Learners to benefit from technology competitions (UK)

"Learners who find digital information difficult to manage in today's high tech world, perhaps because of a disability, could enjoy more independence thanks to two new developer competitions. JISC Techdis is launching the competitions after consulting the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Technology Strategy Board, joint sponsors of the initiative. The first competition 'Plain Sailing' asks developers to create technology to help people produce and access their own personalised digital information anytime, anywhere. The second 'Making Waves' competition challenges developers to come up with technologies to ensure that learners with communication difficulties can function effectively and independently. JISC Techdis director Sal Cooke said: "Digitisation has opened up access to a mass of information for a vast number of people across the globe. Yet, in spite of legislation, accessibility standards and guidelines, equality of access is still denied to millions of people." The winning contract for each competition is worth GBP250,000, and will be chosen by a panel of independent experts