Digital inclusion

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald M. Baecker
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Digital Devices ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Rich

J. C. R. Licklider, Vannevar Bush, Doug Engelbart, Ted Nelson, and Alan Kay optimistically and exuberantly imagined how computers could better the lives of people. Much of this has come to pass. The Internet supports learning by ‘students’ at all levels. Information on laws, procedures, diseases, and medical care may be found on the web. The Internet now provides the easiest, or in some cases the only, way to pay bills or order items such as books, groceries, and even clothing. It is a means of communication with family, friends, individuals one would like to meet, individuals with whom one could share insights, and potential employers. Music, films, and other means of entertainment stream to our digital devices. This implies that those for whom digital technology is not available are at a disadvantage. The gap between the technology-haves and the technology-have-nots became known in the 1990s as a digital divide. The concept is nuanced; we can speak of availability or scarcity of hardware, such as personal computers (PCs) and mobile phones; of infrastructure such as cellular networks; of communications bandwidth that enables a smooth media viewing experience; of expertise in using the technology; of commitment to its use; and of engagement in the process. Some only consume information; others contribute their ideas via methods such as blogging and tweeting. Yet a better way to describe digital technology widely accessible is the goal of social inclusion, to allow all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, location, race, gender, or ability or disability, to take advantage of the benefits of modern computing and telecommunications. To have terminology that is even more evocative, we shall use the more modern and descriptive term of digital inclusion. This has been defined by the International Telecommunications Union as ‘empowering people through information and communication technologies (ICTs)’. The term ‘people’ is meant here to imply all people throughout the world. This chapter will first examine the digital divide between the haves and the have-nots (often the rich and the poor) within several nations. Examples of the benefits of digital inclusion will be cited.

scholarly journals From Digital Divide to Digital Inclusion and Beyond

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Nemer
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Multifaceted Approach ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Physical Access

This literature review examines how scholars approached issues around the digital divide and moves on to analyzing initiatives to use digital technology to decrease the inequalities that exist between groups of different socioeconomic backgrounds. The intention is to highlight some useful references that are relevant in addressing how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are used in different socioeconomic contexts. It presents references that follow several ideologies when approaching digital divide and digital inclusion. These ideologies go from providing physical access to a multifaceted approach of access that involves cognitive, economic, cultural and social factors, as well as differentiated uses of the internet.

To include, or not to include, that is the question: Disability digital inclusion and exclusion in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 4436-4452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongxuan Lin ◽  
Liu Yang ◽  
Zhi’an Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Chinese Society ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Social Mechanism ◽  
Information And Communication

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly important for people with disabilities (PWDs), suggesting digital inclusion as a possible social mechanism against the social exclusion of disability. This study suggests a more complicated relationship between ICTs and disability. Situated in a Chinese context and based on research methods of ethnographic participant observation and in-depth interviews, this study explains why and how social exclusion of disability in China leads to PWDs’ exodus to the Internet, where they find a possible habitat of digital and social inclusion notwithstanding the risk of more profound social exclusion. The study finally argues that the Internet habitat of PWDs is both a material enclave and a discourse heterotopia for understanding Chinese society, disability, and ICTs. In addition, future studies should further include PWDs in this field.

scholarly journals Bridging the digital divide for people with intellectual disability

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dany Lussier-Desrochers ◽  
Claude L. Normand ◽  
Alejandro Romero-Torres ◽  
Yves Lachapelle ◽  
Valérie Godin-Tremblay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Environmental Support ◽  
Digital Devices ◽  
Information And Communication

Recent data from several studies and surveys confirm that our society has entered the digital and information age. Some authors mention that information and communication technologies (ICT) have the potential to enhance people’s power to act and promote equal citizen participation. These elements are particularly important for people living with intellectual disability (ID). However, it seems that the use of ICT is challenging for these people and that a digital divide has gradually formed between them and the connected citizen. The general objective of this theoretical article is to identify and illustrate the dimensions that must be taken into account to promote the digital participation of people with ID. The model is based on a qualitative analysis of scientific publications using a conceptual-style matrix (Miles & Huberman, 2003). The coding categories were derived from two main sources: the accessibility pyramid and the Human Development Model - Disability Creation Process. Five challenges or conditions associated with digital inclusion were identified: access to digital devices, sensorimotor, cognitive and technical requierements and the comprehension of codes and conventions. For each one, the obstacles and facilitators identified in the literature are described. These reflections and principles led us to propose a model in the shape of a gear. The proper operation of the gear system depends on the fit between individual resources and environmental support. The model is a first step to understand the digital inclusion of people with ID.

scholarly journals Digital Inclusion without Social Inclusion: The Consumption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Homeless Subculture in Central Scotland

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire E. Buré
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Mainstream Society ◽  
Socially Excluded

This pilot study examined how homeless people in central Scotland integrate and appropriate mobile phones and the internet into their everyday lives, and the various meanings these information and communication technologies (ICTs) come to hold. It was found that ‘digital inclusion’ does not necessarily lead to ‘social inclusion’ into mainstream society, since homeless individuals tend to use ICTs in ways which reinforce the patterns and practices of their subculture – there is not a standard way of making use of technologies. Many homeless people thereby remain socially excluded in numerous ways despite their somewhat regular use of ICTs. It also emerged that mobile uptake can actually be more ‘inclusive’ than internet uptake.

scholarly journals Sociocultural Environment of the Internet: New Values and Communicative Meanings

2015 ◽  
pp. 86-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga V. Shlykova
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Society ◽  
Cultural Policy ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sociocultural Environment ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Regions Of Russia

