MICHAEL FAGERLUND, NATIONAL IT- AND –TELECOM AGENCY

HOT TOPICS FOR PUBLIC BODIES

NATIONAL IT- AND TELECOM AGENCY

StandardisationStandardisation is important because it will:• Secure interoperability• Improve the incentive for innovation in accessible ICT solutions and AT, as the

suppliers will not have to bare the burden of complying with a variety of different national requirements and regulation.

• Make it easier for buyers to control a product up against a standard• Help to provide an equal level of accessibility across Europe

NATIONAL IT- AND TELECOM AGENCY

Cloud ComputingCloud computing is web based processing, whereby shared resources, software and information are

provided to computers on demand over the internet. Done the proper way it is: • Cheaper

– Customises products on a Large-scale production – Only have to pay for your actual use.

• Easier– Less IT competencies are needed internal in the company because it is now the supplier who has the expertise– No update, new firewalls, patching etc

• Faster– Start servers immediately and hence no waiting for new hardware to be bought and set up.

• More flexible– Start and stop when you want– Scale up and down the capacity – Search cloud application where ever you are – only an internet connection is needed. Therefore AT in the cloud is a

big advantage for users with impairment.

NATIONAL IT- AND TELECOM AGENCY

Open Source

Applied properly, open source can contribute to:• Distribution and development of software on free terms, including AT• Promotion of IT-businesses to offer services in relation to software and to

develop new IT-products • Collaboration on creating interoperable IT-systems• Collaboration and developing of it-systems across public sector institutions and

indeed borders

NATIONAL IT- AND TELECOM AGENCY

Public Key Actors: Most of the leading public bodies across borders are rooted in groups or projects

supported by the European Commission. E.g: • Standardisation: Mandate 376 and UWEM• Open Source: [pending]• Cloud: Strategi announced in the digital agenda

However, there is certain public key actors on national level who is important to target in the matter of disseminating the knowledge of assessibility in AT and ICT.

• Procurement:Public procurement organisations on different levels (Governmental and municipal)

• Distribution Reach frontworkers: e.g. communications centers, educational centers, Telecentre Europe, etc.

NATIONAL IT- AND TELECOM AGENCY

Challenge: Economi/Affordability

Depression forces the public bodies to focus on cost reduction through technologi or in stimulation of cheaper it-solutions and AT products in itself.

This gives further attention to the areas already mentioned.

In this respect one of the biggest challenges from a public bodies point of view is how to convince the public and private bodies in the business case and model of accessibility in ICT and AT.