefox browser technology to create an open-source Web browser. accessibilityWorks enables personalization of Web browsing for those with limited vision and with motor, learning and cognitive disabilities.

This technology enables the senior citizens to customize the way they see Web pages by allowing them to hear text spoken aloud, enlarge visual content, tailor the way text is displayed and reduce visual clutter to greatly improve readability. It allows users to adjust the mouse and keyboard settings for one-handed typing. Also featured are keyboard controls that can be set to accommodate the typing styles of users with tremors, arthritis or partial paralysis, by sampling their typing, detecting the errors and automatically adjusting the keyboard sensitivity.

“We have always advocated the development of services and policies to enhance the quality of life and well being of Malaysia’s senior citizens," said Yang Berbahagia Datuk Lum Kin Tuck, President of NACSCOM, who signed the MoU today. "Making sure that senior citizens are equipped with what they need to navigate the world of information and communications technology (ICT) is one of our top priorities today."

“I believe that with accessibilityWorks, we can continue to improve our services to senior citizens. The new centers equipped with the new technologies will serve as an important platform to break down physical barriers that have inhibited the senior citizens’ ability to access the Internet,” he added.

IBM Malaysia’s partnership with NACSCOM dates back to 2005, where the two organisations had established eight Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centers in Malaysia's senior citizen association centers using Web Adaptation Technology from IBM. The MoU further reinforces the partnership, with a plan for the establishment of four more ICT centers this year. The new centres, to be located in Setapak, Teluk Intan, Kota Kinabalu, and Damansara Jaya, will be fitted with the new accessibilityWorks technology donated by IBM. IBM will provide training to the administrators in the centres.

“Education is of critical importance to our society. At IBM, we know that learning is a perpetual process that does not end in life after school, or after retirement. With accessibilityWorks, we have combined our technical expertise and our talent to enable our senior citizens to tap the vast resources and to reap the benefits of the Internet,” said Eric Wong, Marketing Director of IBM Malaysia.

“We are proud to work with NACSCOM, whose vision of enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens is in line with IBM's commitment of leveraging its world-class technology, its innovation, and especially the talent and commitment of our employees to make a difference in the communities.”

Grants of accessibilityWorks have been made to several dozens of not-for-profit organizations and schools around the world. It is available in several languages, with additional languages planned.