The document discusses the digital divide and the importance of closing the gap between those who adopt new technologies and those who do not. It notes that the elderly, those with lower incomes, and billions of people worldwide are at risk of being left behind as communication methods increasingly move online. As technologies like tablets become more accessible and organizations aim to expand internet access around the world, the gap may begin to close, but ensuring all members of society can embrace new technologies remains an ongoing challenge.

1. The Digital Divide
Keeping up with Technology
By: Chris O’Brien
Image by: theophilos [Flickr]

2. New technologies such as the internet and mobile computing
will continue to advance and its important for us to stay on
top of them, but some people are already getting left behind.
Image by: ransomtech [Flickr]

3. In particular the elderly …
Image by: IamNotUnique [Flickr]

4. …. those of lower income socioeconomic groups….
Image by: photonadoru [Flickr]

5. …And billions of other people around the world.
Image by: Dakman5
[wiki commons]

6. Why does it matter if these groups take hold of new
technology or not?
The internet has sparked a technological and informational
revolution that is quickly changing the way the world does
everything.
Image by: 114ben [Flickr]

7. Our primary method of communication is no longer through
the telephone. Instead we now favor sending email and text
or facebook messages through our smartphones.
Image by: autowhich [Flickr]

8. The way we consume and exchange information is changing
as well. Many news paper companies already offer exclusive
online content and classified sections have been all but
completely replaced by websites such as Kijiji and Craigslist.
Image by: barzanQTR [Flickr]

9. Even searching for Jobs has become an increasingly online
activity, with over 80% of fortune 500 companies reporting
that they are exclusively using online resources for finding
new employees.
Image by: acaben [Flickr]

10. With our ever increasing reliance on the internet and all of
the technology surrounding it, it’s important that we try to
close this gap and minimize the digital divide.
Image by: ocean.flynn [Flickr]

11. As technology evolves, computer hardware is becoming less
expensive and more accessible to lower incomes.
Image by: IamUccalilla [Flickr]

12. Tablets have become an easier method for the less technically
savvy to get online. The more intuitive touch interface and
easy navigation have made this an ideal outlet for the elderly
adopters who want to stay connected.
Image by: cogdogblog [Flickr]

13. Founded by the CEO of Facebook and co-founders of google,
there are now two independent not for profit organizations
set up who’s goal is to help spread internet to the world.
Image by: martin deutsch [Flickr]

14. They are still in their infancies, but both organizations are
currently planning on using aerial vehicles to deliver internet
signals to places such as Africa that don’t have the required
infrastructure in place.
Image by: wajahat mahmood [Flickr]

15. But this is just the beginning,
what about the future?
Image by: libraryman [Flickr]

16. The next generation is already growing up taking for granted
what we consider the newest technologies.
Image by: henriksent [Flickr]

17. Some of the newest technologies have already seen wide
spread adoption….
Image by: kominyetska [Flickr]

18. ….While others are still in their infancy.
Image by: wilbertbaan [Flickr]

19. Will you embrace the newest technologies with an open
mind?
Image by: NYC media lab [Flickr]

20. …. Or will you find yourself on the wrong side of the next
digital divide?
Image by: stevenw [Flickr]

21. Sources
1. Javed Anwer, Facebook to use drones to beam
internet from the sky: Mark Zuckerberg [May 21
2014],http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/t
ech-news/Facebook-to-use-drones-to-beam-
internet-from-the-sky-Mark-
Zuckerberg/articleshow/32819568.cms
2. Anushka Asthana and Tracey Mcveigh
Government services to be online-only [May 22
2014],http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010
/nov/20/government-services-online-only
All background images were retrieved under Flickrs
creative commons licensing with credit given to the
authors with the exception of slide 5 which was
collected under wiki commons licensing.