The price of digital illiteracy

Peter du ToitI'm the founder of FutureWork IQ where I spend my time assisting businesses to design digital workplaces or “offices in the cloud.” These environments enable companies to allow flexible and remote working for their teams. I also teach the digital literacy, fluency, communication and collaboration skills needed to work in these modern technology-rich workplaces.

Take a careful look at this list of the 25 most illiterate countries in the world. Illiteracy, (not being able to read or write) in these countries keeps hundreds of millions of people in poverty, unable to improve their lives.

This situation also prevents these countries from participating in the global economy. Just search their respective GDP statistics to get a sense of this.

We are right now experiencing another rapid shift in literacy as we transition into digital societies that require us to learn to “speak digital” creating a need for digital literacy and fluency.

The consequence of not being able to make this transition is going to be as dire as it is for the countries on this list.

We already have glimpses into what a true digital society looks like. Here is a peek into this new world: Inside the world’s most advanced digital society – and what it’s doing next.

How about you? Would you be able to function efficiently in an advanced digital environment? Would your business, if you own one?

In 2017 there is an urgent need to upskill – learning to “read and write digital” if you will.