Digital+Divide

=Digital Divide= toc

What is it?
As technology advances not everyone in this world has the opportunity or ability to have access to these devices. The gap between individuals that can easily access these technologies and those that can not is growing larger as communities of people are falling behind. This digital divide exists due to many factors such as age, gender, class, race, and disabilities. Third world countries are victims of the digital divide and are at a great disadvantage with regards to the access of advancing technologies. Due to the fact they fail to keep up, they are greatly impoverished both economically and educationally.

If you have ever visited a third world country you would know that people living there do not have the same advantages as others living in a well developed and economically rich country. Their daily provisions consist of the very basic necessities and they lack enriched educational circumstances. One can argue that it is a never ending circle of misfortune as these people lack the knowledge needed to succeed in economics, health and agriculture. Education and therefore knowledge is vital to the success of any country. When Tim Berners-Lee, (the inventor of the World Wide Web) created one of the most important inventions of our time his only desire was that every single person in this world would be able to have access to the same information. The //global divide// refers to the divergence of Internet access between industrialized and developing countries (Norris, 273). This variance of Internet access is an important factor that may make it difficult for developing countries to break through their disadvantages.

Currently the Internet population only reaches about 5% of the world’s population (Norris, 274). Most poorer societies, that are lagging behind greatly, may unfortunately end up joining the digital world decades later, and may even fail to catch up (Norris, 274). Leaders in the World Bank, European Union, United Nations and the G-8 have made it clear that the problems of segregation from the knowledge economy is the main problem of the lack of understanding of land and capital which are the main building blocks of growth (Norris, 275). The Internet could also help developing countries gain more knowledge about health. An article from BBC News reported that “in Africa, which has a population of 700m, fewer than a million people had access to the internet in 1998 - four out of five of these in South Africa” (BBC News, Sep. 29, 2000). Access to the internet in these developing countries will enable doctors to be more informed about and trained in the use of advancements in medical knowledge around the world (Chandrasekhar & J. Ghosh, 2001). There is also the advantage of providing internet access to villages that could access information on technical matters relating to best agricultural practices (Chandrasekhar & J. Ghosh, 2001). An editorial from an issue of the British Medical Journal stated that "Access to information is essential for describing and understanding the deficiencies of the present, building visions of a better future, developing practical ways to achieve those visions, and educating and inspiring those who must make the future" (Carvin, 2001). Therefore it is important that something is done in order for individuals living in third world countries to gain access to the internet, so that they can use valuable information to better their impoverished situations.

Digital divide is categorized into two forms:
 * Social digital divide: this is the divide between people in the same society. Good examples of social digital divide are gender and disability digital divide. This is because in many societies women and the disabled are always behind in adapting and using new technologies.
 * Global digital divide: This is a form of digital divide between nations. Many developing countries have fallen behind in terms of accessing and using technology in comparison to developed countries.

TYPES OF DIGITAL DIVIDE:
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INCOME:
The __income factor__ has been observed as one of the most significant in defining the gap amongst those with technology have’s and have not’s. According to a Statistics Canada, only 20% of the households making $ 10,000 or less have access to the internet as compared to the 60% of those earning $ 70,000 or more yearly. (Sciadas, George. “The Digital Divide in Canada.”) The concept of digital divide and the existence of such a pattern tends to highlight the fact that, access to technology and the digital technologies themselves such as computers and the internet, are yet another luxury that the rich due to their higher disposable income can enjoy it on a larger scale and cannot be afforded by the poor who struggle with money to obtain the very basic necessities of life. (Pippa Norris)

EDUCATION:
Closely intertwined with the income factor in justifying the digital divide would be another factor that is __‘level of education’__ amongst the users of technology. A huge disparity in rates of internet usage by level of educational qualifications has been observed. Those with higher or post secondary education are more likely to gain access to and make effective use of the technology such as the internet than those with a lower level of instruction. (Sciadas, G. “Unveiling the Digital Divide.”) Level of education is directly entangled with the income factor, since those with higher levels of education earn more money and are therefore able to afford the technology and/or may be using it at their workplace.

RACE/ETHNIC DIFFERENCES:
Differences in access to technology also exist across __racial__ confines. Blacks, Hispanics, and Natives have been observed to possess lower accessibility to technologies than Whites and Asians .To be specific, in year 2002 of those accessing the internet in United States of America, Hispanics attributed for 31.6%, African Americans for 39.8% whereas Asian Americans and whites with about 60% each attributed for nearly two thirds of the online population. (Fairlee, Robert. “Race and the Digital Divide.”) Likewise, citizens situated in __urban areas__ due to the availability of better infrastructure have a higher access than the residents of __rural regions. (__Baltac, Vasile. “Digital Divide: The Four Basic Pillars.”)

