Interesting excerpts from Assignment 2

Interesting excerpts from Assignment 2

I collected some excerpts that I found interesting. Some were already used in class yesterday, but I think some of the others could also be used for interesting discussions and/or reflections of your own views.

The fact that I chose these excerpts does in no way mean that I necessarily agree with them. Neither does it mean that the assignments were exceptionally good or bad. They should be seen as what they are: possible discussion points

• The digital divide is systemic of larger issues (ex: inequities, racism) in educational systems
• One might cynically conjecture that the real interest in developing IT infrastructure in these places [poor countries] is to tap previously closed consumer markets and dispense propaganda.
• and individuals living in famished communities are hard pressed to understand how a computer can benefit them when they are simply searching for their next meal.
• Things become more complicated and sophisticated in software as well as hardware and it adds more things for the user to learn. This is fine when you are already a computer whiz, but for folks like senior citizens, who weren't just born into this age of computers, or those who aren't literate, it presents a greater challenge to keep up with all the new versions or editions and releases of software and hardware.
• I think it is important to assure people that their lack of technological knowledge is not innate, but can be remedied by spending more time using technology. That it is frustrating to do so reflects badly on designers, not on users.
• In the end, the power to overcome this divide is dependent upon the end user's desire to demand more and empower himself.
• This movement parallels other trends in computing: away from technology as an artifact to technology's potential role in addressing the larger issue of disenfranchisement. To put it another way, the digital gap is only one piece of a much larger divide.
• By providing better support for Internet information on mobile devices, the traditional infrastructure demands of hard-wired Internet access can be avoided and Internet usage can be taken advantage of to a larger population.