Moving past the digital divide
Teachers and educators are not the only ones realising that there is a digital divide, not only between students and teachers but with other professions. It is becoming more and more common to have a required knowledge of computers and all things digital. Most people wouldn’t even know what a digital divide is because they have been brought into the world of technology from when they were born, everything is natural to them. But a “digital divide refers to the gap between people with effective access to digital and information technology, and those with very limited or no access at all. It includes the imbalance both in physical access to technology and the resources and skills needed to effectively participate as a digital citizen.” [1]
To be able to move past this digital divide we first must understand why there is even a divide. Those in first world countries have the advantage as they have all easier access to such technologies, but although some countries may be first world, they still have poverty stricken areas and people struggling to makes ends meat and can’t afford the luxury of such technological advances such as computers. Now you have to take into account all the second world countries, some are up and coming and slowly starting make their way up to first world countries such as China, these countries do have the access to such technologies and the ability to effectively use them. Although China does have access to these vices there are some who don’t. Lastly the third world countries, those who are in power and wealthy are able to have the teachings and access to use digital devices but the majority of the people that live in those countries are in poverty and struggle to feed themselves. Below is a picture of the world map highlighting the first, second and third world countries.
· Blue indicates all the 1st world countries.
· Red indicates all the 2nd world countries.
· Green indicates all the 3rd world countries.
As you can see the vast majority of the world is highlighted green indicating that those countries and their populations are the ones most affected by the digital divide. While the 1st and 2nd world countries have higher access to such technologies with only a few minor technology restrictions on access to such technologies.
Now we must find out how we can move past this ‘divide’, debate has raged on exactly what the main problems with the divide is, in the article titled “ICT Inclusion and Gender: Tensions in Narratives of Network Engineer Training” written by Hazel Gillard, Nathalie Mitev, and Susan Scott from the Department of Information Systems, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom, states that “Social commentators, such as Castells (2000), associate nonaccess to ICTs with risk of exclusion from new technological developments and consequent marginalization in the new economy. As the digital divide debate has progressed, there is realization that the core issues are about more than just access to equipment.” [2] As a result “efforts are being made to tackle inequities in ICT opportunities through, for instance, community-based Internet access and training programs. To balance the divide, communities of the population perceived most at risk of digital exclusion are targeted through partnerships between government, ICT businesses, and educational institutions in the United Kingdom, to acquire essential ICT and employability skills.” [3] This information that the article provides, gives the reader a brief idea of what to expect to move past the divide between those with digital literacy and those that don’t. Although this is only one step in moving past this growing digital divide, not only with those that have access but to give an idea on what is expected to make an impact overall, the focus being greater training and access to such means that they are able to better themselves not only in their careers but in your personal life.
Overall the article has a main focus of analysis that our ICT skills need improving and more and more careers are requiring even just a basic knowledge and because of this, shortages in fields that require a high knowledge are now suffering. This article also discusses that females are less skilled in the world of ICT than men. This isn’t surprising when you realise that there are a lot more housewives then housemen and this makes a big difference when it comes to learning skills that require it for a job or career, as men being in opposite role as the breadwinner needs these skills to better support their families and lifestyles. This is just one part of what is required to help move past the great digital divide. Big changes would have to be made all over the world, our economy could receive downfalls and problems but if we are to remove the divide and in the end better ourselves as a whole. The information provided from Wikipedia and the journal article “ICT Inclusion and Gender: Tensions in Narratives of Network Engineer Training” give only a brief offering of information on what is the digital divide and ways we can overcome it. Only with more research and patience can we realise this ourselves and move forward and cross the digital divide where we can move to a more equal opportunity world, not only for first world countries but also second and third. Thus as a result it could help bring countries closer and may end conflict across the world, but this is just a theory based upon my findings.
References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_divide
[2] [3] Gillard, Hazel, Nathalie Mitev, and Susan Scott “ICT Inclusion and Gender: Tensions in Narratives of Network Engineer Training.” Information Society 23, no. 1 (January 2007): 19-37. Academic Search Premier, EBSCO host (accessed July 29, 2010)
