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The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) today (April 11) launched the two-day Digital Inclusion Mobile App Exhibition at Central Harbourfront Event Space to showcase mobile apps spearheaded by social service organisations with funding support from the Government.
The Acting Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Victor Lam, said at the Digital Inclusion Mobile App Appreciation Ceremony, "The rapid advancement of information and communications technology (ICT) not only brings convenience to the general public, but also opens up opportunities to facilitate special needs groups to integrate into the community. Two rounds of the Support Scheme on Development of Digital Inclusion Mobile Applications were launched in 2012-13 and 2014-15 to encourage social service organisations to develop easy-to-use mobile apps that provide practical information and services to the underprivileged."
In view of positive user feedback on the seven mobile apps developed in the first round, OGCIO funded additional five apps in the second round.
"These five mobile apps provide educational and useful information and services to cater for the practical needs of different user groups. We have one app helping dyslexic children to learn the structure of Chinese characters, one teaching visually-impaired children basic mathematics, one providing articulation assessment and training for children with hearing impairment, another one providing persons beset with dementia with brain training exercises and tools for seeking emergency assistance, and the last one assisting persons with hearing impairment to communicate in sign language by using instant messaging applications on smart phones," Mr Lam said.
These five mobile apps include:
1. HOPE Chinese Character Game (Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association)
2. MathAid (Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired)
3. Articulation Screening and Training Tool (Hong Kong Society for the Deaf)
4. One Click to Know Dementia (Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing)
5. SignChat (Hong Kong Association of the Deaf)
Mr Lam expressed gratitude to the funded organisations for their contribution towards digital inclusion. He encouraged all sectors of society to provide innovative and user-friendly services to the special needs groups by effective use of ICT.
The Digital Inclusion Mobile App Exhibition will be held at the venue of the Hong Kong Digital Life Carnival from 11am to 9pm. For more information on the five mobile apps, please visit www.ogcio.gov.hk/en/community/develop_mobile_apps/.
Ends/Saturday, April 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:08
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