The Digital Divide and the Transformation of Work
The Digital Divide and the Transformation of WorkBrian
McFarlaneWhat is does digital divide mean?The difference in a
populations ability to access and use or have knowledge of
communication devices and internet. inequalities with regard
to:Socio-economic levels HouseholdsBusinesses Geographic
AreasImplications of the digital divide
Obligations to make cyber technology accessible to disabled
personsEthical responsibility with the interpretation that access
to internet is a human right Some legal action on behalf of disable
with regard disable person:TheEquality Act 2010(EQA)
Has the widespread use of cybertechnology helped reduce racism,
or does it exacerbate it?Factors that exacerbate it:Group
polarizationAnonymityFactors that help reduce it:Our overall
culture marginalizing racists Openness and diverse online
communities
What implications does cybertechnology have for gender issues?In
low and middle-income countries, a woman is 21 percent less likely
than a man to own a mobile phone, according to research done
byGSMA.In Africa, women are 23 percent less likely than a man to
own a cell phone. In the Middle East the figure is 24 percent and
in South Asia, 37 percentBy 2020 there will be 1.4 million jobs in
computing fields, butwomen are on trackto fill only 3 percentof
those jobs.The Girls Who Code program and programs like it
empowering underrepresented individuals
How has cyber technology transformed the nature of work?
Crowdsourcing has led to more remote workMore autonomy and
innovation on the employees part leads to managerial positions
becoming more complexCollaboration technology improving
productivity
Cybertechnology effects on the quality of work lifeEffective
monitoring and research leading to more efficiency in the workplace
which can result in better employee and customer satisfaction As
previously mentioned collaborative technology improvement can lead
to more job satisfaction.
Social and ethical issues surveillance in the workplaceDistrust
in the employer-employee relationshipReturn of TaylorismViolation
of privacyCan lead to dismissal for comments made on social media
and over-management of employees
