Closing the Digital Divide.

1. Closing the Global Digital Divide By: Tyesha Hall, Jeffrey Lamothe, Adan Noriega

2. Roadmap Explanation of Digital Divide Purpose and Scope Current access to Internet and Information Technology Effect of Mobile Technologies Limitations of Increasing IT Access Steps Taken Open Data Kit Mobile Devices as Means for Digital Participation Conclusion

3. Digital Divide Defines the distance between those with global access to information and those who do not Increasing global access to information is crucial for the growth of developing countries Mobile devices are one of the main catalysts in accomplishing this

4. Purpose and Scope Purpose of this RFI is to provide World Resource’s Institute CEO and board of directors with information on how to close the global digital divide Discusses current state of access to IT and information Explains potential future effects of increased access to mobile technologies

5. Report on Internet and Access to Information Technology Regions with highest to information and information technology are the U.S. and Europe Other regions are quickly catching up However, major discrepancies still exist, especially in parts of Africa

6. Effects of Mobile Technologies Studies show that increased access to cell phones increases a country’s gross domestic product Allows people to be reachable in any situation Increases business opportunities and access to healthcare

7. Limitations of increasing IT access Socioeconomic differences must be addressed first Political systems must be stabilized Digital divide is mainly due to gap between developed and developing world Lack of infrastructure development

8. Steps Taken O3b Initiative—plan to launch a satellite-based telecoms infrastructure for carriers and ISPS. European union has focused on universal internet connectivity United States State Department commits to help facilitate flow of information

9. Open Data Kit University of Washington project in collaboration with Google Android to create a data collection platform for use in developing regions Extremely versatile tool for conducting healthcare projects throughout developing world Much faster than a cellular network, capable of transmitting data automatically

10. Mobile Devices as means for Digital Participation Help societies grow politically by transforming them into information societies Increasing access to information can have a positive broadening effect on the democratic process Access to information is a means to change some political systems

11. Conclusion Several things to take into consideration in order to reduce the global digital divide Mobile technologies are effective due to their low cost and versatility Global discrepancies are unsustainable for the development of the rest of the world