Assignment 2 Dara Cunningham

Dara Cunningham CSCI 7000 Assignment 2 September 9, 2008

Digital Divide

The term digital divide refers to the gap between people around the world who have access to computers and the Internet (and other digital and information technologies) and those who do not. van Djik and Hacker describe four kinds of barriers to access that contribute to "information inequality." These four kinds of barriers are: "lack of elementary digital experience" (which they call "mental access"); "no possession of computers and network connections" (which they call "material access"); "lack of digital skills" (which they call "skills access"); and "lack of significant usage opportunities" (which they call "usage access") (van Djik and Hacker, 2003).

Digital divide can also refer to the gap that occurs between people with a range of physical and cognitive abilities. In his article entitled Universal Usability, Ben Schneiderman discusses the need for digital and information technologies to be accessible to users of all abilities. "User diversity involves accommodating users with different skills, knowledge, age, gender, disabilities, disabling conditions (mobility, sunlight, noise), literacy, culture, income, and so forth" (Schneiderman, 2000).

While there has been considerable research regarding making technology accessible for those with physical disabilities, there has been less focus on making technology accessible for those with cognitive disabilities. The University of Colorado's Cognitive Lever (Clever) project is one research project focused on utilizing digital and information technologies to provide individualized Intelligence Augmentation to assist people with cognitive disabilities. The CLever project team has the goal of providing additional independence through technology for the cognitively disabled and their caregivers.

While there may be some disparity in the U.S. and Europe in digital access based on gender, race, age, education, and socioeconomic factors, current research suggests these gaps are rapidly decreasing (van Djik and Hacker, 2003, and Hoffman, Novak, and Schlosser, 2000). A recent study of 161 countries that examined the global digital divide that compared economic, demographic, infrastructure, and telecommunications variables determined that the global digital divide is mainly due to income disparities (Chinn and Fairliey, 2006). Some researchers assert that the disparity between nations, and between the dominant Western cultures and indigenous peoples, is more profound and more problematic then the differences within any single country.

Rowena Cullen, Senior Lecturer at the School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, states the barriers that cause the global digital divide are: physical access; skills and support; attitudes; and content (Cullen, 2001). Physical access refers to telecommunications infrastructure. Skills and support refers to low levels of computing, technology, and literacy skills. Attitudes refers to cultural and behavioral attitudes, particularly regarding the use of computers as being for educated or "white" culture, and concern over the security of personal information and over exposing families to unsuitable material. Content refers to the belief that many have that the Internet does not have material relevant or interesting to them (Cullen, 2001). Cullen maintains that the way to solve the global digital divide is to focus on community rather than individual access and to provide subsidies for nations that wish to provide access to digital and information technologies (Cullen, 2001).

Govindan Parayil offers a different perspective on the global digital divide. Parayil says the problem is not one of access but, instead, the global digital divide is a symptom of a new economic model, which he calls information capitalism. Parayil describes the new economic model as one based on knowledge, where knowledge workers have the upper hand. According to Parayil, "(w)hat is most urgent is to find ways to integrate informational economy with traditional economy in a fair manner such that the asymmetric relationship between the two could be overcome" (Parayil, 2005).

The digital divide can refer to mental, materials, skills, or usage access. The causes of the digital divide can be cognitive, physical, economic, or cultural differences. While developed countries overall have shrinking digital divides, the gap between developed and undeveloped countries may be growing. Possible solutions to overcome the digital divide are as varied as the underlying factors that lead to the digital divide. As the knowledge economy fully comes of age, the global digital divide is sure to become more of a global concern.

References

Chinn, Menzie D. and Fairliey, Robert W. (2006) "The determinants of the global digital divide: a cross-country analysis of computer and internet penetration," Oxford University Press, Oxford Economic Papers, 16 of 44. http://oep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/gpl024v1

Cullen, Rowena (2001) "Addressing the Digital Divide," Online Information Review, 25:5, 311 - 320. http://docserver.ingentaconnect.com/deliver/connect/mcb/14684527/v25n5/s3.pdf?expires=1220946331&id=45843120&titleid=1184&accname=Univ+of+Colorado+Boulder&checksum=05BA5AA845337DE712B272EF474038C2

Hoffman, Donna L., Novak, Thomas P. , and Schlosser, Ann (2000) "The Evolution of the Digital Divide: How Gaps in Internet Access May Impact Electronic Commerce," Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 5:3, 0 - 0. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2000.tb00341.x

Parayil, Govindan (2005) "The Digital Divide and Increasing Returns: Contradictions of Informational Capitalism," The Information Society, 21:1, 41-51 January-March 2005 , Routledge. http://docserver.ingentaconnect.com/deliver/connect/routledg/01972243/v21n1/s3.pdf?expires=1220952932&id=45844634&titleid=47&accname=Univ+of+Colorado+Boulder&checksum=140408487D926C5E9C51E9045F88DD5C

Shneiderman, Ben (2000) "Universal usability," Communications of the ACM, 43:5, 84 - 91, ACM New York, NY, USA. http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/340000/332843/p84-shneiderman.pdf?key1=332843&key2=8207490221&coll=GUIDE&dl=GUIDE&CFID=2132629&CFTOKEN=24844321

van Dijk, Jan and Hacker, Kenneth (2003 )"The Digital Divide as a Complex and Dynamic Phenomenon," The Information Society, 19:4,315 - 326. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01972240309487