1 Definition & History

A. The digital divide is most commonly defined as the gap between those individuals and communities that have, and do not have, access to the information technologies that are transforming our lives.

B. “History teaches us that even as new technologies create growth and new opportunity, they can heighten economic inequalities and sharpen social divisions.”[10]The term “digital divide” emerged in the latter half of the 1990s, after the Internet came into the public domain. Although the concept of inequity regarding information access and computer ownership was already around, the term “digital divide” was not widely used until President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore used the phrase in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1996.[10] The Clinton-Gore administration associated the digital divide specifically with K-12 education and worked at narrowing the gap by undertaking various educational initiatives and policies during their time in office.[11] While education is one area where the digital divide is most prominent, unequal access to technology and high-tech skills by income, race, and geography can also deepen and reinforce the divisions that exist within society.

2 Factors

2.1 Income

1. Household income is known to be the greatest predictor of internet use for Americans [1]. 95% of households with annual earnings over \$75,000 use the internet compared to only 57% of households that earn less than \$30,000[1]. A 2013 Pew research survey shows that 15% of American adults do not use the internet at all [2]. Of those, 19% cite the expense of a computer or internet connection as a factor for their non-internet use [2]. The Pew study also took a lot of control factors into account when examining income, such as: community, education, gender, and age. Regardless of these control factors, the higher-income brackets showed a significant statistical likelihood to be internet and email users compared to those in other income brackets with the same factors [1]. To worsen matters, 80% of Fortune 500 companies only accept job applications online which further compounds this socio-economic issue [4].

Source: [2]

2.2 Education

1 Digital divide is clearly present in education. According to Tarman, it is not surprising that schools are being seen as a solution to close the digital divide today [6]. However, not all the schools have equal access to computers. Different school settings, urban vs. rural, private vs. public or large vs. small [6], make the digital divide greater. Rural communities, for example, do not always have access to computers, or have access to computers but do not have access to Internet. The importance of the Internet can be appreciated by rural and isolated students as it allows them to learn outside the regular classroom [6]. In urban communities, in the other hand, students have access to different digital tools, like computers and other digital devises such as tablets at school. At the same time, students in urban communities have access to digital devises and Internet at home.

2 As the world becomes more digitized, there will be an increasing need to make available learning resources in electronic format for access by information and communication technologies [7]. However, these learning resources are not going to be always available for every student. The cost of these technologies may prevent students from using it. Also, even though libraries may offer digital technology, students would have to travel to these places making it hard for students to take full advantage of the digital learning tools. In the other hand, with mobile technologies, learners can complete coursework and assessments from anywhere [7].

3 According to studies made by the University of Southern Queensland, Technologies were seen as a separate component of the curriculum, rather than being integral to learning as specified by the curriculum [8]. This same study demonstrated that students were using digital technology at home. Students were using computer programs including Microsoft Word and Excel for activities such as managing money and gifts, typing stories, finding missing pets, or keeping track of their favorite sport games. Students who use digital devises in their day to day lives master their technological abilities.

4. To summarize the digital divide in education, Those who are rich and who use the technology are at an advantage, compared to those who do not have proper schooling and awareness of science and technology[9]. This is also due to the absence of the access of computer and internet at small towns and villages [9].

2.3 Geography

1. When looking at the Digital Divide in terms of geography we find that this factor is commonly tied with others such that trends occur which are not a direct result of geography but nonetheless can be explained, in part, by the geographic differences between peoples. Geographic gaps between people in terms of computer utilization and internet use primarily occur between urbanized and non-urbanized localities. Further, on a larger scale gaps occur between what are commonly referred to as the “developed” and “non-developed” world. While differences remain, geography as a factor of the Digital Divide has seen the gap close in part over the last decades as the Internet as a commodity has become more commonplace in the lives of all individuals regardless of location and fast developing nations’ citizenry have eagerly plugged into the global network.

