Jacob, the 26-year-old IT / Tech support specialist in my company is a busy man. He is almost always swooping in to save the day for almost everyone in our office. Ironically, a lot of us women are still dependent on men for various tasks due to a lack of digital literacy. Whether making complex online transactions or preparing mixed media presentations, women rely on men to perform these tasks. Even in social or work gatherings when the conversation turns towards technology, men tend to dominate the dialogue and end up using jargon that further alienates the women in the group. There is a massive gap between the digital literacy levels of men and women in India. Among Indian women, less than 29 per cent use the internet.
Technology as a whole is an essential component in achieving gender equality. Proficiency in digital tools boosts efficiency and can help women take on newer / bigger roles. Take the example of Naina, a marketing manager at Clear Logistics* and a mother of two. Initially hesitant about diving into the digital realm, she decided to enrol in online courses after a performance review. Today, she not only efficiently manages her brand’s digital budget but also manages to create high-performance agency briefs. Digital literacy is not just about the present; it’s an investment in the future. Women who embrace and promote digital literacy become role models for the next generation. By doing so, they contribute to creating a workforce that is not only technologically savvy but also diverse and inclusive.
The journey towards digital literacy for women is challenging. It is a long and ever-evolving journey. But here’s a cheat sheet into what women in 2024 should know about today’s technology
Let’s look at the top trends, where the winds and money are flowing:
AI (traditional and generative alike) can free up precious human cycles from mundane operations and allow people to focus, finally, on higher-value work that better aligns with tomorrow’s business imperatives—namely, new and improved products, services, experiences, and markets. Many worry that Generative AI reduces the need for, or, diminishes the worth of human creativity. In an age of creative machines, creative humans matter more than ever. With Generative AI as a force multiplier for imagination, the future belongs to those who ask better questions and have more exciting ideas to amplify.
Data Science combines math and statistics, specialized programming, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning with specific subject matter expertise to uncover actionable insights hidden in an organization’s data. These insights can be used to guide decision-making and strategic planning.
UX Design is the process design teams use to create products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users. UX design involves the design of the entire process of acquiring and integrating the product, including aspects of branding, design, usability and function.
Space tech: Addressing earth’s challenges from outer space
Sustainable tech: E-bikes, cars and public transport
Cyber resilience: This goes beyond cyber security, as it encapsulates measures that can be taken to recover and ensure continuity when defences are breached or due to circumstances beyond our control. This might mean having remote working procedures in place to ensure businesses can function when staff can’t get to central locations.
IoT: It is the network of physical objects, that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies, to connect and exchange data with other devices and systems, over the internet.
Synthetic data: Any data that’s artificially created rather than being collected from the real world.
Metaverse: An online platform, seen as the next generation of the internet, where people can interact with each other like hanging out, playing games, doing business, participating in virtual events, achieving face-to-face interaction using avatars, and do much more, with an immersive experience and sense of mixed reality.
In conclusion, digital literacy opens doors, breaks barriers, and empowers individuals to thrive in the digital age. By harnessing the power of technology and implementing measures such as education and awareness, strong cyber-security, reporting mechanisms, legal protections, and community support, we can work towards creating a more equal and just society for women both online and offline.
Shared by: Chetna Israni, Director & Co-Founder, Morning Star Brandcom.
