The City of Seattle has unspooled key findings from its 2024 Seattle Technology Access & Adoption Study, laying bare the digital landscape of its residents, as showcased in a recently recorded presentation. Spanning a wealth of topics including internet access and usage, the types of devices in circulation, the digital literacy of the population, and pertinent training needs, the study gleans insights from surveys and focus group conversations conducted with over 4,600 Seattle dwellers, according to the Seattle Information Technology.
Enlightened by the study's revelation, citizens and policymakers alike can now navigate through an enriched understanding of the city's technological pulse; drilling down into civic engagement patterns, pressing safety and security concerns, and unveiling for the first time the unique digital realities faced by Seattle's urban Native community. The study accentuated with a multi-language strategy for inclusivity, was laid out in a session presented by David Keyes, alongside Seattle IT's Interim Chief Technology Officer Jim Loter and the Chair of Community Technology Advisory Board, Phillip Meng, all of whom underlined the importance of these findings for fostering an equitably connected city.
In the presentation, now accessible for all to stream, Keyes along with the research partners Chelsea Benning of Olympic Research and Strategy, Shaun Glaze and Kathleen Perez of Inclusive Data, and Chris Webb of Seattle Central College elaborated on the tools and the dashboard developed from this study, which others can employ to further the cause of digital equity. With such resources at hand, the City of Seattle aims to bridge the gaps in technology access and equip its residents with the essential digital skills for the evolving tech landscape. Visit techtalk.seattle.gov to watch the full discussion and explore the data for yourself.
