The Alliance Pillars

A person sitting on a blue plastic bag with a small cardboard sign, with a red cup for donations sat next to the sign. They are on a street corner wearing a knit hat with a thin blanket over their lap.

Social justice, inclusion and equality

Digital technologies have the potential to significantly improve outcomes for people who have been disadvantaged by providing them with better access to resources and opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. They can help organisations supporting these groups to increase their reach, their impact and their effectiveness. Remote delivery of services can make healthcare and other services more accessible, especially for individuals in remote or underserved areas. Additionally, technologies like AI and data analytics can be used to identify and address disparities in various sectors, leading to more equitable service delivery and resource allocation. These technologies not only connect disadvantaged individuals to essential services but also create pathways for their voices and needs to be recognised and addressed in policymaking and through social initiatives.

A close-up of a laptop computer on a desk with an open notebook, a mobile phone, and two people in the background working.

Skills, talent development and access to opportunity

The development of digital technology skills is crucial in today’s world, as it opens up a multitude of opportunities and benefits for both individuals and society. For individuals, these skills enhance employability in a rapidly evolving job market where digital proficiency is increasingly demanded. This knowledge not only improves career prospects but also fosters personal growth and empowerment through access to resources for learning and self-improvement. On a societal level, widespread digital literacy drives innovation and economic growth. It enables a more informed community, capable of engaging with digital platforms for communication, advocacy, and education. Moreover, digital skills facilitate the bridging of global and cultural gaps, fostering collaboration and understanding in a connected world. Thus, the development of digital technology skills is a key factor in shaping a progressive, informed, and dynamic society.

An old bike chained to a pole on a flooded road with a submerged car in the background and other vehicles parked along an adjacent road.

Environment and climate change

Digital technologies play a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of and response to the climate emergency. Data analytics and climate modelling software enable more accurate prediction of climate patterns, providing vital information on how and where climate change will impact the world. AI and machine learning tools are instrumental in analysing vast amounts of environmental data, leading to more informed decision-making. These technologies also facilitate the development of sustainable practices and initiatives in areas such as the circular economy. Digital platforms are powerful tools for disseminating information about the climate crisis, mobilising communities, and promoting sustainable practices. Digital technologies are indispensable in both understanding and combating climate change, empowering individuals and organisations to develop and implement effective solutions.

Case Studies

PwC’s Cloud Centre of Excellence team with some of Scottish Tech Army management team standing and kneeling in meeting space and smiling at the camera. Some of the team who are not in-person at the location are pictured on a centre video screen.

Soundscape

Soundscape is a mobile app based on code developed and released by Microsoft under an open source licence. It uses 3D audio technology to support people with visual impairment, providing contextual information in outdoor areas that allows the visually-impaired to orient themselves and navigate with confidence, helping them to achieve greater independence in their daily lives.

CAKE - Supporting health staff

CAKE is an interactive resource designed to support professionals in the workplace. It was designed as a resource that would support nurses working in the community to cope with Secondary Psychological trauma and uses creative storytelling techniques to promote self-care and team wellbeing.

Classroom full of students wearing purple or gold coloured t-shirts are participating with dressCode. The participants in the foreground are crowded around a laptop computer and smiling.

dressCode Lesson Starters

The dressCode lesson starter tool is a searchable, web-based application, which allows computer science teachers to access and present free lesson starter exercises in their classes. The tool provides a wide variety of exercises and quizzes that computing science teachers can use to engage their students at the start of a class and to stimulate their interest in computing science more widely.

Early career experience

Early career technologists find the opportunity to gain experience by participating as volunteers in tech for good projects both rewarding and motivating and that the opportunity to work alongside more experienced volunteers helps them to build a network in the tech industry.

GoCodeGreen logo on a white background with the text “sustainable software certification, valid to September 2023.” There is a green bubble with the text “Carbon Neutral” to the left of the logo.

Low carbon donation platform

Working in collaboration, the Scottish Tech Army (STA), NatWest and GoCodeGreen built a low carbon impact charity donation platform in support of the humanitarian crisis created by the war in Ukraine. The project demonstrated how a common purpose, doing good and having sustainability at the heart of delivery is possible.

Bioregioning - interactive map Notes: This will need a description. I’m unable to view the tiny text size and don’t know what each of the icons represent.

Bioregioning - interactive map

A Bioregion is a geographic area defined not by political or economic boundaries but through its natural features. In this example, GIS technology is used to help to visualise the components of a bioregioning programme, highlighting the environmental impact of the projects being delivered.