AGE-GREY DIGITAL DIVIDE:
Taking in consideration that computing technologies and Internet have been developed fairly recently, elderly people have been slow in being able to adapt it as a part of their daily lives and reap its benefits. Despite the ongoing augmentation of technological diffusion across al boundaries, only a very small percentage of 5%, over the age of 55 make effective use of the computers and the internet. (Kumar, K.G. “The Grey Digital Divide.”). In contrast, youngsters or children have successfully empathized with the new computing technologies and successfully adapted them at a considerably higher rate as over 90% of teenagers have access to internet. Such a disparity by age, also known as the ‘__Grey Digital Divide’__ may exist as youngsters have more exposure to computing technologies such as the internet at school and can learn to use them more rapidly.

GENDER
It must also be noticed that a minor divide is also said to exist between __genders__ with regards to access to technology. Although the divide continues to diminish at a rapid rate, more men are like to have access and make use of the technologies then women. Many reasons have been suggested to validate such a divide. Even though some sexist’s may believe that women are incompatible with technology, others argue that the women’s lack of engagement in technology is directly related to the issue of gender inequality that exists within the mainstream society. Unequal access to education, glass ceilings in technology related research and industries and consequent lack of financial resources either on the part of women themselves or resulting from choices made for their family are few of the factors that may prove to be a barrier in fervent engagement and more active participation of women in and with technology.( Sikoska, Tatjana. “Overcoming the Gender Digital Divide”).

IS IT A THREAT?
The issue of Digital Divide is presumed as a threat by many who speculate that in the years to come in would elaborate on existing social and economic divides that exist in the mainstream society, making it impossible for the less privileged to succeed and become active members of the digital world. In addition, since it is required by a fully democratic and autonomous society for all its citizens to have equal access to complete information, in order for them to make an informed educated decision and to be provided with equal opportunities to succeed, the world’s will fall in desolation as its population would get divided amongst those with access to the information and those without the information (Riba, Elisabeth. “The Digital Divide”). On the other hand, some people are of the opinion that like any other new technology when introduced initially, it would take time for computer related technologies to be adapted by everyone until they become a part of the mainstream society. However, the digital divide continues to diminish as the awareness regarding the technology increases and its cost decreases.

Closing the Digital Divide
The main question is; what can be done to close the digital divide and give third world countries the access to valuable information? There have been many organizations that have made this issue the center of their research. One example is One Laptop per Child (OLPC) a non-profit association that has developed a one hundred dollar laptop for the sole purpose of distributing it in third world countries (OLPC, 2006). Although these laptops have not yet gone into production, there are plans to distribute these laptops to schools directly through large government initiatives (OLPC, 2006). These low cost, flexible, responsive, and durable machines will help developing countries access information and use it to educate the children of the future.



Numerous organizations have also began to develop programs to bring high-quality science journals for free to developing nations (Yale University Library, 2006). For example the African Virtual University (AVU) is helping to bridge the digital divide by training world-class business managers, engineers, technicians, scientists and other professionals who will promote economic and social development in Africa (Yale University Library, 2006). Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) is a project set up by the United States that will give poor countries access to over 400 key journals in nutrition, food, agriculture and biological, environment and social sciences (Yale University Library, 2006).

Computer Aid International provides help to developing countries by sourcing unwanted PCs from businesses and corporations in the industrialized part of the world and sending them to poor countries to be used in schools and community organizations (CNET Networks, 2006). Tim Berners-Lee own W3C has also set up various workshops to identify which areas would be most important to focus on to bridge the digital divide (Boyera, 2006). Focusing mostly on bringing mobile web access in developing countries this organization is a crucial part in establishing the link between developing countries and access to the internet.

Simply providing Internet “access” (bridging the digital divide) is not the final solution. With that access, needs to be “effective use” which is, “access which can be used and made effective to accomplish the purposes that individuals might set for themselves” (Gurstein 2003). Many of those near public access do not have the education or skills to make use of the access. Hence, preparing people to make effective use of access when they get it is crucial (bridging the second digital divide) (Straubhaar and LaRose 2004, 419). The key is having access and then with that access having “the knowledge, skills, and supportive organizational and social structures to make effective use of that access and that e-technology to enable social and community objectives” (Gurstein 2003).

Some Long-Term Consequences
1) The digital divide contributed to the development of imaginative projects across the world 2) By putting inequalities in patterns of media, the digital divide has made it a little easier for players outside the magic circle of the World Bank 3) the digital divide debate has now paid for its political inconvenience

Conclusion
The digital divide is a big problem in today’s technological world that is vastly expanding and leaving the less fortunate behind. As this process has already started by lead nation heads, we as the users of this technology that can admit to its great uses need to help. Old Computers, parts and electronics can all be salvaged and reused, donate, gift and supply to those that need it most! Without access to the valuable information provided on the World Wide Web, developing countries are lacking in the knowledge to build up their country and establishing a strong economical stance in this world. Without this access they are deficient in medical knowledge, environmental knowledge, agricultural knowledge, and political knowledge to create a country that could grow and self sustain itself. Click on the title image above to see how you can be a part of closing the gap of this divide. Bridging the digital divide will enable third world countries to educate themselves and make a successful future for generations to come. Effecting all countries growth around us.