Digital divide

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

What is the digital divide?

• The digital divide refers to the inequalities in opportunities between individuals households, businesses and nations to access to Information & Communication Technology (ICT).

Digital Divide

The Digital Divide, or the digital split, is a social issue referring to the differing amount of information between those who have access to the Internet (specially broadband access) and those who do not have access.

Defining the digital divideThe term digital divide refers to the increasing access gap between those who have and those who do not have:

• access to information and communication technologies;

• access to content that benefits them socially and economically;

• skills to take advantage of ICT services;• the ability to afford to pay for digital services.

•“More than 80% of people in the world have never ever heard a dial tone, let alone surfed the web.”

How do you think income is related to the digital

divide?

Income-Related:86.3 % of households earning $75,000

per year have internet access, vs. 12.7% of households earning less than $15,000.

DIGITAL ACCESS INDEX (DAI)

• The DAI measures the overall ability of individuals in a country to access and use ICTs. Measured using– Infrastructure – combined, fixed and mobile

teledensity– Affordability– Knowledge – adult literacy– Quality – bandwith– Usage – internet users per 100 population

Question

Why is Digital Inclusion Critical?

Why is Digital Inclusion Critical?Economic & Social Realities:• Participation in the global, knowledge-based economy

requires the ability to access and manage information

• Underserved, marginalized communities have the most to gain, the most to lose

• Technology literacy, like literacy itself, is an essential prerequisite to social inclusion

Critical Drivers of ICT UseICT = information & communication technology

1. E-mail, Search, Maps2. News3. Access to online job listings, applications4. Educational use, online learning5. Online transactions (travel,e-bay, banking, etc.)6. e-government services (taxes, licenses)7. Health information (Medicaid part D)8. Civic engagement & e-democracy9. User generated content-blogs, websites, music sharing

Persistent barriers to Persistent barriers to Digital Inclusion include: include:

1.1. Limited technology literacy skillsLimited technology literacy skills2.2. Anxiety, fear of technology tools--Anxiety, fear of technology tools--

16% are “hard core resistors”16% are “hard core resistors”3.3. Limited education, low literacy levelsLimited education, low literacy levels4.4. Language & accessibility barriersLanguage & accessibility barriers5.5. Irrelevant contentIrrelevant content6.6. Affordable broadband service Affordable broadband service 7.7. Cost of entry (hardware)Cost of entry (hardware)

Content Barriers Cited by Low Income Adults

• Lack of local information– Provide practical information focusing on local

community• Literacy Barriers

– Develop information at a basic literacy level• Language Barriers

– Online translation tools– Information in native languages

• Lack of Cultural Diversity– Provide Relevant health, social and cultural information

Debate on the priority of ICTs for development – against

Critics argue:• ICTs are a waste of money• Funding should be directed to more important

areas of impact and real need• There is the risk of disillusionment• ICTs will not necessarily provide benefits and

may infact open people up to new forms of harm

Debate on the priority of ICTs for development – pro

Supporters argue:• The digital divide will become perilously wider if

ICTs are not promoted • ICTs can support other social and economic

goals to improve peoples lives• Access to ICTs and participation in the

Information Society will have far reaching benefits

Question

DISCUS THE DIGITAL

INCLUSION STRATEGIES

Digital Inclusion Strategies

• Improve Access/ Connectivity Provide broader access to the Internet, lower cost of entry (municipal wireless??)

• Develop content that is accessible, relevant and contextual

• Increase Technology LiteracyHelp groups and individuals use technology to do what THEY want to do, address underlying social factors

Question

Explain the general issues and roles of ICTs in

development

What is ICT4D?

• ICT4D is concerned with using new and existing technologies to extend the reach of communication and information resources.

• Facilitating access to ICT resources, and promoting their effective use makes these information and communication initiatives much more complex and dynamic.

Drivers of ICT4D

• The Missing Link (extending basic telecom infrastructure to all)

• Rise of Civil Society • Communication Rights• Globalization and Information Networks

APC internet rights charter• The Right to Communicate• Freedom of expression and information exchange • Diversity, ownership and control of content• Free/open source software, technology development and

intellectual property rights• Privacy • Global, regional and national governance of the Internet • Awareness, protection and realisation of rights

Four pillars of the CRIS campaign

Communication Rights in the Information Society:

• Creating spaces for democratic environments;• Reclaiming the use of knowledge and the public

domain;• Reclaiming civil and political rights in the information

society; and• Securing equitable and affordable access.

Different ICT4D components

access to ICTs

ability to use ICTs

actual use of ICTs

impact of using ICTs.

Bridges.org – Real Access• Affordability• Capacity• Relevant content • Integration• Socio-cultural factors• Trust• Political will• Legal and regulatory framework• Local economic environment• Macro economic environment

Real Access Criteria (1)

AffordabilityIs technology access affordable for people to use?

CapacityDo people understand how to use technology and its potential uses?


Relevant content Is there locally relevant content, especially in terms of language?

IntegrationDoes the technology further burden people's lives or does it integrate into daily routines?


Socio-cultural factorsAre people limited in their use of technology based on gender, race, or other socio-cultural factors?

TrustDo people have confidence in and understand the implications of the technology they use, for instance in terms of privacy, security, or cybercrime?


Political willIs there political will in government to do what is needed to enable the integration of technology throughout society?

Legal and regulatory frameworkHow do laws and regulations affect technology use and what changes are needed to create an environment that fosters its use?


Local economic environmentIs there a local economy that can and will sustain technology use?

Macro economic environmentIs national economic policy conducive to widespread technology use, for example, in terms of transparency, deregulation, investment, and labour issues?

United Nations Millennium Development Goals1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Develop a global partnership for development

United Nations Millennium Development GoalsGoal 8: Develop a global partnership for

development.Target 18: In cooperation with the private sector make available the benefits of new technologies, specifically information and communications.

Indicator 47: Telephone lines and cellular subscribers per 100 population.

Indicator 48: Personal computers in use per 100 population and Internet users per 100 population.

ICTs and development goals (education)

• ICTs as a subject: information literacy, programming and other related skills.

• Computer-based training and distance education• Access to learning communities• Access to increased and up-to-date information

ICTs and development goals (health)

• Telemedicine: broadband applications – from health clinic to hospital

• Telehealth: phone and computer support for clinic management and information flows

• Information sharing: information and exchange on health priorities, e.g. HIV / AIDS, TB, cholera

• Epidemiology: statistics and information to support knowledge and disease management

ICTs and development goals (SMMEs)

• ICTs can support routine business operations: accounts, letters, plans

• ICTs can be an opportunity themselves: training, support, sale, program, web

• Linking suppliers directly to markets: reducing role of intermediaries

• Info for tenders, linking SMMEs, support & funding, supply and sales chain

• E-Commerce opportunities

ICTs and development goals (governance)

• Access to government information, services and processes

• Transparency of governance• Mitigation of corruption• Access to representatives: constituents direct

link to members of Parliament

Digital divide

Technology

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