scholarly journals Facing the digital divide into a dementia clinic during COVID-19 pandemic: caregiver age matters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Arighi ◽  
Giorgio Giulio Fumagalli ◽  
Tiziana Carandini ◽  
Anna Margherita Pietroboni ◽  
Milena Alessandra De Riz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Gender And Education ◽  
The Social ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Impacting Factors ◽  
Social Health Inequalities ◽  
Younger Generation ◽  
Evaluation Information

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically stressed the health care system and has provoked changes in population use of digital technologies. Digital divide is any uneven distribution in Information and Communications Technologies between people. Aims The purpose of this work was to describe the digital divide of a population of patients with dementia contacted by telemedicine during Italian lockdown for COVID-19 pandemic. Method One hundred eight patients with cognitive impairment were contacted by video call to perform a telemedicine neurological evaluation. Information on patients and caregivers attending the televisit were recorded. Results Seventy-four patients connected with neurologist (successful televisit, 68.5%) and 34 patients were not able to perform televisit and were contacted by phone (failed televisit, 31.5%). No significant differences were observed among the two groups concerning age, gender, and education, but the prevalence of successful televisit was higher in the presence of younger caregivers: televisits performed in the presence of subjects of younger generation (sons and grandsons) had a successful rate higher (86% successful, 14% failed) than the group without younger generation caregiver (49% successful, 51% failed). This difference is mainly due to the ability of technological use among younger people. Discussion The most impacting factors on digital divide in our population are the social support networks and the experience with the technology: the presence of a digital native caregiver. The COVID-19 pandemic is unmasking an emerging form of technology-related social inequalities: political and community interventions are needed to support the most socially vulnerable population and prevent social health inequalities.

Socialising the Digital Divide

2008 ◽  
pp. 2506-2519
Author(s):  
Audley Genus ◽  
Mohd Ali Mohamad Nor
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Technological Determinism ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
The Social ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Social Shaping ◽  
Adoption And Diffusion ◽  
And Diffusion

The digital divide is a phenomenon associated with disparities between groups and societies in the adoption and diffusion of electronic information and communications technologies (ICTs) and e-business practice. The article argues that, in rhetoric at least, the innovation, adoption, and diffusion of ICTs bear the hallmark of technological determinism (i.e., that of a technical imperative) in which social, economic, and political factors are underplayed. By way of contrast, the article considers the merit of a social shaping approach to analysing innovation in ICTs, to assess the prospects for ameliorating the digital divide between developed and developing countries and for stimulating economic development in the latter through the promotion of e-business. The article suggests how future research on the social shaping of ICTs, e-business, and the digital divide between developed and developing nations can meet the challenges discussed herein.

E-Government and the Digital Divide

2011 ◽  
pp. 1718-1725
Author(s):  
Tan Yigitcanlar ◽  
Scott Baum
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Private Organizations ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Rapid Pace ◽  
Access Services

Many governments world wide are attempting to increase accountability, transparency, and the quality of services by adopting information and communications technologies (ICTs) to modernize and change the way their administrations work. Meanwhile e-government is becoming a significant decision-making and service tool at local, regional and national government levels. The vast majority of users of these government online services see significant benefits from being able to access services online. The rapid pace of technological development has created increasingly more powerful ICTs that are capable of radically transforming public institutions and private organizations alike. These technologies have proven to be extraordinarily useful instruments in enabling governments to enhance the quality, speed of delivery and reliability of services to citizens and to business (VanderMeer & VanWinden, 2003). However, just because the technology is available does not mean it is accessible to all. The term digital divide has been used since the 1990s to describe patterns of unequal access to ICTs—primarily computers and the Internet—based on income, ethnicity, geography, age, and other factors. Over time it has evolved to more broadly define disparities in technology usage, resulting from a lack of access, skills, or interest in using technology. This article provides an overview of recent literature on e-government and the digital divide, and includes a discussion on the potential of e-government in addressing the digital divide.

The Politcal Economy of Knowledge Management in Higher Education

2011 ◽  
pp. 2301-2313
Author(s):  
Amy Scott Metcalfe
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Postsecondary Institutions ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Political Implications ◽  
The Social ◽  
Communications Technologies

In this chapter, I discuss the economic and political implications of knowledge management in higher education. First, I examine the linkages between KM and capitalism, with the help of theoretical frameworks that connect increasing managerialism in higher education with the promises of profit-making in the New (Knowledge) Economy. Next, I discuss the politics of information and the ways in which knowledge is stratified in postsecondary institutions. Third, the social dynamics of information and communications technologies (ICT) are explored in the context of higher education institutions. These perspectives provide a counter-balance to the decidedly functionalist views of much of the knowledge managementliterature. The intent of the chapter is to provide a foundation for the rest of the volume and the more specific studies of KM in higher education to follow.

