The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has called for promotion in inclusiveness of assitive technologies to help people with special needs (PWDs) in the telecommunications sector.
Danbatta, represented by Dr Chidi Diugwu, the Deputy Director, New Media and Information Security, NCC, made the call at a virtual Developmental Programme on Assistive Technology, on Thursday in Abuja, in order to address unmet needs.
The programme was tagged: “Assistive Technology in Telecommunications”.
The EVC explained that in order to achieve the mandate, it would involve paying due attention to new media development and in particular on approaches to its availability, accessibility and usability.
He pointed out that both accessibility and usability could differ for individuals depending on physical abilities just as it could differ for sectors-specific transactions when searching for assistance.
He, however, said that the underlining design or manufacturing philosophy adopted was important to meet such wide variety of needs in the original design of telecommunications systems.
According to him, it is necessary that an increasing number of users can benefit from available services.
“For the physically challenged, assistance is not only needed but required to be given.
“Sometimes also, in national interest, assistance is required especially with new media – e.g. in surveillance, immigration, policing, trade and so on.
“In order to address these unmet needs we turn to Assistive Technology (AT) through universal design in all forms of telecommunications services design.
“Thus, from new technology assessment view point, assignment of Assistive Technology functions is an addition and novel regulatory approach toward fulfilling the universal access and service obligation.
“Besides, AT is in compliance with the recommendations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) through Study Group-16 which Working Parties (WPs) deal with Multimedia.
“Through its different WPs, SG-16 develops capability to handle different information media and control actions which varies within wide boundaries amongst users of telecommunications and multimedia services,” he said.
Danbatta pointed out some objectives of the conference as:
To ensure co-ordination of telecoms related services or products with the design-for-all and Assistive technology fields.
To promote the role of NCC as a focal candidate in the design-tor-all Assistive Technology.
To promote local content contributions and expand knowledge acquisition in developing future guidelines and tools by sector players, among others.
The EVC also urged stakeholders to focus on key areas such as the current provision of Assistive Technologies in the field of Communications, with a view to the identification of unmet needs.
He advocated “the identification of recent tecnnological developments that may enable new services.
“The identification of existing Assistive Technology developments, including those that may require immediate intervention by relevant parties.
“The achievement of a set of priority areas where NCC’s involvement could provide the stimulus for industry to develop new assistive products or services.”
The commission’s Director of New Media and Information Security, Dr Haru Alhassan, explained that the aim of the workshop was to provide context awareness on Assistive Technology (AT).
Alhassan, who was represented by Mrs Elizabeth Musa, said that the AT involved assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for physically challenged people, as well as things of national interest as surveillance, policing and so on.
He also said that the conference would ensure availability of resources targeted effectively to identify areas where NCC could have the greatest potential impact in supporting the future development and application of new AT.
He said that it would be by way of Design for All (DfA) or Universal Design (UD).
In his paper presentation tilted “Assistive Technology Policy Legislation and Regulations”, Prof. Ken Ife, a consultant, urged the NCC to develop appropriate policy framework, strategy and action Plan/Road Map on access for Persons with Disabilities in telecom sector.
Ife also urged the commission to carry out comprehensive needs assessment of the different dísability groups and the AT-related technologies they would need per sector and understand the issues and barriers surrounding them.