Getting It Together: A Review of From Access to Outcomes A
Morino Institute Working PaperA Morino Institute Working Paper
Morino Intstitute, 2001Morino Intstitute, 2001
Slide 2
Introduction The Morino Institute believes that the real focus
should be not providing access to technology but to focus on
applying technology to improve the lives of poor, struggling
people.The Morino Institute believes that the real focus should be
not providing access to technology but to focus on applying
technology to improve the lives of poor, struggling people. Most of
the efforts at closing the digital divide gap have focused on
providing low-income communities with computers and Internet
connections.Most of the efforts at closing the digital divide gap
have focused on providing low-income communities with computers and
Internet connections.
Slide 3
Morino wants you to ask yourself these questions: Are we
investing for technologys sake, or are we investing with real
outcomes in mind?Are we investing for technologys sake, or are we
investing with real outcomes in mind? Are the intended outcomes
only what outsiders think the community might want, or are they in
fact what the people living there see as a top priority?Are the
intended outcomes only what outsiders think the community might
want, or are they in fact what the people living there see as a top
priority? Do we have a realistic appreciation for the challenges
low-income communities face?Do we have a realistic appreciation for
the challenges low-income communities face? Will our investments
produce real results, or are they only there to satisfy our
philanthropic desires?Will our investments produce real results, or
are they only there to satisfy our philanthropic desires?
Slide 4
Collective Will If all the various interests in solving the
digital divide issue where to come together and draw from that
collective will, we can provide a powerful push to help the United
States respond to the opportunities that technology offers
low-income communities.If all the various interests in solving the
digital divide issue where to come together and draw from that
collective will, we can provide a powerful push to help the United
States respond to the opportunities that technology offers
low-income communities.
Slide 5
Ultimately the great test will be not the number of computers a
nation has, but how we empower people to help themselves and their
families.
Slide 6
1. Focus on Narrowing Social Divides Due to the ever widening
socioeconomic gap, large gaps in technology have also developed.Due
to the ever widening socioeconomic gap, large gaps in technology
have also developed. We should refrain from focusing on the
technological divide and pay more attention to the social
differences, remembering that there is no easy way to fix the
social divide.We should refrain from focusing on the technological
divide and pay more attention to the social differences,
remembering that there is no easy way to fix the social divide. We
should have technology target on individual and group attempts to
narrow social divisions.We should have technology target on
individual and group attempts to narrow social divisions.
Slide 7
The best computer in the world wont get you into college if you
are illiterate. You wont get hired if you dont own a decent suite
or can get a ride to the interview. The digital divide is real, but
it is hardly the most serious divide for Americans seeking a better
life for themselves and their families.The best computer in the
world wont get you into college if you are illiterate. You wont get
hired if you dont own a decent suite or can get a ride to the
interview. The digital divide is real, but it is hardly the most
serious divide for Americans seeking a better life for themselves
and their families. -Josh Senyak and Albert Fong
Slide 8
2. Achieve Concrete Outcomes Improving low-income peoples
standard of living should be the goal of technology.Improving
low-income peoples standard of living should be the goal of
technology. Application of technology should be focused on health,
economic growth, and education.Application of technology should be
focused on health, economic growth, and education. Morino wants
technology to be a vehicle for improvement with specific
targets.Morino wants technology to be a vehicle for improvement
with specific targets.
Slide 9
3. Work Through Community Leaders When technology is imposed by
outsiders it is often ineffective. Morino suggests going through
pre- established community leaders such as church leaders, civic
clubs and others of influence. These recruiters and communicators
can reach a larger group and can sell the message. When technology
is imposed by outsiders it is often ineffective. Morino suggests
going through pre- established community leaders such as church
leaders, civic clubs and others of influence. These recruiters and
communicators can reach a larger group and can sell the
message.