2. First, looking at the Digital Divide exclusively in the United States predominant deficiencies are noticed in comparing the participation of rural and inner city communities to that of urban communities. Low inner city participation can be potentially explained due to larger proportions of individuals with low income and education levels which are further seen to be caused by socioeconomic factors correlated with geographic grouping of social class.[45] Thus, geography is not itself the cause of imbalance in participation but another symptom of a greater underlying issue. Further, high urban environment participation can be potentially explained by predisposition to large-scale utilization of the profitable services offered by the Internet. In a study conducted by Forman, Goldfarb, and Greenstein found a “strong urban bias towards the adoption of advanced Internet applications”, however rather than location being the impetus for this bias it was found that industries that tend to lead in innovative use of the Internet were located largely in urban settings to begin with. The study came to the further conclusion that a primary determinant in location was preexisting distributions, i.e. preexisting divides, of industry across cities and regions [46]. In this context it can be argued that the same factors, the need for mass labor, the confluence of ideas, etc. which first pushed the creation of cities in the United States and others further pushes the employment of the Internet as an infrastructure. These factors which created a proverbial gap between rural and a newly created concept of the urban, further created a difference the coverage of infrastructure as rural communities progressively became less connected by road and rail relative to burgeoning urban centers. This historical divide then explains low participation by rural areas.

3. Many rural areas do not have many of the high-speed mobile broadband connections at their disposal that urban areas have come to enjoy. Rural areas have fewer providers of mobile broadband which limits their choices [12]. Some people living in these rural communities may not like the choices of providers that they have and may choose not to use any service. Although broadband access seems universal to some, it is still unavailable to many people. There is a gap between broadband availability for urban and rural communities. Some locations do not have any connection at all which widens the digital divide between urban and rural areas. Some locations do have fixed-line broadband in place but they are much slower than the fixed-line broadband in urban areas [12].

Mobile providers of broadband in the US, year end 2010[12].

4. The limited broadband access in rural areas may be associated with higher costs for providing services. Because fewer people live in rural areas, the laws of supply and demand make establishing more connections in these rural regions an unprofitable enterprise [13].

5. Looking at the World at large, similar conclusions can be drawn in regards to geographic differences in Internet availability and use, however disparity in this case is much more exaggerated.

2.4 Age

1. Age is an important factor influencing the ever widening digital divide. Based on 2013 Pew research data, older Americans (65+) are much less likely to use the internet compared to a younger person[2]. Fortunately, the age gap in the digital divide appears to be narrowing; for the first time, 53% of older Americans use the internet and email[14]. Additionally, 70% own a cellphone, this is compared to only 57% two years ago [14].

Source: [2]

2.5 Disability

1. Many people in the United States suffer from various physical, mental, and skill-based disabilities that can negatively impact their quality of life. As a result, Americans living with a disability are less likely than other adults to use the internet [3]. Only 54% of disabled adults use the internet compared to 81% of adults that did not report any disabilities [3].

1. Two percent of American adults state they have an illness or disability that makes it difficult or impossible to use the internet altogether [3]. Aside from internet access in general, there is also a lag behind in the quality of access; 41% of disabled adults have broadband access, in contrast to the 69% of the rest of the population[5].These disabled individuals are also likely to be impacted by other factors as well, such as: income, age, and education[2][3].

2.6 Gender

1. The internet is not a new frontier without borders and boundaries, encompassing all that is great about freedom of speech and free of bias of physical characteristics. But it’s not. Women struggle to gain equality in any area dealing with technology. Either, women are perceived as incompetent or unenthusiastic about technology, or they suffer from biased perceptions (ie.- an electric iron is not technology when a woman is using it to press clothes, but it is when it needs to be repaired by a man)[15].

2. Not only are women biased against in the use of technology, but in developing it as well. Females fill almost half the workforce of the United States, but less than 25% of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs, even those with a STEM degree are more likely than their male-counterparts to work in a STEM occupation[16]. But these are not new prejudices. They are socially ingrained and are continuing to be bred and spread today. A recent survey was conducted amongst six major research institutes, given equivalent resumes for a “John” and a “Jennifer”, even female scientists were biased in their ratings of the individuals and salaries that they would offer[17].

3. In developing nations, it is even worse. Some areas women suffer social repercussions from even using the internet [18]. But these prejudices do not exist just in other countries or the work place and academia. These are, like all other biases, home grown. A recent survey of Google queries, shows that parents are 123% more likely to ask if their son is a genius, 78% intelligent, and 32% a leader, versus 56% beautiful and 160% ugly. For every 10 queries to Google asking “is my daughter gifted?” there are 25 for boys[19]. Change starts at home.

Images citation [16]

2.7 Language

1. Language barriers have always affected communication between people and digital communication is no different. Depending on the language of a webpage or website, its content may be incomprehensible to certain groups of people. The consequence is that although this information may be evenly accessible, it is not evenly understandable.

