DIGITAL DIVIDEAnother face of the poverty

DEFINITIONThe new information and communications technologies are among the driving forces of globalisation. They are bringing people together, and bringing decision makers unprecedented new tools for development. At the same time, however, the gap between information ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ is widening, and there is a real danger that the world’s poor will be excluded from the emerging knowledge-based global economy. (Kofi Anan, 2002)

Hundreds of alternatives ways to define the digital divide

RESULT & CAUSE OF POVERTY

Poverty: non or lack access to necessary resources to live (standard human dignity)

Technology → Information

Online communications (Internet ): information, education, civil & political empowerment

Lack of adequate infrastructure and lack

of knowledge are two major obstacles that impede mass connectivity.

THE GLOBAL DIGITAL DIVIDE

INTERNET USERS IN THE WORLD (2011)

WORLD INTERNET PENETRATION (2011)

SUMARY OF THE GAP

All of the developing countries of the world own 4% of the world’s computers.

High percentage of developing country residents live in rural areas. The proportion can rise to as much as 85 percent of the population in the least developed countries and is estimated at 75 percent overall in Asia. Rural access to communication networks in developing countries is much more limited than in urban areas.

75 % of the world’s 700 million telephone sets can be found in the 9 richest countries.

97 % of adolescents live in developing world.

DIMENSION OF THE PROBLEM

MULTIPLE SOLUTION

Problematic: The term “Digital Divide” access requires only purchase and installation of technology.But: multiple dimensions → it is not only money and technology that matter

Eliminating the digital divide requires more than the provision of access to technologies.  (can contribute but isn’t sufficient for development)

Socio + Economic development + ITC

IT ARE CAPABLE OF ALLEVIATING POVERTY?

Telephone (line & mobile... Still expensive in rural areas)

Radio (& Television)

Public address system (Asia, more localized than radio, but less simple and inexpensive)

Computers and the Internet (http://practicalaction.org/video/view/dryingvegetables)

TELEPHONE AND RADIO...

Research on poor communities suggests that the telephone and

radio remain the most important (direct access) ICT tools

for changing the lives of the poor

WHY INTERNET?

TelecentreSchool (“one laptop for children”)Small business

Internet in one mean of communication & commerce

It’s a very useful gadget

WHY INTERNET?

All of the developing countries of the world own 4% of the world’s

computers.97 % of adolescents live in developing

world.

But it will become inTHE MEAN OF

COMMUNICATION & COMMERCE