A digital divide is any uneven distribution in the access to, use of, or impact of information and. Rather it is a consequence of a greater economic vulnerability. The secondlevel digital divide also referred to as the production gap, describes the gap that separates the consumers of content on the internet from the producers of content. The four digital divides massachusetts institute of. Merge pdf documents quickly by sorting and combining a group of files. Mar 19, 2010 the digital divide, like many other economic or social problems, is a global issue. The ability of individuals and businesses to take advantage of the internet varies significantly across the oecd area as well as between oecd and nonmember countries. A digital divide is any uneven distribution in the access to, use of, or impact of information and communication technologies ict between any number of distinct groups. The digital divide, ict, and broadband internet ict information communications technologies. The four digital divides the digital divide is widely regarded as a unitary phenomenon. Exploring the aspects of digital divide in a developing. Oecd glossary of statistical terms digital divide definition. With socioeconomic divisions already present in todays society, the digital divide is compounding the effects. Indeed, the earliest itu statistics on telecommunications published in 1871, recording data on telegraph operations since 1849 show a clear divide between the member states of the union, mainly within western europe at that time.
Each section cites various academic and web articles dealing with the background, development, and broad definition of digital divide, its recent developments, trends, and its implications to the library and information field. The digital divide and what to do about it eszter hargittai papersateszterdotcom sociology department princeton university this is a preprint version of the book chapter to appear in the new. Last updated 23 rd october 2017 updated 6 th january 2017 updated 23 rd october 2017 abushanab, e. As an oped in the washington post put it, the fcc talks the talk on the digital divide and then walks in the other direction. What is the digital divide, and what implications for. The five different sections of the digital divide summary in this oir focus on separate subtopics on the phenomenon of the digital divide. Digital divide is a term that refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that dont or have restricted access. Pdf concept of access and the digital divide researchgate. Although buying a computer or even a smart phone is out of the reach of many lowincome people, and there are still areas of the country that can access the internet only via dialup. A lack of access is believed to be a disadvantage to those on the disadvantaged side of the digital divide because of the. The evolution of the digital divide the digital divide turns to inequality of skills and usage jan a.
To be clear, while the digital divide is closely correlated with lower individual and household income, it is obviously not the cause of it. The split function lets you split pdf files based on page ranges and page numbers. Most of the reports about the digital divide center around racial and socioeconomic differences a 2010 study confirmed that household income is the greatest predictor of internet use. Because of ict high cost, its adoption and utilization is highly uneven across the globe. A lack of access is believed to be a disadvantage to those on the disadvantaged side of the digital divide because of the huge knowledge base that can only be found online. The digital divide among households appears to depend primarily on two variables, income and education. However, for those families in rural areas, access is still the number one issue. Pdf the term digital divide was introduced in the mid1990s and defined as the gap separating. Digital divide, term that describes the uneven distribution of information and communication technologies icts in society. Andrea zweifel ielp psu speakening and listening 5 2. Digital divide definition of digital divide by merriam.
This technology can include the telephone, television, personal computers and the internet. Indeed, the earliest itu statistics on telecommunications published in 1871, recording data on telegraph operations since 1849 show a clear divide between the member states of the union, mainly within western europe at. Now the quality of digital participation is coming into question. In its simplest formulation, the digital divide is thought of as the gap between those who have access to the internet and those who do not. The digital divide is even more marked for internet access. Browse digital divide news, research and analysis from the conversation editions. I then illustrate the importance of this definition by discussing research we have conducted on technology and learning. Digital divide can be analyzed in two different scales. Initially, concern over the digital divide centered on access to computers cost and the internet availability. It is the difference of people that can access the internet, and the people that cannot. The new digital divide digitals influence on instore sales digital devices influence on instore purchase behavior is growing much faster than anyone could have anticipated. Education and learning lie at the heart of these issues and their solutions. From the most switched on countries such as sweden to the poorest nations in africa there is a widening gap between those with access to technology and those without. The evolution and application of digital divide research.
Partnership for progress on the digital divide 2017. The digital divide refers to the difference between people who have easy access to the internet and those who do not. Pdf merger splitter combine pdf ebooks split pdf into single. The former scale is about the analysis of the divide among different continents and countries while the later is about the gap between groups and regions of the same country. The digital divide is a complex, and dynamic problem which has political, cultural, and ethical dimensions ahmed, 2007. The digital divide can be defined as the gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels with regard both to their opportunities to ac cess icts and to their use of the internet for a wide variety of activities oecd, 2001, p. The digital divide will not close unless there is an initiative to seal the gap. Digital divide definition and meaning collins english. The term digital divide, often attributed to lloyd morrisett, former president of the markle. What is the digital divide uci school of education. In the information society, the digital divide is a consequence of the economic.
Section 3 explores the definition, the determinant factors and. Changing the legal definition of employee is not enough to. The digital divide, like many other economic or social problems, is a global issue. Digital divide definition is the economic, educational, and social inequalities between those who have computers and online access and those who do not. The term digital divide is a generic term with multiple definitions, but it is typically used to express a lack of access due to linguistic, economic, educational, social, and geographic reasons. As used here, the term digital divide refers to the gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels with regard both to their opportunities to access information and communication technologies icts and to their use of the internet for a.
