THE DIGITAL DIVIDE : DEFINITIONS , MEASUREMENT , AND POLICY ISSUES by (original) (raw)

Digital divide is the latest evocative term that refers to differences in access to and uses of information technology that are correlated with income, race and ethnicity, gender, age, place of residence, and other measures of socioeconomic status. According to the Department of Commerce, some people “have the most powerful computers, the best telephone service and fastest Internet service, as well as a wealth of content and training relevant to their lives.... [A]nother group of people ... don’t have access to the newest and best computers, the most reliable telephone service or the fastest or most convenient Internet services. The difference between these two groups is ... the Digital Divide.” The purpose of this essay is to provide a brief introduction to the concept of the digital divide. This essay will broadly outline the nature of the digital divide and the policy issues surrounding it, and will review the facts and research findings on three main themes: the magnitude of the...

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