The Record - Issue 20: Spring 2021

114 www. t e c h n o l o g y r e c o r d . c om solutions that use population and census data to help health officials identify locations for vacci- nation centres that best ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines. Much like in the healthcare sector, the resil- ience and agility of education systems has been put to the test. “The shift from classroom to remote learn- ing proved how agile the industry can be and demonstrated the aspects of remote learning that are likely to persist as in-person classes return,” says Glidden. “Small things like the instant mes- saging window in Teams have been effective for sharing links or asking for a group response. Real-time transcription and translation for each attendee has led to more inclusive classes that foster greater creativity. “In higher education, policies are changing to give students more learning options and flexi- bility, including online attendance. These new models prioritise student choice by allowing students from all walks of life to determine the right mix of online and in-class experiences and will hopefully lead to greater affordability in education.” Glidden believes this accelerated adoption of digital solutions also brought with it a focus on inclusion, particularly in education. “Within the first few weeks of quarantine, as people shifted to working and learning from home, Microsoft’s Disability Answer Desk received double the usual number of calls,” she explains. “Additionally, captioning usage for Teams was 30 times greater than a few months prior. “Microsoft partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District to develop a safe back- to-school solution that can scale to communities throughout California. At the same time, par- ents working from home were able to download Immersive Reader, a tool that helps readers with learning differences, to assist their children in learning remotely.” The pandemic highlighted that digital accessi- bility is not a given for many. “We see great potential in using advancements in digital technologies to improve public health services and education, particularly given the challenges in access during the pandemic,” says Glidden. “But while digital services became lifelines to support first responders, court sys- tems, students and many others, we also learned that more than 3.5 billion people did not have access to these services. In response, Microsoft has joined forces with like-minded partners worldwide to deliver safe and affordable Internet access, provide skilling for tens of millions of F E ATUR E