The Digital Divide

Factor which create the digital divide

• Technological• Economic• Social• Geographical• Fear of technology• Lack of motivation, knowledge and skills

Technological

• Technology always advancing• Systems rapidly out of date• Newer software needs up to date systems• Broadband requires up to date systems• Keeping up is expensive• Keeping up requires learning new skills• Hardware and software developers are driving this advance• Minimum systems specifications much greater than in the past• Some can afford this new technology, many cannot• Some can learn new skills, many cannot

Economic

• Changes in Mobile Phone / Digital media / Satellite media technology means that people are being forced into updating existing equipment

• Updating because old equipment no longer workable – vinyl records -> CDs -> mp3– Analogue TV (switch off within the next 5 years) -> Digital– VHS (Dixons no longer sell) -> DVD player/recorders

• Updating because of peer pressure– Must have latest video phone– Bullying– Fashion

• Some can afford this new technology, many cannot

Social

• People without access to new technology face social exclusion– Banking– Medical Information– Education– Finding jobs– Etc.

• Social communication (texting, emails etc.)

Geographical

• Local– Some areas still cannot receive digital TV, radio, high speed

broadband, mobile phone signals• International

– Poor countries do not have the infrastructure to provide• Electricity• Communications• Education

– Poor countries – poor people cannot have the necessary hardware or software to run digital services

– Second hand refurbished systems from richer countries being given to poorer countries – does this help ?

• Implications ?

Fear of Technology

• Affects– All generations to a certain but different extent– More mature and elderly who have never received any training at

all feel and are afraid of the technology– Others who lack the knowledge but are wary of new technology

• Why?• What can be done?• What is being done?

Lack of motivation, knowledge and skills

– Disaffected people who can’t be bothered to learn new skills– People with learning difficulties– People with disabilities

• All could be excluded from the new digital economy• What initiatives are being taken to help these?

– Easier to use software– Better Human Computer Interface– More training facilities– Specialist equipment

Some research links

• www.heineman.co.uk and follow the link to Computer Aid International (express code 2016P)

• 'Dealing with the Digital Underclass' at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4496633.stm.

Assessment

• A description of at least three factors contributing to the digital divide and some of the measures being taken to bridge the gap, with an evaluation of the impact/extent of the digital divide, drawn together to give a picture of the current situation.