Previously, the digital participation divide seemed to revolve around access time. Educators are beginning to take note of a new problem. The digital divide can be understood as inequalities in four successive types of access. The digital divide is a negative consequence of the introduction of information technology it in society. The concept of the digital divide was originally popularized in regard to the. The digital divide and what to do about it eszter hargittai papersateszterdotcom sociology department princeton university this is a preprint version of the book chapter to appear in the new economy handbook edited by derek c. Thus, this plenary will be a rousing discussion of this topic beginning with panelists sharing the gaps they have found followed by a moderated discussion amongst the panelists and the audience.
Other variables, such as household size and type, age, gender, racial and linguistic backgrounds and location also play an important role. According to lei, gibbs, chang, and lee 2008, there are two main different thoughts about how to deal with the digital divide. Definition the digital divide has been defined by the oecd 1 as the gap between different individuals. In this paper, i analyze the definition of the digital divide, and compare it to prior notions of a literacy divide. Digital divide references leslie haddon academicstaff. In 1960, per capita gdp in the richest 20 countries was 14 times that in the poorest 20 countries. In the first section, the origin, definitions, measures and policies related to the digital. There are technologies like internet, mobile phones, computers and wifi in some parts of the world, and in other parts there are not. Pdf merger splitter combine pdf ebooks split pdf into. The evolution of the digital divide universiteit twente. Aqilis comments support this breakdown and the above definitions.
However, two other types of divide will have much greater impact in the years to come. The measure of the digital divide is not limited to access of the internet and measures other gaps such as access to mobile technology and other forms of communicative technology. Digital divide is the gap between parts of the world where access to technology is very different. According its january 2017 report, the fccs modernization push enabled some 77% of school districts to meet the minimum federal connectivity targets by the end of 2016. This concept rests on critical issues of how individuals can use information provided by these technologies and what strategic skills are desirable to. Extension in the city is also in a position to address an ever increasing opportunity gap in the inner cities in america. Employment and development implications the gaps and imbalances between industrialized and developing countries in a number of economic and social spheres are vast and increasing.
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. It is not just the cost of computers that results in the digital divide, but also the presence of widespread illiteracy among overlooked populations. Digital divide simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Those who are often victims of the digital divide are disproportionately in five groups. The main reason of the global digital divide is the difference of the social and. Exploring the aspects of digital divide in a developing country iisit. The digital divide encompasses differences in both access firstlevel digital divide and usage secondlevel digital divide of computers and the internet between 1 industrialized and developing countries global divide, 2 various socioeconomic groups within single. Beyond connection and literacy factors, there should exist a better definition of. Digital literacy means having the skills and knowledge needed for successfully utilizing digital technology, and digital inclusion encompasses the outreach and policies developed in order to provide digital access. A new understanding of the digital divide edutopia. Digital divide ict information communications technology. The global digital divide versus the digital divide.
The term digital divide is used to describe situations where there are gaps in the market in terms of access to the use of ict devices singh, 2012. In a collection of internal documents that were collected in a project. Jul 01, 2002 the digital divide is most commonly defined as the gap between those individuals and communities that have, and do not have, access to the information technologies that are transforming our lives. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. As the technological digital divide is decreasing between those with access to the internet and those without, the meaning of the term digital divide is evolving. Following economic theory, the standard of living of the. The gaps that define the learning digital divide are thus as important. Digital divide definition of digital divide by merriamwebster. There are a variety of definitions and indicators used to describe the concept and measurement of the digital divide. What i will talk about definition of digital divide extent of digital divide reasons for digital divide g impact of the web attempts to bridge the digital divide. Most commentators view this in purely economic terms. The digital divide can exist between those living in rural areas and those living in urban areas, between the educated and uneducated, between economic classes, and on a global scale between more and less industrially developed nations.
The digital divide refers to the fact that certain parts of the population have substantially better opportunities to benefit from the new economy than other parts of the population. A digital divide can be born for many reasons like. These groups may be defined based on social, geographical, or geopolitical criteria, or otherwise. The term digital divide refers to the gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels with regard to both their opportunities to access information and communication technologies icts and to their use of the internet for a wide variety of activities. Oct 24, 2011 most of the reports about the digital divide center around racial and socioeconomic differences a 2010 study confirmed that household income is the greatest predictor of internet use. Information access capability gulf that separates those who are connected to the internet and those who are not. The digital divide can be measured in many different ways, and we begin by considering the relationship between internet use and household income across different areas of the entire united states. Well before the late 20th century, digital divide referred chiefly to the division between those with and without telephone access. In fact, the digital divide warrants a broader definition one that is inclusive of social, economic, and technologyuse attributes which can capture the notion of digital equity. The digital divide october 8, 2014 page 1 of 6 the national communication association and the digital divide as the largest national association representing communication scholars, teachers, and practitioners, the national communication association nca is. The digital divide reflects various differences among and within countries. In a study of groups and organizations and their use of tech, farm.
The term digital divide refers to the gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels with regard to both their opportunities to access information and communication technologies icts and to their use of the internet for a. In figure 1, each dot represents a single public use microdata area. The digital divide october 8, 2014 page 6 of 6 the national communication association nca advances communication as the discipline that studies all forms, modes, media, and consequences of communication through humanistic. The global digital divide is a special case of the digital divide, the focus is set on the fact that internet has developed unevenly throughout the world 28.
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