The Digital Participation Lab
The Digital Participation Lab is an umbrella group for digital inclusion and equity research at Te Herenga Waka/Victoria University of Wellington.
Access to the internet is a prerequisite to participation in society in Aotearoa as government and commercial services, and information and knowledge are increasingly being offered only online. Reliable internet access and connectivity provide opportunities to engage in everyday activities, even during a crisis.
The importance of being able to connect digitally was amplified by COVID-19 travel restrictions that required much of the population to navigate working and learning from home, scanning QR codes when out and about. Climate change-related crises and events have similarly emphasised the importance of reliable internet access and connectivity that people can use whatever their circumstances.
The Lab focuses on advancing knowledge and understanding in the areas of digital inclusion and digital equity, exploring strategies to promote safe and equitable access to digital resources and opportunities for all. Current research focuses on the adoption and impact of digital technologies and services that affect digital resilience, digital sustainability, and digital inclusion. The use of technology to improve access to services for work, education, participation in society and well-being is another key focus. The group has undertaken research into:
- Digital access and infrastructure: the availability and quality of digital infrastructure including analysis of initiatives to extend affordable digital access through low-cost internet connections for priority groups in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Digital literacy and skills: investigations of community-based digital literacy programmes and initiatives in Aotearoa New Zealand to support people’s digital confidence, capability, and trust.
- Policy and governance: critical examination of policies and governance frameworks that impact digital inclusion, and the unanticipated consequences of the digitisation of government services and information.
- Socio-cultural dimensions: analysis of socio-cultural factors that influence digital inclusion and equity in Aotearoa New Zealand including systemic barriers that impact on digital technology access and use.
- Application of digital technologies such as the potential for digital twins to be used in education services.
Our members are drawn from across the School of Information Management and our multidisciplinary team includes researchers and partners from a range of fields such as information studies, information systems, faculty of education, and community development. We collaborate with government agencies, non-profit organisations, and local community groups to explore practices and outcomes of digital equity approaches and initiatives.
The Digital Participation Lab disseminates the results of its research through journal articles, conferences, workshops, and public engagement activities, raising awareness of the digital equity challenges faced by people in Aotearoa New Zealand and advocating for positive change. Find out more here.