2. DEFINITION OF DIGITAL DIVIDE(S)
• The definition has evolved over time (two definitions)
• Both are still valid
Definitions:
1. Late 1990s: Division of access to digital technology
(hardware) and information technology (internet and
software) among people in world.
2. Mid 2000s. A further division among people who have
access technology. People who consume information
technology versus people who contribute to information
technology.
EDUC W200 Week 15
3. DEFINITION OF DIGITAL DIVIDE(S)
• Initially the division of access
to Internet and technology
was simple: the North-South
divide in the world. The North
had more access than the
southern parts of the world
Countries with access to the
• But as the Internet was able Internet (2009)
to be accessed via cell phones
and other mobile devices, the
.
traditional North South Divide
on the world map shifted.
EDUC W200 Week 15
4. DEFINITION OF DIGITAL DIVIDES
• This is not just a difference between “haves” and
“have nots” (first definition)
o But this is still an issue
o different types of access do affect the educational
experience
• Difference between consumers and producers, or the
influenced and the influencers (second definition)
EDUC W200 Week 15
5. DEFINITIONS: DISCUSSION
• Discuss the following (and report as your instructor
requests):
1. What do you think you will experience in schools when you
start teaching in terms of the levels of access that your
students will have?
2. When you were in school, what differences in access did
you see (it’s OK if you did not see them)
EDUC W200 Week 15
Editor's Notes
Both a divide between have and have nots exists, and a divide among people who have access to information technology there is a further divide between those who simply consuming information and those who contribute to the development and change. (Difference between Web1.0 users and Web2.0 users)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Internet_Penetration.png#fileFirst PartIn a global context we can assume that (based on the World Bank data bases) there is still a huge division between the haves and have nots in the world. Those who have access to technology and technology information and those who do not. While the poverty issue is still somewhat true – access to technology and technology information is not as simple. Lets look at the second map.Other data like the ICTP shows that this is not necessarily a clear cut division of technological and information technology accessibility. When we compare the two we see that despite the poverty divide (north and south on world map), developing countries like India are soaring high.http://data.worldbank.org/topic/science-and-technology – North South (poverty) Divide http://wireless.ictp.it/simulator/ - main site of ICTPhttp://wireless.ictp.trieste.it/simulator/map.html – the map on technology accessibility 2010
