Digital Reading: Inclusivity, Versatility, Engagement. Supporting underserved communities and emerging reading cultures in developing countries.

数字阅读：包容性、多功能性、参与度。

• 批准号: EP/T029870/1
• 负责人: Bronwen Thomas
• 金额: $ 12.52万
• 依托单位: Bournemouth University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FT029870%2F1
• 关键词: Digital; Reading; Inclusivity; Versatility; Engagement.

Digital Reading programmes have demonstrated the potential for new technologies to provide solutions for developing countries where the logistics around access to and upkeep of print books may be hindering the growth of robust reading cultures. Programmes have also been designed to specifically target population groups 'left behind' because of cultural norms and stigmas specific to the local context. For example the Ana Soma project set up by Worldreader in Kenya aimed to encourage women to use a smartphone app to allow them to incorporate reading into their daily routines and duties. Nevertheless, most research and the main focus of digital reading initiatives in developing countries has been on classroom-based situations, meaning that the wider social impact of digital reading on readers' lives is barely discussed. The proposed new network will bring together researchers, stakeholders and policy makers from multiple nations, academic disciplines and knowledge bases, to work closely with readers in some of the poorer parts of Kenya. Focusing specifically on promoting gender equality and social inclusion for people living with various kinds of disability, the network will examine current provision and best practice and work with readers and providers to identify gaps in provision and social and cultural barriers to engagement to ensure that future provision takes a more holistic and responsive view of the role technology can play in enhancing readers' lives. The first workshop will focus on gender equality and digital reading, engaging with participants from the Ana Soma project from the Kibera slums outside Nairobi, and bringing together experts on gender equality in the region with stakeholders and policy makers to work on identifying measures to ensure that future provision is focused on sustainable solutions and building resilient reading cultures and communities. Following on from this, the second workshop will examine how assistive technologies already available can address the specific needs of readers with various kinds of physical or learning disabilities, minimising the risks of social isolation and enhancing their life opportunities. The workshop will include contributions from charities and organisations working with disabled groups in the region, as well as from end-users, and will reflect on the importance of an intersectional approach to gender and disability. Attendees will also be offered the opportunity to take part in a field trip to a deaf school in Mukuru which has been working with Worldreader to use digital devices to enhance provision for reading for its pupils. In the final workshop, participants from the first two workshops will be invited back to work with DigiTales, a participatory media company, to create and produce short multimedia films reflecting on their experiences of using digital devices and the impact this has had on their lives. The stories will be produced over three days, and screened at an event on the final day which will be open to network members, the wider community of CUEA and friends and family of the storytellers to attend.

数字阅读计划显示了新技术为发展中国家提供解决方案的潜力，在这些国家，获取和维护纸质书籍的后勤工作可能阻碍了蓬勃发展的阅读文化的发展。还设计了一些方案，专门针对由于当地特有的文化规范和耻辱而“落后”的人口群体。例如，Worldreader在肯尼亚建立的Ana Soma项目旨在鼓励女性使用智能手机应用程序，使她们能够将阅读纳入日常工作和职责中。然而，发展中国家的大多数研究和数字阅读计划的主要焦点都是基于课堂的情况，这意味着数字阅读对读者生活的更广泛的社会影响几乎没有被讨论。拟议中的新网络将把来自多个国家、学术学科和知识基础的研究人员、利益相关者和决策者聚集在一起，与肯尼亚一些较贫穷地区的读者密切合作。该网络将特别关注促进各种残疾人士的性别平等和社会包容，并将审查目前的规定和最佳做法，并与读者和提供者合作，确定规定中的差距以及参与的社会和文化障碍，以确保未来的规定对技术在改善读者生活方面可以发挥的作用采取更全面和响应性的看法。第一次研讨会将重点关注性别平等和数字阅读，邀请来自内罗毕郊外基贝拉贫民窟的Ana Soma项目的参与者，并将该地区性别平等专家与利益攸关方和决策者聚集在一起，共同确定措施，确保未来的提供侧重于可持续解决方案，并建立有弹性的阅读文化和社区。在此基础上，第二次讲习班将研究现有的辅助技术如何能够满足有各种身体或学习障碍的读者的具体需求，最大限度地减少社会孤立的风险，并增加他们的生活机会。研讨会将包括来自该地区与残疾群体合作的慈善机构和组织以及最终用户的贡献，并将反映对性别和残疾采取交叉方法的重要性。与会者还将有机会参加穆库鲁一所聋哑学校的实地考察，该学校一直在与Worldreader合作，使用数字设备为学生提供阅读服务。在最后一个工作坊中，前两个工作坊的参加者将被邀请与数码媒体公司合作，创作和制作多媒体短片，反映他们使用数码设备的经验，以及数码设备对他们生活的影响。这些故事的制作将持续三天，并在最后一天的活动中放映，该活动将向网络成员、更广泛的华东大学社区以及故事讲述者的朋友和家人开放。