the gap between those who benefit from digital technology and those who do not Image: johncorney, Flickr CC

What is it? Not really about access to digital technology but about the benefits derived from the access. Upper-to-middle classes have high-quality access to digital technology. Lower classes are at a major disadvantage without access to technology.

Not really about access to digital technology but about the benefits derived from the access.

Upper-to-middle classes have high-quality access to digital technology.

Lower classes are at a major disadvantage without access to technology.

The have and have-nots Low-speed connections : Are usually attained by people who can not afford computers or have access to them Uses: email word process etc. High-Speed connections: Are usually attained by people who can afford computers or have access to them Uses: Social networking Blogging Online learning through online audio and video services

Low-speed connections :

Are usually attained by people who can not afford computers or have access to them

Uses:

email

word process etc.

High-Speed connections:

Are usually attained by people who can afford computers or have access to them

Uses:

Social networking

Blogging

Online learning through online audio and video services

Causes of Divide High Price of Technology (Computers) Broadband Connectivity Photo by Dominic Cambell (flickr) http://smartmortgageadvice.files.wordpress.com

High Price of Technology (Computers)

Broadband Connectivity

Who is falling behind? Mark Glaser: "Our general finding is that there is no 'divide' between whites and English-speaking Hispanics." "The gap has narrowed a bit for blacks compared with whites, but there is a continuing, persistent difference in Internet adoption between blacks and whites. The much bigger divides are between young and old and between the well-educated and less-well-educated." Image: aardbei2, Flickr CC Image: cobalt123, Flickr CC Image: inju, Flickr CC

Accessibility Concerns In A Nation Online (2002), the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) declared the digital divide was closed.

In A Nation Online (2002), the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) declared the digital divide was closed.

Demographic Divide A 2006 survey by Pew Overall Findings: High Speed access leads to multimedia approach to using the Internet Those without High Speed are left behind and use the Internet less

Overall Findings:

High Speed access leads to multimedia approach to using the Internet

Those without High Speed are left behind and use the Internet less

What would it take to switch to broadband? This poll was taken by http://www.pewinternet.org using: 2,251 adults, age 18 and older Interviewing dates: 04.08.08 – 05.11.08 Based on those who have dial-up at home % 35 The price has to come down/be more affordable/Cheaper 10 It would have to become available where I live 4 When my cable/telephone company offers it where I live 2 Someone else will pay for it 2 If it was free 0 When my children get older 11 Other 19 Nothing will convince me to get broadband 16 Don’t know 4 Refused to answer

This poll was taken by http://www.pewinternet.org using:

2,251 adults, age 18 and older

Interviewing dates: 04.08.08 – 05.11.08

Based on those who have dial-up at home

Why is it a problem? According to Rasiej we will “leave behind a generation that is not able to participate in the 21 st century global economy.” 1 Students with out access are: falling behind in the development of digital literacy skills (access, manipulation and evaluation of information) Having less exposure to information The use of technology has become second nature for those with access Students without access need to play catch up to learn the technology together with the lesson. 1. Long, Mind the Gap

According to Rasiej we will “leave behind a generation that is not able to participate in the 21 st century global economy.” 1

Students with out access are:

falling behind in the development of digital literacy skills (access, manipulation and evaluation of information)

Having less exposure to information

The use of technology has become second nature for those with access

Students without access need to play catch up to learn the technology together with the lesson.

Why should we care? Economic Equality: Access to essential information such as career, civic life, safety, social services Social Mobility: Role of technology in learning and career. Divide creates unfairness to those of low SES. Democracy: Increased public participation Economic Growth: Shortcut to economic growth in developing nations IT = productivity Competitive advantage

Economic Equality:

Access to essential information such as career, civic life, safety, social services

Social Mobility:

Role of technology in learning and career.

Divide creates unfairness to those of low SES.

Democracy:

Increased public participation

Economic Growth:

Shortcut to economic growth in developing nations

IT = productivity

Competitive advantage

Software Designers PROBLEM: The “80/20 factor”: 80% of profit is made by serving the most affluent 20%. Only the affluent can access the expensive products Those that cannot afford the product are ignored-- NOT PROFITABLE RESULTS : Even if the poor have access to digital technology, it is indented for the rich. Image: Steve Wampler, Flickr CC

PROBLEM: The “80/20 factor”:

80% of profit is made by serving

the most affluent 20%.

Only the affluent can access the expensive products

Those that cannot afford the product are ignored-- NOT PROFITABLE

RESULTS : Even if the poor have access to digital technology, it is indented for the rich.

What can software designers do? Create products that are universally accessible Usable by as many people as possible Ensure that underserved individuals and communities can access education and tools-- ex. Lowering price of software Create content that is: Gender neutral Culturally unbiased In many languages Create options: Low and high bandwidth Easy to use Text size Auditory & Visual cues Language options http://www.captionmax.com/en/max-channel/logos-symbols

Create products that are universally accessible

Usable by as many people as possible

The Participation Gap The latest version of the digital divide Gap between students with constant access to high-speed internet and those that don’t. This leads to a gap in skills and competencies. Gap between what students can and cannot do with the amount of access The public library or a school computer lab often place time limits on how long they can work Filters are placed to block certain sites Limits on what can be stored, downloaded, and uploaded.

Gap between students with constant access to high-speed internet and those that don’t.

This leads to a gap in skills and competencies.

Gap between what students can and cannot do with the amount of access

The public library or a school computer lab often place time limits on how long they can work

Filters are placed to block certain sites

Limits on what can be stored, downloaded, and uploaded.

According to PEW Research: 30 million American households do not have a computer (low-income/rural communities) Where can they get access? School or library

According to PEW Research:

30 million American households do not have a computer (low-income/rural communities)

Where can they get access?

School or library

Students have less opportunities to develop the digital literacy skills necessary for an increasingly technical world. Students with access are able to be content consumers and creators of content. The more time they spend online, the more comfort and experience is developed with the technology. Kids without access are living in the past. Their future will look different. Innovators, increasingly integrate technology into their lives.

Students have less opportunities to develop the digital literacy skills necessary for an increasingly technical world.

Students with access are able to be content consumers and creators of content.

The more time they spend online, the more comfort and experience is developed with the technology.

Kids without access are living in the past.

Their future will look different.

Innovators, increasingly integrate technology into their lives.

Some popular solutions

What can Schools do? Cloud Computing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hplXnFUlPmg Cloud computing cons: has been criticized for limiting the freedom of users dependency on provider (I.e. IBM, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo)

Cloud Computing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hplXnFUlPmg

Cloud computing cons:

has been criticized for limiting the freedom of users

dependency on provider

(I.e. IBM, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo)

Web 2.0 to the rescue? WEB 2.0 BENEFITS: Applications are web-based Users create,save, and retrieve files online. Are not confined to any particular operating system or hardware. The applications are usually FREE!!! http://www.go2web20.net tangyslice.files.wordpress.com/ 2007/09/800px-

WEB 2.0 BENEFITS:

Applications are web-based

Users create,save, and retrieve files online.

Are not confined to any particular operating system or hardware.

The applications are usually FREE!!!

http://www.go2web20.net

Hurdles for Web 2.0 http://www.bluebird-electronics.co.uk/assets/hurdles.gif