The Compound Elements of the Digital DivideBy Ricardo Benfatto 2014

AbstractThe Digital Divide may be explained as technology access or lack of by different groups of people. However there are more intrinsic elements, such as knowledge and usage that play an important role in the forthcoming knowledge economy.

This presentation analyses the issues of sectors lacking access to the internet and its implications to their future development in the 21st

century. Starting with access, we will explore the current worldwide availability of connectivity per region. Then we will continue analysing how individuals use the accessed information and the knowledge requirements within working and educational environments. Finally we will provide a success story thanks to wireless technologies enabling low cost access to rural regions.

Some of the findings indicate that access, which is the starting point to enable communication channels, is not related to the disparity that exists between developed and underdeveloped nations but lack of access pockets do exists within leading technology countries. In both cases the end results, exclusion and lagging behind do have the same negative effects on people.

The Elements of the Digital Divide

•Access

•Knowledge and usage

•Success Stories

•Conclusion

Total internet users growth since 2001

Density of Internet users per region

Darker areas represent higher density of users per 100 inhabitants.

Developed versus Developing regions access

Developed versus Developing household access

Uncovering the Internet Access Findings

From the previous International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and The World Bank data we could conclude that:

• 40% of the worldwide population has access to the internet (2.97 Billion people)

• Developed countries are in front of Developing nations

• Developing countries are below the world average

However, the two preceding videos will demonstrate that the digital divide is not polarized to developed versus developing nations. But in fact there are access inequalities within suburbs in some cities, like Melbourne, Australia and others in USA, the country who invented the internet.

The Knowledge Economy in the 21st Century

Successful countries/economies require a shift from physical, routine labourers to a higher educated population with the following characteristics:

• Higher cognitive complexity• Social Skills• Able to handle and filter vast amounts of

information• Problem solving• Flexibility and adaptability

The preceding three slides will exemplify the changes in skills and education levels that have evolved since the past decades. They are indicative of future requirements to succeed in the global economy.

Change in Demand for Skills – USA Example

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1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2006 2009

Routine manual Nonroutine manual Routine cognitive Nonroutine analytic Nonroutine interpersonal

Mean task input in percentiles of 1960 task distribution Trends in routine and non-routine tasks in occupations, United States, 1960 to 2009

Source OECD: http://www.oecd.org/site/piaac/chapter1theskillsneededforthe21stcentury.htm

Employment Evolution by Level of Education

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Occupations with higheducated workers

Occupations with mediumeducated workers

Occupations with low-educated workers

PercentEvolution of employment in occupational groups defined by level of education

Source OECD :http://www.oecd.org/site/piaac/chapter1theskillsneededforthe21stcentury.htm

Workplace technology change alters skill setLow-skilled clerical High-skilled clerical Low-skilled manual High-skilled manual Total

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Source OECD :http://www.oecd.org/site/piaac/chapter1theskillsneededforthe21stcentury.htm

Internet Usage

• How technology is put to use has strong implications towards academic outcomes

• Personal development after leaving school is one important element in the 21st century

Australian Internet usage findings group aged 5 to 15 years (2009)

Source: http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollytics/2009/10/29/net-access-%E2%80%93-more-than-just-smut-and-piracy/

Top usage of mobile applications in USA

These latest Comscorefindings depicts non productive use of mobile internet .

Usage at the centre of success

The International Telecommunication Union released the Digital Access Index in 2003.Despite that infrastructure was perceived as the main barrier to the digital divide, other factors as affordability, education and quality of connection are as important.But they key is centred in usage, which ultimately dictates a country success.

Rwanda a success story of bridging the divide

Mobile-cellular subscriptions, by level of development

ITU Statistics

(http://www.itu.int/ict/statistics)

As the wireless cellular network gap has dramatically decreased in the past 14 years, developing countries are starting to take advantage of this situation.This is the success story of the Esoko Project. A wireless mobile service provider bringing affordable communications possible to farmers in 15 African countries. Initially, started offering SMS information with market prices to producers and now is looking into expanding by franchising its business models to private entities and government. In addition, smart phones apps are being used in order to deliver richer information, beyond their initial SMS offerings.

The ESOKO Project - Rwanda

Conclusions

Fixing the Digital Divide goes beyond access to equipment and internet infrastructure only. It requires the successful combination of additional elements like knowledge and usage. The Esoko project in Rwanda is a living proof that overcoming the digital divide is possible and applicable anywhere in the world, regardless of being a developed or underdeveloped nation.

References

Comitatus, P 2009, ‘Net Access – More Than Just Smut and Piracy’, weblog post, Pollytics, 29 October 2009, accessed 9/10/2014, http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollytics/2009/10/29/net-access-%E2%80%93-more-than-just-smut-and-piracy/

Comscore 2014, The U.S. Mobile App Report, accessed 22/9/2014, www.comscore.com/layout/set/popup/content/download/26291/1346569/version/1/file/The+US+Mobile+App+Report.pdf

Esoko 2013, accessed 10/10/2014, https://esoko.com/

References

Green, F 2012, Employee involvement, technology and evolution in job skills:

A task-based analysis. Industrial and Labor Relations Reviews, vol.65, no.1, pp36–67, accessed 28/8/2014, http://heinonline.org.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/ialrr65&id=36&collection=journals&index=journals/ialrr#36

Heerwagen, J 2010, The changing nature of organizations, work and workplace. Whole Building Design Guide, accessed 30/9/2014,

http://www.wbdg.org/resources/chngorgwork.php

Houghton, J & Sheehan, P 2000, A primer on the knowledge economy, accessed 19/8/2014, http://vuir.vu.edu.au/59/1/wp18_2000_houghton_sheehan.pdf

References

Internet Live Stats 2014, accessed 10/10/2014, http:// http://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users/#trend

ITU 2003, Gauging ICT potential around the world, accessed 15/9/2014, http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/dai/material/DAI_ITUNews_e.pdf

ITU 2014, Stats Page all charts ITU, accessed 1/10/2014, http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2014/stat_page_all_charts_2014.xls

Narsalay,R, Coffey,RT, Adegbesan,JA & Giwa, F 2012, Esoko: Empowering low-income farmers with real-time market data, accessed 20/9/2014, http://www.accenture.com/Microsites/emerging-markets/Documents/pdf/Accenture-Esoko-Case-Study-Final.pdf

References

OECD 2014, Chapter 1: The skills needed for the 21st century, accessed 20/9/2014, http://www.oecd.org/site/piaac/chapter1theskillsneededforthe21stcentury.htm

Powell, W. W., & Snellman, K 2004, The knowledge economy. Annual Review of Sociology, vol.30, pp199-220, accessed 28/8/2014,

http://www.annualreviews.org.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.soc.29.010202.100037

The Australian 2014, Across the digital divide, accessed 10/10/2014, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9TlOOu6vVY

The World Bank 2014, Internet users (per 100 people), accessed 25/9/2104, http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.P2/countries/1W?display=map

References

Videofreepress 2009, What is the “digital divide?”, accessed 1/10/2014, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCIB_vXUptY

Warschauer, M., & Matuchniak, T 2010, New technology and digital worlds: Analyzing evidence of equity in access, use, and outcomes. Review of Research in Education, vol.34, no.1, pp179-225, accessed 14/8/2014, http://rre.sagepub.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/content/34/1/179.full.pdf+html