"Exploring Kiosk Accessibility Improvement Measures" Ministry of Science and ICT Hosts Kiosk Information Accessibility Conference

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it held a conference on June 16 both online and offline to discuss improvement measures for kiosk information accessibility in celebration of ‘Information Culture Month’ in June.

Under the theme ‘Kiosks Meet Digital Inclusion,’ this conference was organized as a platform for communication and exchange to review the spread of kiosks domestically and internationally, as well as the current status of systems and policies, and to explore ways to improve information accessibility from various perspectives including legislation, technology, and civic awareness.

The keynote speech opening the conference was delivered by Professor Sangmook Lee of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Seoul National University, titled ‘In the Post-COVID Era, Intelligent Information Technology as Both Threat and Opportunity and the Necessity of Ensuring Information Accessibility.’ He emphasized the need for cooperation among civil society, businesses, and government to create an environment where digital technology can be effectively utilized regardless of disability status, age, or income.

In Session 1, academic experts shared the current status of kiosk proliferation domestically and internationally and trends in information accessibility systems and policies in major countries, diagnosing the current situation. In particular, Professor Hyunju Moon of Chungbuk National University proposed directions for improving the current national accessibility standard applied to kiosks, the ‘Public Terminal Accessibility Guidelines.’

Session 2 involved direct participation from users such as persons with disabilities and the elderly, as well as kiosk developers and manufacturers to discuss improvement measures. Dr. Hoon Kim, a senior researcher at the Korea Blind Union and a person with severe visual impairment who presented as a citizen speaker, suggested ideas such as remotely controlling kiosk screens via smartphones and operating a ‘Help Desk.’

Activist Jaehyun Kim, an ICT instructor, pointed out that among information-vulnerable groups, the elderly have the lowest level of informatization, proposing the creation of an ‘elderly-only mode’ on kiosks and support measures such as voice guidance and auxiliary tools like touch pens. Lastly, Jiyong Jang, team leader at Korea Electronic Finance, a kiosk developer, introduced a ‘Barrier-Free Kiosk’ equipped with a low-vision screen mode, adjustable height for wheelchair users, and ARS ordering functions for the visually impaired and elderly, emphasizing the urgent need for government support to enable companies to continuously develop and invest in related technologies.

At the welcoming remarks, Deputy Minister Kyungsik Cho of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, “The inconvenience of using kiosks has become a problem for everyone unfamiliar with digital technology, so this year’s Information Culture Month was organized to solve everyday problems of our neighbors in the digital era through citizen participation,” and added, “We will actively reflect the opinions proposed by academia, industry, and citizens at the conference in our policies.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.