Digital Divide Assessment - Essay Example

Digital divide Name Professor Institution Course Date Digital divide Introduction Relations between human beings and technology have significantly risen as we continue living in the 21st century. In the current society majority of things appear to be entrenched in communication technology particularly computer and internet technology (Carr 2007, p.57). Societies depend on the Internet for various reasons; it could either satisfy individual needs or for education. Most ads are created on the Internet; hence all the information which individuals require can be accessed over the Internet. Technology and in particular, Internet have turned out to be a crucial information sources and also a place where individual market ideas or even look for job opportunities. The majority of employment in industries entails computer technology; so individuals must know how to work with computers so as to get into positions that pay highly. With no skills, computer technology and Internet access may become a disadvantage (Carr 2007, p.58). Owing to the reality that computer and Internet technology is so significant to individuals, digital divide turn into a major issue in current society. With this realization, this essay seeks to define what the digital divide is, access gives the background of digital divide and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the digital divide. The Overview of Digital Divide Pick & Azari (2008, p. 99) defines the digital divide as the gap between those people or countries who have and those that do not have the opportunity to access computer and Internet technology and also the skills and capability to make use of them claims that the term “digital divide” emerged around mid 1990s following the development of the Internet. The digital divide includes every medium of technology with the computer as the most outstanding of all. All through the past 20 years, the digital divide has been on the move, with individuals at the center stage, ever making an effort to reduce the gap. It looks as however once a gap is narrowed, another gap opens up resulting in a never ending encounter where individuals are continuously attempting to be at the helm of technology (Pick & Azari 2008, p.111). As people observe the closing stages of the usual “haves” against the “have-nots” digital divide on the prospect by means of government support, people are getting closer into a new form of divide where traditional responsibilities of a teacher and a student, child and adults are henceforth reversed due to technological changes. However, no level of reform in technological sector will end the situation of the digital divide because this divide is always present and changing (Sciadas 2003). This is because not everybody has the opportunity access to technology even as the world moves on. The disparity in the digital divide can be characterized by five aspects, socioeconomic, educational, geographical, generational and attitudinal factors. This divide takes place between nations with diverse levels of development and even in the nations between rural and urban centers (Sciadas 2003). Even though Americans in terms of the number who can access computers and internet continue to rise on an annual basis, digital divide also keeps on growing at a shocking rate. On one side, parts of society is by now connected - like high income, knowledgeable White and Asian Pacific families - are implementing new technologies rapidly and are accessing them even more (Dobranksky & Hargittai 2006, p.9). On the other hand, people with conventionally lower rates of connectivity for computer and internet use continue to lag behind. Unfortunately, the study carried out by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), state that the gap is broadening along already injured racial and economic lines (Pick & Azari 2008, p.101). The capability to access computer and internet technology has increasingly become significant to absolutely engross oneself in the political, economic and social facets of not only America, but other countries of the world. Research indicates that Caucasian Americans who have an access to information and digital technology stand at 46.1% almost double the number of African Americans who stands at 23.5% while Hispanic Americans is approximated to be 23.6% (Carr 2007, p.58). Carr (2007, p.57) reports that Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans surpass all ethnic or racial groups at nearly 56.8% of those who have access to computer and internet technology. The minority groups are said to be to be disadvantaged with regard to access to digital and internet technology however this is not due to their position in the society as minorities. Pick & Azari (2008, p.109) claim that their disadvantage in access is due to the fact that they are socially and economically disadvantage owing to lower levels of education and low incomes. Not unpredictably and in direct connection to education, the household levels of income has a major role in the broadening of the gap. Socio-economic aspects contribute heavily to the technological divide among students. Poverty is still a key factor that disadvantages students from access to digital technology. Only 35 percent of families falling in the groups considered in the lower socio-economic have access to internet whilst 59 percent of middle income earners have access to internet, upper middle income earners who have access to internet stand at 73 percent, and 83 percent of top income earned internet access (Sciadas 2003). Now particularly, unequal implementation of technology limits many people from harvesting the benefits of the economy. Different sectors of the populace are left out of the economical and power benefits provided by technology (Sciadas 2003). Divisions amongst the people are not only because of income but also where people leave. The Digital divide can also because of geographical location. Students facing high-poverty and leaves in rural areas can only use libraries as a way of getting online (Sciadas 2003). A digital divide divides rural America and other part the country with regard to broadband internet access and use. Only 24 percent of older people in rural America can access an efficient internet with high speed compared to 38 percent of Americans who leaves in urban areas and 40 percent of Americans considered as suburban have access (Pick & Azari 2008, p.93). The government and the private sector are however putting efforts to boost accessibility in rural America. Individuals having disabilities undergo a considerable digital divide too. Dobranksky & Hargittai (2006, p.313) claim that despite expected rises, metro and non-metro individuals having disabilities are claimed to have a low internet usage rate compared to their geographic equals having no disability. Surveys always report that individuals having disabilities pose just half the level access of individuals with no a disability (Sciadas 2003). Hurdles that Americans having disabilities undergo consists of how costly implemented software and hardware could be, limited geographic locations for access to internet, internet access at the workplace could be unavailable owing to unemployment, and the content of the internet could be frustrating since websites are not reachable to individuals through assistive technology (Dobranksky & Hargittai 2006). Educators at every level have to keep updated with the pace of digital world occupied by a new category of learner whose viewpoint is frequently developed by means browsing the web, direct-messaging, and online actions like social networking or video games (Pick & Azari 2008, p.97). Sciadas (2003) maintains