chapter 6 notes

6.1: what is digital divide 

Definition (6 marks): The digital divide relates to the gap between those people who are able to access modern technology and information and those with restricted or no access to it. 

Tech Partnership Basic Digital skills

Used to measure digital inclusion.

1. Managing information: e.g: using a search engine, downloading or saving photos found online

2. Communicating: e.g: sending personal messages via email or online messaging, making comments online

3. Transacting: e.g: buying items or services from a website, buying and installing apps on a device

4. Problem solving: e.g: verifying sources of info online, solving a problem with a device or digital service using online help

5. Creating: e.g: completing online application forms including personal details, creating something new using existing online media

6.2: Causes of the digital divide

Infrastructure: refers to the hardware, software, and equipment used to provide IT services

The availability of high and low performance computers

• ‘High performance computers’ refers to personal computers which have fast data processing capability and a large amount of storage while ‘low performance computers’ tend to be slower at processing and have much smaller storage, usually due to age.

• People who do not have access to high performance computers will not be able to take full advantage of the benefits such as access to internet services. 

• This + lack of high broadband leads to a digital divide.

Wireless connections 

• One way to create a wireless connection between devices is to connect your smartphone to a G4 or G5 network. When using this method for laptops, it can prove expensive because the device must download full desktop webpages which take up more storage than mobile ones

• The absence of wifi hotspots and G5 networks leads to a digital divide.

Geography 

• Usually less economically developed countries (LEDCs) lack effective infrastructure when compared to more economically developed countries due their greater wealth. E.g: Pakistan (LEDC) and the UK (MEDC).

• There can also be a divide within countries, where one region is often wealthier than another, and as a result has better infrastructure. E.g: Northern and southern Italy respectively.

Fear of IT

• This is caused by either lack of education in IT or simply because of age. As IT devices become more sophisticated, they become harder to use and learn about. 

Economics

• The wealth of a user affects their ability to access IT technology. As technological advances are made, they tend to be more expensive which means the richer you are the easier it is to have access to new technologies. 

6.3: The effects of the digital divide 

1. Inequality of access to all types of internet services and technology: may refer to major services such as email, the world wide web video conferencing, etc. 

2.  Health: many websites on the internet contain details about medicines, common illnesses and how to treat them. However these services can only be accessed by individuals with the necessary IT equipment. 

3. Education: the digital divide in education more likely depends on the quality of broadband available. Also, students now have to learn a number of IT features in schools (e.g: accessing web based courses, using spelling/grammar check, uploading homework assignments) and if they are not able to, their progress is severely limited.

4. Job opportunities: most jobs in the modern world require IT skills. Job seekers without these skills will tend to be unsuccessful in their attempts to find good employment.

   1. Schools in poorer or more rural areas often do not have computers to provide IT courses while richer schools do, leading to a greater digital divide. 

   2. The internet is an essential way for people to look & apply for jobs, and those who do not have access to the internet may be at a disadvantage because of this. 

   3. Usually, jobs that pay good wages require computer skills while jobs that do not require these skills are less stimulating and low paid.

5. Social interaction: IT has been used to improve social interactions so this can create a social divide between the people who have IT skills and those that lack them. 

Other uses for internet

Online booking systems: when booking train tickets, if one does not have access to the internet, they might end up paying a lot more than if they had booked online in advance.

Online banking: people living in rural communities without a good phone signal or good broadband may struggle to access bank services. Some people may not be able to afford to buy a phone or the data charges of one. 

Online shopping: 

For stores: physical (brick-and-mortar) retail stores often find it difficult to compete with commercial online businesses with no physical stores, as more and more people shop online. 

For customers: online shopping tends to be cheaper and allows customers to compare prices across the web at their leisure, people without internet access may end up paying more for their goods than richer people, maintaining the digital divide

Access to news: people who suffer from the digital divide are at a disadvantage when it comes to gaining access to news because most newspapers are now online. As well as ‘teletext’ services going extent, making users have to go online for news content outside of these outlets normal news bulletins 

Government websites: people use government websites for many reasons:

• Obtain information on statistics and government research

• Download government forms or applications

• Find information about government sponsorships and visas 

• Pay fines online or apply for government benefits.

Without the internet, people cannot access any of these services. 

Reducing the effects of the digital divide

1. Enable faster and cheaper access to the internet

2. Teaching the training and the skills required to take advantage of such technology 

   1. Cater these programs for older adults

   2. Deliver these programs in small, manageable pieces.

3. Making a partnership between governments, the private sector, and IT experts.

4. Improve technology for those with health conditions or impairments such as creating text-to-speech features for those with visual impairments. 

6.4: Groups affected by the digital divide

• People in different age groups

Older generations may lack confidence when it comes to using IT. IT businesses wish to make a larger profit, which results in them targeting mainly younger people, as they are the larger group of consumers.

• People in cities vs people in rural areas

People in rural areas tend to not have access to broadband. This is due to a number of factors. 

• The low populations in rural areas; meaning houses are further apart, requiring longer cables, which means slower speeds.

• Challenging geographical features make it difficult to install the necessary infrastructure. 

• Limited commercial potential for communication companies: it is usually not economically viable for broadband providers to install high-tech solutions in rural areas. 

• People with differing levels of education

People who do not have many educational qualities will usually not have developed strong IT skills, which leads them to work low-paying jobs, making it less likely that they will invest in IT equipment or services. 

• People in different socioeconomic groups 

It is beneficial for companies to sell new updated products to make a bigger profit. However these products can only be bought by those who can afford them, so oftentimes companies do not feel the need to develop systems or products that are suitable for people with lower incomes. 

• People with accessibility barriers due to learning difficulties or physical or sensory impairments 

People with health conditions or impairments are usually disadvantaged when using or accessing digital resources effectively as not many services offer accessibility features for these people. 

• People in more and less industrially developed nations

Some countries feel that they cannot afford to invest heavily in technology and the infrastructure required as they may prioritize improving education, increasing access to healthcare and job opportunities. Although IT improvements could generate jobs and provide greater access to healthcare and education