Opportunities and Risks of the Information and Communication Technologies for Users with Special Needs

Abstract

The fast developing of information and communication technologies has aroused the hope of P new society in which all people would kwe the same opportunities to access -through diverse eservices- to knowledge, work, leisure, etc. Information society has also offered a promising opportunity for social inclusion of people with disabilities. The combination of technological advancer (such as wireless personal area networks, wearable computing, etc.) with social advances (such as new inclusive legislation and social awareness) would make the social inclusion of people with special needs possible. Nevertheless, this will not automatically happen. It is necessary to apply inclusive design methods and to identify and avoid technological, ethicnl and social risk. This paper analyses the opportunities that information technology can offer to disabled people and the main risks that must be avoided. As a conclusion some guidelines to avoid these risks are outlined.