that in the platform for “digital natives," or the "21st century students" stakeholders must narrow the digital technology gap which exists amongst these learners by racial or ethnic, educational, socio-economic, and geographical facets, including low accessibility because of physical disabilities. Sciadas (2003) contend that currently, young people are born during the Internet age and undergo a life flooded by digital media. Their communication with technology can deeply influence the manner in which these students interrelate with their surroundings. To be effective in current technology controlled society, learners have to have equal computers access and internet technology. However, use of technology continues poles separated when developing countries are compared to the developed ones. Developing infrastructure needed to enable the use of ICT is also critical in narrowing the digital divide (Dobranksky & Hargittai 2006, p.334). The duties of this however stop with local governments, international organizations and private institutions having the technological know-how in assisting facilitate building of the infrastructure. Amongst the major projects that have been started is the optical fiber network installed throughout East and South Africa (Pick & Azari 2008, p.102). Cell phone and national operators, education networks and national research are coming up with various projects in African nations as part of the consortium to connect their key institutions by buying internet bandwidth. The project termed SANREN is being financed by Meraka institute including the tertiary education institutions to form broadband system for the research institutes and higher education institutions. The plan intends to be the ‘Giant’ of Africa continent and is anticipated to be no less than 1,100 times quicker compared to the present infrastructure (Pick & Azari 2008, p.91). Another initiative regarded as is another initiative considered to be a milestone in East Africa is the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) (Carr 2007, p.58). The idea of this is to connect the nations of Eastern Africa with other parts of the globe through the optical cabling system. This enables nations in that region not to rely any more on costly satellite systems as the only means for internet accessibility. The project is reported to be financed by the World Bank and Developmental Bank of Southern Africa. Advantages of digital divide As much as several countries would want to grow their technology and reduce the gap of digital technology, we cannot ignore its several threats its increase poses in the society today. These issues turn out to be advantages of digital divide (Carr 2007, p.57). Unarguably digital skeptic’s greatest concern is the profusion of the easy online crime and also accessibility to pornography. Porn’s sites have turned out to be the most financially lucrative industry after flourishing from lack of web’s censorship and privacy, and the accessibility of sexually unequivocal sites to young people is an increasing concern to several parents. Adult verification and Parental filters are easily evaded by computer educated young people. Pick & Azari (2008, p.100) affirm that although not in principle illegal, numerous adult sites increase puzzlingly, producing products or services from countries where they are lawful to a consumer and selling them to countries which they are illegal. Credit card’s personal security, fraud and privacy invasion are a regular concern to several people using the internet, with criminal operating online always creating new methods to hack bank information and credit card detail, regardless of the efficiency of the firewalls and antivirus programs. Scams like ‘phishing’, where the web subscriber gets an apparently authentic email requesting their banking details, are raising concerns (Pick & Azari, 2008, p.103). Another prevalent challenge has been piracy that is conducted in the online platform. With the film and music sectors arguing to be losing a lot of money as a result of internet piracy, the practice file sharing has turned into increasingly usual regardless of the legal matters (Pick& Azari, 2008, p.107). The apprehension between safeguarding intellectual property and supporting innovation and the free run of ideas is clear. The spread of digital technology will actually increase the internet piracy. While in Western countries there have been a lot of debates over the advantages of an absolute need for censorship, other places like the Middle East, internet is regarded a threat in terms of security by the governments which are less democratic. Because of that, religious and political sites have faced censored by government filters (Dobranksky & Hargittai 2006, p. 315). Disadvantage of digital divide Divide bear a huge disadvantage on countries that cannot adequately access the digital technology. Some claim that the access to the Internet would create a much more democratic space and society because public involvement in decision making processes like elections would increase (Dobranksky & Hargittai 2006, p.329). If already people who are not fully involved continue not to take part in such debates, the digital divide will cause a socio-political and socio-economic divide. Such aspects interpret to the issues that closing or narrowing the digital divide would bear several advantages for both the people who cannot access the digital technology and the larger society. Pick & Azari (2008, p.92) asserts that solutions have to be considered so as to get rid of the challenge of the digital divide. The thoughts of making a contribution to and work with companies that supports technology and computer education including work skills and general literacy as NGOs and charitable foundations can encourage the idea. The issue of digital divide is of major concern since it “could have severe economic impacts for the minority groups who cannot access technology” (Carr 2007, p.57). With technology becoming increasingly crucial in a competitive employment sector, minorities with no access to the technology are very much disadvantaged. In addition, the divide also influences the education. A study has indicated that home personal computers raise school enrollment and grades. Even though many people claim that this divide is not actually a predicament, it clearly leads to disadvantages that must be eliminated. The clear advantage of internet communication is that of isolated access; real time email, communication, online shopping and 24-hour banking among others (Pick & Azari 2008, p.114). Cyberspace brings a platform of worldwide communication which operates despite of place or time, limited only to the availability of access points of the internet. In the developed countries, the internet has led to the growth of journalism and freedom of speech unachievable via other channels. Conclusion The research shows that the disadvantages of digital divide outweighs the advantages, therefore it is high time countries that are still lagging behind must embrace technology and compete with the developed countries without excuses. Reference Carr, D 2007, The Global Digital Divide, Contexts, 6(3), 57-58, Retrieved from http://ezproxy.qa.proquest.com/docview/219574259?accountid=1477 1 Dobranksky, K & Hargittai, E 2006, The disability divide in Internet access and use. Information, Communication & Society, vol. 9, no. 3, p. 313-334. Pick, J. & Azari, R 2008, Global Digital Divide: Influence of Socioeconomic, Governmental, and Accessibility Factors on Information Technology, Information Technology for Development, vol. 14, no. 2, p. 91-115 Sciadas, G 2003, Monitoring the Digital Divide and Beyond, London, Orbicom. Read More