What+is+the+Digital+Divide?

To the more privileged society members, the existence and use of technology is something that is essentially a given. These people experience the ease of life which technology provides within their communication and information needs, as well as almost every other facet of life. However, this digital lifestyle is not afforded to all, and is in fact a luxury that not everyone can enjoy. For many different reasons, there is a large portion of the population across the world that does not have access to technology of any type. This has created a situation that is widely regarded as a digital divide. Unfortunately, the term “digital divide” is not so simple to employ, and cannot simply be attributed to a technological chasm between those that can afford it and those that cannot. The idea of the digital divide is comprised of many different ideas and terms, and does not have one easy definition. Further, the term itself has changed since its original inception, and it continues to change as the world and the technology within it change. However, to discuss “the digital divide,” it is imperative to begin with at least a basic working definition, as well as an understanding of the terms that can be tied-in with the concept. We encourage you to begin by first watching the below video, which provides a brief explanation of the concept as well as a history and definition for the term. This video is presented by Information Technology Students at Penn State University, and is not only a valuable source of information, but it is also an example of the way that technology can function as an excellent educational resource.

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The digital divide is a relatively new concept, which, as David Gunkel (2003) suggests in his paper //Second Thoughts//, can be considered something which provides a much needed critique of the idea that we are currently inhabiting a “technological utopia.” He feels that this rhetoric “remains oblivious to the fact that access to technology is limited by specific circumstances, and should not be assumed to be automatic or universally applicable” (p. 501). Unfortunately, the origin of the term is difficult to trace. Even amongst those deeply entrenched in the discussion of the digital divide, there does not seem to be any consensus or memory of when the term was first published and used. See below for an exploration of the origin of the term from Gunkel (2003, p. 503):



As evidenced above, it is difficult to find the individual who is responsible for coining the term directly. While it seems impossible to consider any one individual responsible for the origin of the concept, it is clear that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in the United States may have been the first to try to address the problems presented by the digital divide. They presented three reports in total between 1995 -1999 that gave a thorough assessment of technology usage in the United States at the time, however burgeoning it was. These papers, Falling Through the Net: A Survey of the "Have Nots" in Rural and Urban America (July 1995), Falling Through the Net II: New Data on the Digital Divide (July 1998) and finally Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide (July 1999) by Larry Irving provide an important first step in attempting to discern where and with whom the digital divide is most prominent. What they fail to do, however, is fully define the term, as they are not looking at the problem on a global scale.

Therefore, the definition of the Digital Divide must include a global audience. While a divide can exist between people that live on the same street in the same city, for the purposes of this presentation, The Digital Divide must be understood on a larger scale. If you look at the map below, it is clear that a large percentage of the world's population is still not able to use the internet on a daily basis, or at all, while in 2009 "adults in North America were spending an average of twelve hours online a week" (Carr, 2010, p. 86).



Many authors state that it is simply a problem of access, as Jaeger et al. (2012) note: “As services and resources become increasingly available only online, the ability to access these resources becomes paramount. It is important to note that many of the people most affected by the digital divide are traditionally underserved populations, such as people with low income levels, minorities, older Americans, and those living in rural areas who may have the most need for specialized services” (p. 12). It is clear from the map above that many people across the world do not have access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) of any sort. However, a definition of the idea based on access alone is too simple, and ignores the other facets of the digital divide which also include individual ability to work with technology, and funding available to create technological opportunities. In their book //Virtual Inequality: Beyond the Digital Divide//, Karen Mossberger et al. (2003) discuss further ideas that must be taken into account: The Access Divide, the Skills Divide and the Economic Opportunity Divide. These terms have shifted slightly in the decade since that work was published, and are now understood to be known as Digital Literacy and Digital Access (Jaeger et al., 2012). Defining The Digital Divide requires that these terms be understood as well, as these three concepts work together to create the concept of The Digital Divide as it can be understood in 2012.


 * Definitions: **

The definition for the **Digital Divide** is taken from an amalgamation of several papers on the topic: The term relates to inequalities between any group of people as they pertain to access to, use of, or the knowledge of information technology.

Within this, **Digital Literacy** refers to a knowledge of information technology and the ability to use, analyze, understand and adapt to the multitude of uses of technology. It also implies certain skills with technology that would allow the user to find information using technology.

**Digital Inclusion** is essentially the idea of bridging the gap between these two concepts. It is the theory that if we could bridge the digital divide and increase digital literacy, there would be worldwide digital inclusion.

**Information and Communication Technology (ICT)**: According to O’Hara and Stevens (2006), "software, the Internet and the World Wide Web, physical network connections, mobile telephony, satellite and digital technology, and much more are all part of ICT" (p. 285).

The Digital Divide: A Global Perspective