Wiki source code of A2 Porter

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*What is the digital divide?; What does it mean?*

At its most basic level, #bubblec('the digital divide refers to phenomenon in which certain groups of people do not have equitable access to computers and the Internet', 'Due to the form of your answer, almost no reference are necessary. However, I would recommend to include a reference to the starting point -- your so called basic level -- so that you can build your own ideas around this'). The key words to pay attention to are "certain groups" and "equitable access"; these are important terms because they point to what is controversial about this issue. Typically, gender, class, education and economic status are demographic markers which situate "certain groups" in this divide. This has become a huge issue in poorer school districts not only because these students do not have access to resources, but as a result do not obtain the skills to work with computers later in life. Thus, equitable access is not just about having the computer, but is also about learning how to use it. However, as certain groups of society are systematically disadvantaged by not having access to computers, the consequences go beyond just skills acquisition; the unique aspects of certain races and genders are "left out" of what gets represented on the Internet, which has cultural consequences beyond what we can imagine now. 


*What dimension of this concept is important?* *What can be done to overcome or avoid it?*

The most important dimension of this concept is education. The digital divide is systemic of larger issues (ex: inequities, racism) in educational systems. What is interesting is how "having" or "not having" a material artifact, such as a computer, brings these systemic issues to the surface. However, I think over time people have recognized that it is no longer about having the resources; it is about how they are used and can be made available. In this sense, the solution to the problem (as it stands now) of why some schools cannot afford computers is not to simply give them the money to buy the computers. A better solution would be to consistently work to reduce the price of the computer itself so that more people can afford them. This puts the responsibility on those who design and produce computers to become stewards and recognize thier role as citizens of the world.



*How does the C lever movie address this divide?*

The C Lever movie addresses the systemic issues of the digital divide in two main ways. First, it provides empowerment to a person whose disability status certainly puts them on the disadvantaged side of the divide. In this sense, C Lever is putting the tools into the hands of exactly the kind of person who is most excluded from the use of technologies that are designed for the "normal" person. Secondly, the C Lever addresses the component of learning and education. Here, the designers of the technology have taken into consideration the needs to the user in such a way that she can teach herself, even with limited cognitive ability, how to use the device. This video demonstrates also how education goes beyond just learning how to use computer devices; it is about using computer devices in order to enhance how we learn and understand every part of our life.

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