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Why the digital divide is important
Why the digital divide is important
Why the digital divide is important
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THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Vanessa C Reese
INF 103: Computer Literacy
Jaclyn Minor
December 22, 2014
Abstract
The digital divide is a reality that exists throughout the world. This gap is in reference to race gender, income and many other factors that enable or hinders the use of modern technology. After reviewing different information I will state in my opinion and the pros and cons that governs it. I will also include summarized points, my opinion on suggestion on how to educate the lower income as well as the elder population. “The digital divide separates those who are information rich on one side from those who are poor, who live in an underdeveloped country, or who reside in a rural area with no internet access” (Bowles, M. D.
2013).
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They also agreed that regardless of age, internet and computers skills are a must to function in society. Without proper intervention, the digital divide (or segregation by way of technology) will become more of a problem in society. Youth that have a lower income background will fall far behind our peers which as a result makes it harder for them to achieve their goals and advance in education. This is important because they are our future.
Reference:
Bowles, M. D. (2013). Introduction to Digital Literacy. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Ji, P., & Skoric, M. M. (2013). Gender and social resources: digital divides of social network sites and mobile phone use in Singapore. Chinese Journal of Communication, 6(2), 221-239. doi:10.1080/17544750.2013.785673
Pearce, K.E., & Rice, R. E. (2013). Digital Divides from Access to Activities: Comparing Mobile and Personal Computer Internet Users. Journal of Communication. 63(4). 721- 744.doi:10.1111/jcom.12045
Senior Service America, (2014). Crossing The digital divide at 55 Retrieved from
In his essay Mobile Phones, Digital Media and America’s Learning Divide, Professor S. Craig Watkins discusses the different ways that digital media affects the learning divide between middle and low-class students and also students of different races, ethnicities and cultures. Watkins’ purpose in writing this essay is to show how mobile phones are closing the learning divide as well as the digital divide. He uses facts and research that he has gathered as a member of the MacArthur Foundation’s research network on Connected Learning to back up his statements and improve his credibility as an author.
... with unlimited advanced technological opportunities we will continue to see problems in this area. Children are exposed to technology at ages as young as two years old. It is easier for a parent to hand their child an iPad rather than to teach them singlehandedly. So again I say that the blame is not necessarily the technology but rather the parents fault for allowing the technology to take ahold of a young child’s developing mind.
As the young children grow older, the resources and materials they have access to also expand. A 12-year-old girl with an iPad and smartphone has the same access to the material a 35-year-old woman has unless the parents have placed restrictions on themselves.... ... middle of paper ... ...
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Digital revolution is exponentially accelerating the productivity of various outcomes in the society and also transforming the employment and economy of the world. In recent times, innovation in technology is inadvertently becoming the cause for chronic unemployment which in turn is drastically affecting the median household income. This book discusses such trends and outcomes in general and offers solutions to the problems faced by present and future generation of workers. Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee have discussed effects of machines on wealth distribution, economy and employment in a crisp, strong and insightful way.
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The new age of technology was born late last century in the form of the silicone chip. Since this early invention computers have progressed in leaps and bounds from the very basic early models to the now very complicated and very powerful computers of today. In between this growth the Internet developed into a mega market where billions of dollars are traded daily. It is a place where you can pretty much buy and sell anything you can think of. But with the development of such a powerful tool there are always going to be problems such as pornography, hackers, dodgy chat rooms and authenticity of information. But like with any argument you have to weigh up the good with the bad, the internet provides you with a wealth of information so that you can find out much on many different products, allows businesses to function so much more efficiently, there is also the availability of online learning.
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Even in countries like Europe or the US, there is still uneducated people, including the lack of digital and language literacy. According to McKinsey & Company (2014), approximately 900 million of people who are not accessing or connected to the internet are uneducated. Incentives can also become a barrier, even though the internet utility is developing increasingly to providing access to information and resources in order to improve quality of life. However, there are still many people who still does not have a compelling reason to go online. Incentives, low incomes and affordability, user capability, and infrastructure are all a great barriers that stand between millions and accessing the
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