The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities released initial results of 2007 Macau Digital Inclusion Household Survey yesterday (December 6). The survey revealed an overall average Digital Inclusion index of 0.44, indicating a wide existing information gap between different social groups which calls broader public attention. According to the survey, old people got the lowest score among the disadvantaged social groups, followed by low-educated, middle aged housewives, disabled people, chronic invalids and people from single-parented household. In addition, the survey identified a high score of children from low-income families and new immigrants, which suggested a less obvious information gap of these two social groups.
The research team stated that after detailed statistic analysis, their research would enter into the second stage, which will focus on the difficulties and handicaps confronted by the disadvantaged social groups as well as the solutions in filling information gap, applying the methods of focus group and in-depth interview. Moreover, the research team is planning to hold a regional meeting next year to provide a platform for the scholars in Greater China region to discuss the situations and countermeasures of digital inclusion.