Topic 1: The Digital Divide This week you read Digital Divide in a Global Econom
ID: 1140840 • Letter: T
Question
Topic 1: The Digital Divide
This week you read Digital Divide in a Global Economy by Jack Lule
Discussion:
More than just a tool for information transfer, the Internet has become a conduit for a globalized workforce. However, as the Internet has become integrated into daily business life, a digital divide has emerged. Some derive the benefits from Internet access, but many others do not.
Questions:
1. Could the digital divide change the way people think about themselves in relation to the rest of the world? Provide experiences, observations, or references.
2. What barriers exist that make it difficult to close the digital divide in developing economies like India and China? What barriers exist in a developed country such as America?
Explanation / Answer
Ans. This is an interesting question , Let's start answering it :
1) Digital Divide is the inequality or divide among the people , societies or countries in terms of Accessability of Technology and Internet Services.
Yes , Digital Divide surely changes the way people think about themselves in relation to rest of the World. Several studies have taken place which indicates that people or companies or societies which are not having proper access to Latest Technology and Internet Services sees themselves as Less Productive than those who have Accessability to these things. They think themselves as Inferior to Others. People often believe that Inaccessibility towards latest technology is also the cause of Economic Disparity in the Society and their jobs are more hectic and difficult than those who have access to the new technologies. This feeling is same for country to country also , People of less developed country see other developed countries in high regard and see themselves as Inferior to them due to Digital Divide. For eg : A study was conducted in US of 2000 IT employees , amongst them , 69% believe that they do not have access to sufficient technology to make their life easier , 63% of them believe that lack of technology hinder their ability to Work.
2) Barriers that makes it difficult to close the digital divide in Developing Countries are as follows :
a) Slowness in adaptation of Proper and Robust Network Infrastructure
b) Illiteracy of People is a major problem that makes it difficult to close digital divide.
c) Lack of Physical Access to Internet Services in Remote Areas.
d) Lack of Well Trained Human Capital for providing Training Opportunities.
However , Countries like India and China have gone a long way in closing the Digital Divide among People and have achieved success in this direction in recent times.
Barriers that exist in developed countries are as follows :
a) Unwillingness of service providers and carriers to go and expand in Low Income areas due to lack of Incentives.
b) Lack of Financial Access of bandwidth maintenance and infrastructure in Rural And Lower Income areas in Developed Countries.
c) Lack of Cognitive Access and Institutional Access of the High Quality Technological Services in some areas.
I hope you understood the answer. Do ask in case of Doubts.
A Thumsup would be Highly Appreciated !!
Best of Luck !! Keep Chegging !!