DIGITAL DIVIDE

Introduction
• Digital divide is a term that refers to the gap
between demographics and regions that have
access to modern information and
communications technology, and those that
don't or have restricted access.
• This technology can include the use of;
– Telephone
– Television
– personal computers and
– the Internet.
• The digital divide typically exists
– between those in cities and those in rural areas;
– between the educated and the uneducated;
– between socioeconomic groups; and, globally,
– between the more and less industrially developed
nations.
• Even among populations with some access to
technology, the digital divide can be evident in
the form of lower-performance computers,
lower speed wireless connections, lower-priced
connections such as dial-up, and limited access
to subscription-based content.
Causes of Digital Divide
• Geographic location
– people who live in urban areas are more likely to have
access to modern technologies than those who live in rural
areas.
• Difference in income
– people who earn more have more money to invest in
modern technologies as opposed to the poor who may not
afford to use modern technology.
• Technological advancements
– countries with advanced technology like Japan have better
access to internet and other ICT facilities than those that
are not.
 Causes of Digital Divide
• Age
– the younger generation feels more comfortable with the new
technology and are able to benefit from it more than older
people. Older people are less likely to have a computer and
are less likely to be interested in using Internet.
• Gender
– Boys use computers and the Internet more than girls.
• Family structure
– Families with children have more computers and Internet
access than families without.
• Education
– Educated people are more likely to access and use modern
technologies than those who are not
Causes of Digital Divide
• Ethnicity
– Different ethnic groups have different attitudes to
technology. Many deprived areas of large cities have high
numbers of people in differing ethnic groups. This may
have an effect on wealth and education.
• Motivation
– People may not use computers because they are not
interested or they may not see any good reason to.
• Fear
– Some people have a fear of using computers. These people
are called 'technophobes'. Their fear is usually due to poor
ICT skills.
Measures to Bridge the Digital Divide
To bridge the gap of the digital divide we must:-
• Create new innovative solutions to the problems
of poverty.
• We must educate and empower the young, the
old, the rich, and the poor. When this is done
our economies become stronger, our advances
come quicker.
• Working together on a global level we can
correct bad legislation, create new affirmative
legislation, gain a better use of current
technologies and innovate new ones.
Measures to Bridge the Digital Divide
• Build modern communication infrastructure like fiber
cables to allow people access to internet.
• Non-governmental organizations to provide ICT training
in rural areas.
• Organizations donate used computers to those who can’t
afford.
• Provide ICT education at all level of education.
• Encourage inter-country partnership investments
between developed and developing countries.
Time to Write
Measures to Bridge the Digital Divide
To bridge the gap of the digital divide we must:-
1) Create new innovative solutions to the problems of poverty.
2) We must educate and empower the young, the old, the rich, and the
poor. When this is done our economies become stronger, our
advances come quicker.
3) Working together on a global level we can correct bad legislation,
create new affirmative legislation, gain a better use of current
technologies and innovate new ones.
4) Build modern communication infrastructure like fiber cables to allow
people access to internet.
5) Non-governmental organizations to provide ICT training in rural areas.
6) Organizations donate used computers to those who can’t afford.
7) Provide ICT education at all level of education.
8) Encourage inter-country partnership investments between developed
and developing countries.