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Digital divide
- 2. 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).
- 3. 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.
- 4. Defining the digital divide The 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.
- 5. • “More than 80% of people in the world have never ever heard a dial tone, let alone surfed the web.”
- 6. How do you think income is related to the digital divide?
- 7. Income-Related: 86.3 % of households earning $75,000 per year have internet access, vs. 12.7% of households earning less than $15,000.
- 8. 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
- 11. Question Why is Digital Inclusion Critical?
- 12. 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
- 13. Critical Drivers of ICT Use ICT = information & communication technology 1. E-mail, Search, Maps 2. News 3. Access to online job listings, applications 4. Educational use, online learning 5. Online transactions (travel,e-bay, banking, etc.) 6. e-government services (taxes, licenses) 7. Health information (Medicaid part D) 8. Civic engagement & e-democracy 9. User generated content-blogs, websites, music sharing
- 14. Persistent barriers toPersistent barriers to Digital Inclusion include:include:
- 15. 1.1. Limited technology literacy skillsLimited technology literacy skills 2.2. 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 levels 4.4. Language & accessibility barriersLanguage & accessibility barriers 5.5. Irrelevant contentIrrelevant content 6.6. Affordable broadband serviceAffordable broadband service 7.7. Cost of entry (hardware)Cost of entry (hardware)
- 16. 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
- 17. 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
- 18. 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
- 19. Question DISCUS THE DIGITAL INCLUSION STRATEGIES
- 20. 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 Literacy Help groups and individuals use technology to do what THEY want to do, address underlying social factors
- 21. Question Explain the general issues and roles of ICTs in development
- 22. 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.
- 23. Drivers of ICT4D • The Missing Link (extending basic telecom infrastructure to all) • Rise of Civil Society • Communication Rights • Globalization and Information Networks
- 24. 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
- 25. 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.
- 26. Different ICT4D components access to ICTs ability to use ICTs actual use of ICTs impact of using ICTs.
- 27. 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
- 28. Real Access Criteria (1) Affordability Is technology access affordable for people to use? Capacity Do people understand how to use technology and its potential uses?
- 29. Real Access Criteria (2) Relevant content Is there locally relevant content, especially in terms of language? Integration Does the technology further burden people's lives or does it integrate into daily routines?
- 30. Real Access Criteria (3) Socio-cultural factors Are people limited in their use of technology based on gender, race, or other socio-cultural factors? Trust Do people have confidence in and understand the implications of the technology they use, for instance in terms of privacy, security, or cybercrime?
- 31. Real Access Criteria (4) Political will Is there political will in government to do what is needed to enable the integration of technology throughout society? Legal and regulatory framework How do laws and regulations affect technology use and what changes are needed to create an environment that fosters its use?
- 32. Real Access Criteria (5) Local economic environment Is there a local economy that can and will sustain technology use? Macro economic environment Is national economic policy conducive to widespread technology use, for example, in terms of transparency, deregulation, investment, and labour issues?
- 33. United Nations Millennium Development Goals 1. 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
- 34. United Nations Millennium Development Goals Goal 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.
- 35. 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
- 36. 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
- 37. 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
- 38. 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
Editor's Notes
- When content is LOCAL RELEVANT CONTEXTUAL and ACCESSIBLE individuals are more likely to overcome access and connectivity barriers, and improve their technology literacy skills.
- There has been a significant amount of literature criticising the approach that has been followed for introducing ICTs in developing countries. That approach had been based on a technology supply-side solution, which took little account of the needs and information and communication demands of the the community or the end users. This supply side approach has generally failed, even if in some cases some benefits have derived from it. That criticism has certainly benefited some of the newer more holistic approaches that has become at least the norm in ICT programmes plans, even if they are not fully implemented in reality. For the last point, gender related perpretation of harm is of particular concern.
- In particular, the presenter should discuss the notion of “network effects”. A positive network effect means, for example, that a telephone network has more value if the people you want to communicate with are also connected to the network. The more participants a network attracts, the more its value increases. Examples of negative network effects would be a farmer not having access to market prices and competing with others who did; or exclusion from the network because ICT infrastructure reach or costs are prohibitive because of sufficient economies of scale. There is a future component to increased marginalisation and exclusion from networks.
- ASK THE STUDENTS: Should access to telecommunications be considered a ‘Right’?
- During this part of the workshop, participants should be encouraged to contribute examples and views on their own national situation with regards to the ten Real Access criteria.
- Development sectors and the potential for ICTs. ICT & Education: ICT is a subject that is important for young people to study as there are likely to be many future job opportunities. For example, Malaysia has a policy of having all students using a computer at school from the age of seven. ICT can support education in other subjects through Computer Based Training (CBT) and Distance Education. CBT can teach any subject at the student’s own pace, and distance education supports collaborative sharing of experience. The Internet has more information than libraries and is constantly updated. People can access the latest information and not rely on older textbooks that frequently become outdated.
- ICT & Health: Telemedicine supports medical procedures over broadband network connection (e.g. medical expert in city directing intervention in a rural health clinic). There are some pilot projects of this, but it is very expensive and not in widespread use in developing countries. However, Ethiopia has successfully used telemedicine to allow the few trained radiologists to give diagnoses to various hospitals. Telehealth can assist in management and procedures at clinics throughout the country. The internet can provide very good information on many health issues, especially for HIV/AIDS related areas. There are good forums and discussions to share experience and ask advice. Epidemiology: ICTs can be used to collect health information and statistics of use to national and international disease management.
- ICTs and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs – small business): While ICT can support SMMEs, it should also be emphasised that ICT4D projects can also provide support to the private sector by creating awareness about services and applications; providing training necessary to create a critical mass of users; and by offering test-bed opportunities for assessing markets for new technologies and services.
- ICT & Governance: ICTs can support the link between people and government, supporting democracy and democratic participation. However, ICTs are only a tool which requires a political will to do this. Conversely, ICTs can and are used for increasing surveillance and repression. ICTs can allow an increased link between people and their government, providing easier access to a range of government information and services. For example, visas and drivers licences can be obtained using online forms – meaning that travel to a city is not required. E-government is the term used to provide information and services online for internal efficiency and greater links to the population. ICT networks can strengthen links between citizens and the member of parliament (where there is a constituency system)