Sustainable Development and the Digital Divide Among OIC Countries

2010 ◽  
pp. 233-252
Author(s):  
Chamhuri Siwar ◽  
Abdul-Mumin Abdulai
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Scientific Development ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
The Developed Countries ◽  
Almost All

Undoubtedly, digital technology (DT) has revolutionalised information and communications technology (ICT) base of the global economy, which has impacted tremendously the socio-economic, political, cultural and scientific development in the majority of the world’s economies. The chapter examines “digital divide” in a broader perspective of information and communications technologies (ICTs) that encompass not only computers, but also telephone (line and cellular), television (TV), radio etc. It is an open secret that ICTs have played and will continue to play a pivotal role in sustaining economic development in the developed countries. Through ICTs, creating, storing and sharing enormous volume of information with relative ease in almost all the spheres of human endeavour have been made possible. The power inherent in ICT that can break up barriers and boundaries holding countries, continents and businesses miles apart can never be over-emphasized. Despite the attendant benefits of ICTs, there are still deep-seated ICT inequalities both within and among the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries. This chapter investigates the depth of the existing digital divide among the OIC member countries and to unearth the possible obstacles. Finally, some policy recommendations have been offered towards the end of the chapter.

On the Social Shaping of the Semantic Web

2010 ◽  
pp. 341-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul T. Kidd
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Web ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Utility Value ◽  
Web Searches ◽  
Social Shaping Of Technology ◽  
The Social ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Dominant Design ◽  
Social Shaping ◽  
Conceptual Formulation

Addressed in this chapter is the Social Shaping of the Semantic Web in the context of moving beyond the workplace application domain that has so dominated the development of both Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), and the Social Shaping of Technology perspective. The importance of paradigms and the values that shape technology are considered along with the utility value of ICT, this latter issue being somewhat central in the development of these technologies. The new circumstances of ubiquity and of uses of ICT beyond mere utility, as a means of having fun for example, are considered leading to a notion of the Semantic Web, not just as a tool for more effective Web searches, but also as a means of having fun. Given this possibility of the Semantic Web serving two very different audiences and purposes, the matter of how to achieve this is considered, but without resorting to the obvious and rather simple conceptual formulation of the Semantic Web as either A or B. The relevance of existing Social Shaping of Technology perspectives is addressed. New thoughts are presented on what needs to be central to the development of a Semantic Web that is both A and B. Key here is an intelligent relationship between the Semantic Web and those that use it. Central to achieving this are the notions of the value of people, control over technology, and non-utility as a dominant design principle (the idea of things that do not necessarily serve a specific purpose).

scholarly journals Beyond Virtual Inclusion – Communications Inclusion and Digital Divisions

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Sinclair ◽  
Glen Bramley
Keyword(s):  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Technological Barriers ◽  
Social Distribution ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Digital Engagement

Access to and engagement with information and communications technologies (ICTs) are increasingly important aspects of social inclusion. This paper draws upon analyses of UK survey data and a review of research on communications and social exclusion published in the UK between 2001 and 2006 to examine the social distribution of access to and uptake of ICTs and to explore key factors restricting the digital engagement of young people from lower income households and communities. It argues that effective strategies to bridge digital divisions in the UK must pay more attention to the social rather than technological barriers which inhibit communications inclusion.

Telework in Public Sector Organizations: The Slovak National Library

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mária Murray Svidroňová ◽  
Beáta Mikušová Meričková ◽  
Juraj Nemec
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Work Organization ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Institutional Dynamics ◽  
Public Sector Organization ◽  
The Social ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Original Survey

Reforms of government and public administration combined with use of information and communications technologies (ICT) have brought many innovations in public sector, including telework as a form of organizing and performing work out of the employers´ premises. This structural change in work organization aims at increasing efficiency and in some cases, economy, too. The authors used qualitative and quantitative approach based on original survey data from own research, including data collected within the LIPSE project. Main findings point out the factors that influence the use of telework in the conditions of Slovakia in a selected public sector organization, e.g. the social, technological and inter-institutional dynamics factors playing a vital role in telework adoption.

Information Access in Rural Communities

2008 ◽  
pp. 3585-3591
Author(s):  
V.S. Venkatesan ◽  
Robyn Eversole ◽  
Kem Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Technology Usage ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
New Information ◽  
The Social ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Access Information

The concept of ‘digital divide’ draws attention to the social context of technology usage. Current IT solutions are technology driven and are focussed on elite consumers in cities. In contrast, regional Australian communities face a number of problems such as remoteness, small population and distance. Knowledge and resource constraints also impact on these communities and businesses. Any attempt to transform regions using new information and communications technologies should take into consideration these unique factors. This chapter focuses on information access in two rural communities in Western Australia. A qualitative study followed by a quantitative phase in two regional towns explored how people access information and where information gaps lie. Results of this research suggest that, along with technical infrastructure, equal emphasis should be placed on the human/community element. Without this, regional transformation will remain mere rhetoric.

Ethical Dilemma of the Digital Divide in the Threshold of Social Inequalities in Africa

2018 ◽  
pp. 73-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Essien Essien
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
New Information ◽  
The Social ◽  
Ict Tools ◽  
The Web

Despite the ubiquitous nature of the internet in our daily lives today, the digital divide discourse in Africa highlights the inequitable social distribution of ICT access. The failure to have equitable social access to ICT tools, or a lack of skills to operate them, clearly depicts a technological predicament and a metaphor that questions the social gaps between humans that can access and use the web, and those that cannot. Relying on content analysis of extensive literature on the digital divide, this paper explores the notion of digital divide social inequalities in Africa, especially as it concerns how it should be understood, valued and managed. Findings, reveals that though the new information technologies are rapidly changing lives of a small but growing number of people across Africa, decisions on content, knowledge and participation excludes Africans. The digital divide therefore, has the potential to create, perpetuate and exacerbate morally objectionable conditions that can replicate poverty, construct exclusion and foregrounds social inequality in many African societies.

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