2. The majority of web pages on the internet that are associated with secure servers require the ability to understand English [20]. This excludes a large portion of the world from attaining this information. Conversely, it has been found that among US immigrants, the ability to speak English positively correlates with more computer usage[20]. Likewise, in Canada, lack of content in French reduces internet usage by French Canadians [21].

3. Language barriers may also include computer illiteracy. One of the main causes of the digital divide in Canada is the inability to properly operate a computer [21]. This form of illiteracy not only excludes people who cannot understand a certain spoken or written language but also those who do not understand “computer language.”

3 Societal Impact

3.1 The United States

The Digital Divide has a major impact in the United States. It withholds a separation amongst people in many socioeconomic levels and affects high poverty stricken communities more than ever. [1]The children and teachers in Newark, New Jersey’s Leadership Academy do not have access to WIFI or Internet resources. [2]Therefore students are unable to fill out applications, and form a connection with the outside world. [3] The United States White House Broad Band Report indicates that 91% of Americans have access or pertain some form of internet access but only 71% are connected with high speed internet in their home. Therefore 9% of Americans do not have any form of Internet access. [4] Although the divide is still in existence in the United States; the United States is doing its best to change privacy sharing policies, and expand the use of mobile devices in order to condense the issue.

3.2 The World

The international Digital Divide is one of many factors. High costs, English language dominance, and lack of technological support are huge disadvantages for societies that are still developing their economies[26]. There are almost 5 billion people in the world that have yet to use the internet[27]. Developing nations lack the infrastructure to deploy fixed-broadband services at a rate that is affordable by most, being almost 24 times higher than in developed nations[28]. However, with the increasing coverage of mobile broadband, more and more people worldwide are gaining access to the internet, but the costs still need to come down to allow for more growth[29].

4 Possible Solutions

A. Developments are being made to assist people that don’t have access to digital devices have an opportunity to close this current digital divide. There are companies that supply computers and classes that can help people that are uninformed in the processes using computers, software, and programs. These companies vary and include government, private, nonprofit, and corporate programs that are lending a hand in closing this current digital gap.[30]

B. These are the current methods that are being used to close the margin of the digital divide both globally and within the United States.

1. Classes

a) Classes will vary in difficulty level often starting with computer basics. In computer basics, the course is teaching students basic keyboarding and mouse skills, saving work and printing, use of e-mail and the internet. [31]

1. New or Refurbished computers

a) Dependent upon the financial backing of the various companies and programs not all companies fund to use brand new computers. This is where refurbished computers come in. A refurbished computer is “a previously owned computer that has undergone a thorough evaluation and restoration process that makes the computer fully functional at a discounted price.”[32] Refurbished computers are often listed at a price from 15 to 30 percent cheaper than its new counterpart. [33] By donating a refurbished computer to a reputable dealer rather than discarding it the digital divide gap is reducing. [34]

1. Internet kiosk/cyber Cafés

a) As of March 2013 a little over an estimated 2,700 million people in the United States use the internet. Recent statistics total that to be 38.8% of the world’s population. [35] . To meet the increasing need for internet access and close the digital divide internet kiosks and cyber café locations have been introduced.[37] Located worldwide, Internet kiosks and cyber cafés provide an affordable option for Internet access.[36] These methods assist those without a computer, telephone line, or subscription to an internet service such as Verizon or Cox Cable get the access that they are looking for at a minimal price.[37] The average price for using internet kiosks or cyber cafés are two dollars for ten minutes and four dollars for each hour.[37]

1. Broadband Access

a) Broadband access provides a quick method of accessing the internet to receive and send information in comparison to the previously used dial-up internet connection. [38] Broadband internet is used globally and in order to keep the number of users up the prices need to remain at an affordable pricing level. [38] The State of Broadband Report of 2013 reported that the United States ranks ninth in worldwide use of broadband internet.[39] In comparison globally Finland, Singapore, Japan, Sweden and the Republic of Korea are leading in Broadband usage.[39] In Detroit alone less than 40 percent of the residents have access to wireless broadband internet.[40]

1. Smartphones

A A smart phone is a mobile device that shares many similar functions with that of a computer. Smart phones run applications which are comparative to certain programs ran on computers.[41] The attempt at shortening the global digital divide has been made even more possible through the availability and accessibility of these phones. [42] Made and sold worldwide, smart phones have the ability to reach a more expansive group of people at a cheaper level. [42]

5 References