Slide 10
4. Support Communities Efforts to Strengthen Their Capacity
Many low-income communities lack the infrastructure to utilize new
technologiesMany low-income communities lack the infrastructure to
utilize new technologies For the poor, there is little focus beyond
the bare essentials.For the poor, there is little focus beyond the
bare essentials. In such places the wisest investment is to lay the
foundation, or capacity such as housing, health clinics, and
community organizations.In such places the wisest investment is to
lay the foundation, or capacity such as housing, health clinics,
and community organizations. Large scale technology will not
succeed unless basic needs are met first.Large scale technology
will not succeed unless basic needs are met first.
Slide 11
5. Apply Technology to Help Build Capacity Once the basic
capacity needs of a community have been met, then technology can be
a powerful tool for the next stage of development.Once the basic
capacity needs of a community have been met, then technology can be
a powerful tool for the next stage of development. Targeted
technology can help agencies and groups provide services at a lower
cost.Targeted technology can help agencies and groups provide
services at a lower cost. Technology can interconnect people and
help foster online and offline networks.Technology can interconnect
people and help foster online and offline networks.
Slide 12
Everybody contacts everybody, and everybody works together for
the common good. If we all work together at it, we all win. --Russ
Combs
Slide 13
6. Technology Requires Its Own Capacity For many, information
technology is not easy to use.For many, information technology is
not easy to use. Investments in technology need to go beyond the
box and wires, there must be a concerted effort to help people
understand, apply, and manage the technology.Investments in
technology need to go beyond the box and wires, there must be a
concerted effort to help people understand, apply, and manage the
technology.
Slide 14
Morino suggests that only one- third of all funding be directed
toward technology, the rest should go to educating people.
Slide 15
7. Make the Case Morino states, Most people, especially those
in low income communities, see little reason to embrace
technology.Morino states, Most people, especially those in low
income communities, see little reason to embrace technology. 57
percent of people without internet access do not plan to acquire
it. (Sept 2000 Pew Internet and Life Report)57 percent of people
without internet access do not plan to acquire it. (Sept 2000 Pew
Internet and Life Report) 9.1 percent of nonusers say that cost is
not the reason (Oct. 2000 UCLA Center for Communication Policy)9.1
percent of nonusers say that cost is not the reason (Oct. 2000 UCLA
Center for Communication Policy) People need to be sold on how
technology can help improve their lives.People need to be sold on
how technology can help improve their lives.
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8. Changes in Public Policy 8. Changes in Public Policy Morino
feels that federal and state governments should provide the basic
framework for technology and use incentives to help spur on
philanthropic resources.Morino feels that federal and state
governments should provide the basic framework for technology and
use incentives to help spur on philanthropic resources. Governments
should increase funding and aggressively integrate technology in
programs that serve low-income people.Governments should increase
funding and aggressively integrate technology in programs that
serve low-income people. The federal government should create a
high-level official to coordinate technology programs across
government agencies. A Tech Czar of sorts.The federal government
should create a high-level official to coordinate technology
programs across government agencies. A Tech Czar of sorts.
Slide 17
9. Expand the Availability of Capital The federal government
must step up to the plate.The federal government must step up to
the plate. Morino suggests that the federal government aligned with
high-tech community and philanthropic groups unite to create a pool
of capital to really make an impact.Morino suggests that the
federal government aligned with high-tech community and
philanthropic groups unite to create a pool of capital to really
make an impact.
Slide 18
11. Broaden the Scope of Efforts Morino has put forth some real
problems: the small size of community capacity, the ever increasing
costs of technology, and the lack of viable technology programs to
service the needs of the impoverished.Morino has put forth some
real problems: the small size of community capacity, the ever
increasing costs of technology, and the lack of viable technology
programs to service the needs of the impoverished. Morino has
stated that Anything less than a massive mobilization of resources,
financing, talent, and innovation is destined to produce only
incremental and isolated victories.Morino has stated that Anything
less than a massive mobilization of resources, financing, talent,
and innovation is destined to produce only incremental and isolated
victories.