Understanding digital divides in practice – perspectives from civil society

The project drives innovation in science, society, politics and business by analysing the digital divide
in relation to the use of system-critical administrative and private-sector service apps.

Factsheet

Schools involved Bern Academy of the Arts
Business School
Institute(s) Institute of Design Research
Strategic thematic field Thematic field "Humane Digital Transformation"
Funding organisation BFH
Duration (planned) 01.05.2026 - 31.12.2026
Head of project Dr. Anna Antonakis
Prof. Dr. Julia Mia Stirnemann
Project staff Vittoria Meier
Kevin Wong
Eliane Patricia Wurmser

Situation

The project examines the digital divide in Switzerland as defined by Ragnedda (2018), which comprises three dimensions: internet access, digital skills and the social use of digital experiences. Our focus is on the latter two: the use of digital administrative services (e.g. online government services) and their social application, as well as everyday apps (e.g. e-banking, the SBB app). The aim is to 1) identify relevant applications for Swiss citizens, 2) understand usage challenges, and 3) highlight the disadvantages of insufficient digital skills and ‘digital constraints’. These issues are being researched in collaboration with civil society organisations (Caritas – Digi-Treffs) and private-sector companies. In this way, the project contributes to an inclusive digital society in which everyone benefits equally from digital services and promotes an understanding of the limits of digitalisation.

Course of action

The project brings together expertise from three disciplines to address digital divides in Switzerland in a holistic manner. The social design perspective places social needs and civic participation at the heart of the project and systematically embeds inclusion in both the design and implementation of the research project – with the aim of shaping fairer digital transformation processes. The Public Sector Transformation Institute contributes expertise in public administration, digital transformation and governance to ensure that political and organisational frameworks are taken into account. User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design teams develop and test prototypes to ensure that digital applications are user-friendly, accessible and tailored to users’ actual capabilities. The Digital Sustainability Lab complements this with the ability to implement technical solutions and convert prototypes into functional applications. This interdisciplinary collaboration ensures that recommendations are scientifically sound, socially effective and technically feasible.