The digital divide and staying ahead of technology

The Digital Divide Keeping up with Technology

By: Chris O’Brien

Image by: theophilos [Flickr]

New technologies such as the internet and mobile computing will continue to advance and its important for us to stay on top of them, but some people are already getting left behind.

Image by: ransomtech [Flickr]

In particular the elderly …

Image by: IamNotUnique [Flickr]

…. those of lower income socioeconomic groups….

Image by: photonadoru [Flickr]

…And billions of other people around the world.

Image by: Dakman5 [wiki commons]

Why does it matter if these groups take hold of new technology or not?The internet has sparked a technological and informational revolution that is quickly changing the way the world does everything.

Image by: 114ben [Flickr]

Our primary method of communication is no longer through the telephone. Instead we now favor sending email and text or facebook messages through our smartphones.

Image by: autowhich [Flickr]

The way we consume and exchange information is changing as well. Many news paper companies already offer exclusive online content and classified sections have been all but completely replaced by websites such as Kijiji and Craigslist.

Image by: barzanQTR [Flickr]

Even searching for Jobs has become an increasingly online activity, with over 80% of fortune 500 companies reporting that they are exclusively using online resources for finding new employees.

Image by: acaben [Flickr]

With our ever increasing reliance on the internet and all of the technology surrounding it, it’s important that we try to close this gap and minimize the digital divide.

Image by: ocean.flynn [Flickr]

As technology evolves, computer hardware is becoming less expensive and more accessible to lower incomes.

Image by: IamUccalilla [Flickr]

Tablets have become an easier method for the less technically savvy to get online. The more intuitive touch interface and easy navigation have made this an ideal outlet for the elderly adopters who want to stay connected.

Image by: cogdogblog [Flickr]

Founded by the CEO of Facebook and co-founders of google, there are now two independent not for profit organizations set up who’s goal is to help spread internet to the world.

Image by: martin deutsch [Flickr]

They are still in their infancies, but both organizations are currently planning on using aerial vehicles to deliver internet signals to places such as Africa that don’t have the required infrastructure in place.

Image by: wajahat mahmood [Flickr]

But this is just the beginning,what about the future?

Image by: libraryman [Flickr]

The next generation is already growing up taking for granted what we consider the newest technologies.

Image by: henriksent [Flickr]

Some of the newest technologies have already seen wide spread adoption….

Image by: kominyetska [Flickr]

….While others are still in their infancy.

Image by: wilbertbaan [Flickr]

Will you embrace the newest technologies with an open mind?

Image by: NYC media lab [Flickr]

…. Or will you find yourself on the wrong side of the next digital divide?

Image by: stevenw [Flickr]

Sources1. Javed Anwer, Facebook to use drones to beam

internet from the sky: Mark Zuckerberg [May 21 2014],http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/Facebook-to-use-drones-to-beam-internet-from-the-sky-Mark-Zuckerberg/articleshow/32819568.cms

2. Anushka Asthana and Tracey McveighGovernment services to be online-only [May 22 2014],http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/nov/20/government-services-online-only

All background images were retrieved under Flickrscreative commons licensing with credit given to the authors with the exception of slide 5 which was collected under wiki commons licensing.