Digital Divide, Culturally and Geographically, Crosses All Borders. Essay

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Digital Divide Crosses All Borders, Culturally and Geographically, Discuss How the Digital Divide Affects Society in 2014

The global segregation in myriad aspects owes due to deference of information because technology or rather the lack of it is the causation of the term digital divide. The manifestation is observed glaringly in the realms of schools, commercial activities, connectivity with the global elements and so on and so forth. In the following treatise, the issues that are causative to and the solutions to narrow down the gap are explored.

Digital divide's most referred manifestation is the economic deprivation of the unfortunate to the emerging economic possibilities offered by technology. It is the already affluent who have easy access to and advantage in the new construct (Neilsen, 2006). There are more ways, but most importantly two, in which this divide will be affected in the coming years. One of them is simple to guess - the poor cannot afford to purchase a personal computer (Neilsen, 2006). Though policy makers have kept harping on the matter for quite some time the relevance is losing its significance in the developed countries (Neilsen, 2006). The fact is that it will be at least two decades before computers become accessible to those in poor and developing economies (Neilsen, 2006).

Rana Faroohar, in Davos spoke about the digital and real economy recovery rather than about bridging the gap between the poor and the rich (Foroohar, 2014). In a conversation with some Boston group of consultant researchers, she came to terms with the magnitude of her own contention quantitatively- the costs involved made certain populations to access the net unviable, it was simply out of their reach (Foroohar, 2014). The causes may be varied- poor infrastructure (Africa), governmental procedures and issues like licensing and permissions (parts of south America and UAE segment), a restricted freedom of expression (China, some Arab countries) - the journey and reach of ( or access to) internet isn't as smooth as was supposed to be. If the situation is not corrected and larger tracts of population continue to be deprived of easy cheap and free access to internet and its benefits, the looming danger to the minority digital world can be easily assessed (Foroohar, 2014).

It will affect the economy in a big way. The BCG report that measures the economic influence of the technology has estimated that the countries (like the UK, Switzerland, and Sweden) that had the best access to internet had the best digital proportion in their economies. It is ascertained that about 2.5% more of the economy is characterized by digital economy in these countries than whose citizens do not have equal access to the internet. (Foroohar, 2014). What is more important is digital economy is expanding at a faster rate than real time economies (Foroohar, 2014). BCG has mentioned that the digital economy (that includes the e-commerce and the cost of internet access) kept growing at the rate of 8% per annum even in the aftermath of the financial depression. It is estimated that the growth would be in the excess of ten to fifteen percentage points in the financial recovery years. (Foroohar, 2014).

It means that the citizens of nations such as England are likely to get a boost in economy as 10% of the economy is technology centered (Foroohar, 2014). That means, at the same time that in economies (Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Egypt ) that don't allow the free use of internet and access to it are likely to suffer economically. The politicians in China should better beware that the tight control on information flow will probably create a revulsion as this stifling slows the growth process and employment opportunities (Foroohar, 2014).

In addition, U.S. decision makers had better understand the situation that though America needs to improve technology infrastructure it has failed to do so. It is actually sliding down the list for some time especially during recent years. It has slipped to fifth position in terms of e-commerce and internet usage (behind Hong Kong, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Switzerland).the prediction is that we may fall further down the rank in the following year (Foroohar, 2014).

During May 2014, academia, government, technology experts, and elite librarian experts assembled for "Responding to the Second Digital Divide," which was a press conference to explore libraries' role in providing Internet access and training in technology in their environs (Wright, 2014). The panelists discussed effective strategies to maintain and increase access to Internet in real libraries and strategized the public access to information (Wright, 2014).

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Event took place at the same time as the date of release (.doc) which showed that the digital divide was increasing, affecting not only the disconnected. In a survey, study, 20% of those who had access did not possess the skills to operate it usefully (Wright, 2014).

The panelists consisted of:

Clarence Anthony (Management director of the National League of Cities)

John B. Corrigan (Communications and technology policy consultant and writer of The Essentials of Connectivity" report and prior chief librarian of the Brooklyn Public Library)

Richard Reyes-Gavilan (Management director of the District of Columbia Public Library)

Barbara Stripling, president of the American Library Association (Wright, 2014).

"Why is the question of digital skills divide being revisited if it was already being investigated for years?" said Reyes-Gavilan. "I'd contend that it's back in the reckoning because of what I would like to term it as digital exclusivity. World is an impatient place become impatient consisting of those who can't navigate through internet properly. Given the reason that those who are unable to navigate the online world are decidedly illiterates, impoverished, or otherwise vulnerable, they are very easily forgotten or ignored." (Wright, 2014) Stripling stated what she inferred it as silent dilemma which most K-12 students had to face as they had difficulty in finding Internet access and dependable information sources on the net (Wright, 2014). In her statement, Stripling put into focus the means by which libraries in schools provide technology access and help students to learn operating the internet for information.

"Let us all try to put ourselves in today's students' shoes and try to be in the 21st century academic settings," stated Stripling (Wright, 2014). "Imagine yourself in a situation where, like most students today, you are expected to understand the navigation required to extract precise information and reach interconnected and relevant platforms like Black board and Google docs. You would be left helpless if required to carry out computer-based homework assignments. And you cannot produce quality work if you are not aware how to search for data that is available on internet? Anthony, a government leader thinks that libraries need to be more proactive in case of marketing their services in a society (Wright, 2014). "The libraries have for long been regarded reliable center of education throughout the life in all cities across USA," stated Anthony (Wright, 2014). "And we've undervalued the libraries in many ways as we've failed to tell multiple tales of the impact that libraries have on you and the society."

Unbalanced dispensation of resources in school is downright irksome problems in education in these times, in all nations, rich and poor (Ferreria, 2014). Affluent students take advantage of schools with more funds, with better salaried teachers, better amenities, and latest materials. Poorer kids lag behind. The continuous growth of internet and computer technology in academics has furthered that resource inequality (Ferreria, 2014). The manifestation, the "Digital Divide," is being paid a lot of attention. Surprisingly other imbalances receive lesser attention than this one does. (Ferreria, 2014). The least performing ten percent teachers can be found to be a part of schools with very bad amenities and materials. The students of such schools are to whom society has paid no attention to. Place a "top ten percent" instructor in that school, and she will not be able to maintain the same status permanently (Ferreria, 2014). To correct the situation in these all these schools simultaneously we need to address the problem of poverty. We will not be able to improve education by taking care of poverty. We will have to take care of poverty to improve education.

Finding easily extendible and replicable, economical ways to increase performance of such schools is a difficult task (Ferreria, 2014). It may seem to politicians like a huge waste of money, but it's imperative that we increase financial allocation to such schools. An incessant financial pumping - for hiring and training of teachers, amenities improvement, latest materials, and technology - are sure to change the situation for good (Ferreria, 2014). The three main causes other imbalances do not get as much attention as against the Digital Divide are discussed. First, stark imbalances in tutors, amenities, and resources have been prevalent since long time. People have an inclination of losing interest in problematic situations that have existed forever (Ferreria, 2014). Second, the progress to cure the imbalances is slow. Some are inclined to opine,.....

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