Point-Wise Analysis of the Digital Divide - Essay Example

The paper deals with the detailed description and point-wise analysis of the digital divide. It also punctuates the importance of the equal distribution of resources among the people belonging to different parts of the sample space. It also provides details about the opportunities and barriers faced in bridging the gap of the digital divide all around the sample space. The issue of the digital divide has become very critical in this era of information and technology. The digital divide is, basically, a gap that occurs between two different groups of people; the first group consists of the people who have effective access to computer and information technologies and the second category comprises those who do not have accessibility to such resources. There is no doubt that digital technologies and computers have revolutionized human life largely (Dickard & Schneider, 2002). The paper emphasizes the importance of the equal distribution of resources in all segments i.e. race, education, socioeconomic status, etc. Other factors that affect the digital divide are existing social economic cultural and learning inequalities.
In the purview of the complexity of the issue, US federal and state government, internet and computer industry have formulated various focused strategies to spread computer and internet access to every individual. Education is probably the most important issue that affects the ability to gain from technology and minimize the issue of the digital divide to a greater extent. Generous quantum of time and financial resources are required to provide quality computer education to children at schools and especially to those students who do not have the facility of computer at their homes. In this article, Harouna Ba (2009) also explains and throws light on the generalized access model consisting of four universal categories. This model includes technology for disabled people, youth development plans to boost youth leadership, research policies and youth media. Moreover, the introduction of home-level programs is mandatory to educate society to its.
Another significant thing, on which we need to exercise our focus, is the formulation of product and services design industries. The prime drivers of this mission include the goal of widening and extending the use of the internet by developing alternative designs, maintaining a lower cost of computing and technical training, and easy accessibility of the training institutes (Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, 2000). These procedures are most likely to help make technology designs and customized solutions that would fulfill the needs of the target audience in order to expand the use of the internet, in the mission of cutting down the digital divide. In the intention of minimizing the Digital Divide, overcoming various important barriers is necessary.
Inadequate technological infrastructure and underutilization of technology have influenced badly in overcoming the issue. A remedy would be the proper planning and redesigning of Infrastructure, which would help in easy accessibility of the internet and utilization of technology (Servon, 2002). Read More