The article discusses the phenomenon of the Internet, the dynamics of its development, and the features of cultural policy in the context of information society. A certain part of the article is dedicated to the programs of informatization and internetization of our country, programs of removal of the digital divide and providing the country with the Internet access to its cultural heritage. The author presents the results of the information readiness monitoring of several regions of Russia, the results help to reveal the threats concerned with the globalization and with the implementation of information and communication technologies as well as to open the prospects and trends for future development of the Electronic Russia and the culture of “new opportunities”. The article’s publications review covers more than 50 sources. There are monographs, textbooks, dissertation abstracts, which allows to see who and how explores the new reality.

scholarly journals Too Old For Technology? How The Elderly Of Lisbon Use And Perceive ICT

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bárbara Barbosa Neves ◽  
Fausto Amaro
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Stratified Sample ◽  
Information And Communication

The elderly have traditionally been an excluded group in the deployment of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Even though their use of ICT is increasing, there is still a significant age-based digital divide. To empower elderly people’s usage of ICT we need to look at their patterns of usage and perceptions. To understand how Portugal’s elderly (65 and above) use and perceive mobile phones, computers and the Internet, we surveyed a random stratified sample of 500 individuals over 64 years of age, living in Lisbon. Of those surveyed, 72% owned a mobile phone, 13% used computers, and 10% used the Internet. The quantitative data was followed-up by ten qualitative (semi-structured) interviews. The implications of the results are discussed herein.   Keywords: Elderly, Aging, ICT, Ageism, Digital Divide, Mobile phones, Computers, Internet, Portugal, “faux users”

Perusing E-Readiness and Digital Divide

2013 ◽  
pp. 313-346
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Hanafizadeh ◽  
Payam Hanafizadeh ◽  
Abbas Saghaei
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Tremendous Importance

With the advent and evolution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in general, the Internet, in particular, throughout the world, new terms such as “information society,” “digital divide,” and “e-readiness” were added to terminologies. Due to the rapid diffusion of the Internet in different aspects of human life, these concepts have attracted many scholars, practitioners, and policy-makers. In addition to much academic research done in these fields, nearly all countries have assessed their e-readiness and compared their digital divide with that of other countries, at least once. Consequently, there have been numerous e-readiness and digital divide models oriented towards certain objectives in recent years. The findings show (1) tremendous importance of the digital divide and e-readiness and (2) their complex and multi-faceted natures. Thus, effective examination and development of digital divide and e-readiness research requires a foundation in several rich literatures. Examining the e-readiness and digital divide literature in terms of their definitions and methodologies, in the current chapter, their strengths and weaknesses were recognized. Moreover, after an extensive literature survey, an integrated model was proposed for assessing e-readiness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can be used as the basis and standard for developing comprehensive models and frameworks in these enterprises. Finally, this chapter contributes to scarce literature on e-readiness/digital divide at micro level and creates additional pool of resources that practitioners and theorists could use to further enrich and extend their analysis of this construct.

scholarly journals Digital Divide: Have’s and Have Not’s

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-515
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Internet Age ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Different Levels

In the era of internet age each individual has an ample opportunity to access the information. But, the researchers had found inequalities in accessing the internet in terms of access of the devices, skills and tangible outcomes. This research had been carried out to elaborate the concept of the digital divide along with its different levels. It discusses on social and economic development opportunities because the digital divide is evolving from those have access, to use, to outcomes. Some people can use computers, mobile devices, the Internet, and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) and get benefitted from it. The present research will be giving the holistic view of digital divide which will help the researchers to understand the digital divide and encourage them to study on digital divide with respect to the different levels in developed and developing countries.

scholarly journals Exclusão / Inclusão: elementos para uma discussão | Exclusion/inclusion: elements for a debate

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseilda Sampaio Souza ◽  
Maria Helena Silveira Bonilla
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
De Se ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Meaning Attribution

Resumo O contexto contemporâneo é marcado pela presença das tecnologias da informação e comunicação, o que potencializam a circulação de informações, a comunicação, novas formas de trabalhar, se relacionar, de aprender e de construir conhecimento. Daí decorre a necessidade de apropriação e uso dessas tecnologias, de se pensar processos de significação, aprendizagem, cidadania, produção de cultura e conhecimento. Assim,  tomando como referência alguns conceitos mapeados relacionados à inclusão digital, buscamos pontuar definir tais conceitos na perspectiva de diferentes autores, de forma a trazer elementos para discussão das questões que perpassam este tema considerado tão complexo.  Palavras-chave Exclusão / inclusão digital, inclusão social, alfabetização digital, acesso e cidadaniaAbstract Our contemporary context is marked by the presence of information and communication technologies, which increase the potential of the the flow of information, communication, new ways of working, to relate, to learn and build knowledge. The need follows for appropriation and use of these technologies, as well as for thinking about processes of meaning attribution, learning, citizenship, culture and production of knowledge. Thus, we refer to some concepts mapped related to digital inclusion, from the perspective of different authors, in order to provide elements for discussion of the issues that permeate this complex subject.Keywords Exclusion / digital inclusion, social inclusion, digital literacy, access and citizenship

The Internet, Black Identity, and the Evolving Discourse of the Digital Divide

2010 ◽  
pp. 260-276
Author(s):  
Lynette Kvasny ◽  
Kayla D. Hales
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Black Identity ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Discussion Forum ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
A Site

In this chapter, we examine how people of African descent are using an online discussion forum as a site for interrogating the existential question of “who am I?” Contrary to the typical formulations of the digital divide as a measure of disparity in access to information and communication technologies (ICTs), we make a case for how and why ICTs are being effectively used to enable and advance the interests of people who have historically been marginalized and silenced. The contributions of this research extend the digital divide discourse to affirm the cultural realities of diverse Internet users.

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