scholarly journals Government Public Access Centres (PACs): A beacon of hope for marginalised communities

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Corrie Uys ◽  
Shaun Pather
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Access Point ◽  
Public Access ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Value Proposition ◽  
Policy Perspective ◽  
Computing Services ◽  
Average User

Notwithstanding massive injections into broadband infrastructure, large sectors of the world’s population remain without access to the internet.  One of the strategies employed by Government and the private sector to address the digital divide has been to provide basic computing services and internet access to communities in the form of public access centres (PACs) or otherwise known as telecentres.  Over the years PAC related interventions have been subjected to much introspection, and critique, given a number of examples of failures.  This paper examines a PAC program in South Africa which has been running with success for ten years.   The paper reports on a study which includes data collected from more than two thousand four hundred users of PACs.  The findings provide critical insights into the value proposition of PACs for communities in impoverished areas and whether this is still relevant from a policy perspective to tackle the digital divide.  The findings also provide insights into the profile of users; the factors which impact on their choice of a PAC as an internet access point; and the extent to which there is a reliance on PACs.  The most revealing finding from the study indicates that PACS provided the average user with something more than just an internet access point.  The study has determined that PACs have a significant effect on the hopefulness a citizen has for his or her self, community and country. 

The Digital Divide and K-12 Student Computer Use

10.28945/2926 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
James N. Morgan ◽  
Craig A. VanLengen
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Computer Use ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Limited Basis ◽  
K 12 ◽  
The Impact

The divide between those who have computer and Internet access and those who do not appears to be narrowing, however overall statistics may be misleading. Measures of computer availability in schools often include cases where computers are only available for administration or are available only on a very limited basis (Gootman, 2004). Access to a computer and the Internet outside of school helps to reinforce student learning and emphasize the importance of using technology. Recent U.S. statistics indicate that ethnic background and other demographic characteristics still have substantial impact on the availability and use of computers by students outside of the classroom. This paper examines recent census data to determine the impact of the household on student computer use outside of the classroom. Encouragingly, the findings of this study suggest that use of a computer at school substantially increases the chance that a student will use a computer outside of class. Additionally, this study suggests that computer use outside of the classroom is positively and significantly impacted by being in a household with adults who either use a computer at work or work in an industry where computers are extensively used.

Norwel Equipment Co. Limited Partnership (L.P.) Internet Upgrade

2011 ◽  
pp. 179-195
Author(s):  
Kenneth R. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Internet Access ◽  
The United States ◽  
Construction Equipment ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Limited Partnership ◽  
Computing Services ◽  
Heavy Equipment ◽  
Internet Connections ◽  
E Mail

Norwel Equipment Co. Limited Partnership (L.P.) is a Louisiana business retailer of construction equipment specializing in John Deere heavy-equipment and has secured exclusive John Deere rights for most of the State of Louisiana. Founded in 1972, Norwel is the sixth largest John Deere construction equipment dealer in the United States. This case illustrates business and technology issues facing Norwel. In mid-1999, the October 1st deadline for John Deeres requirement to communicate by e-mail was approaching and the response time of the Norwels primary computers system, an AS/400, was increasing to the point where users were not satisfied with performance. Also users were requesting new computing services such as e-mail, document sharing, and Internet access. For example, the Parts Operations Manger suggested selling parts online and the Manager of the Used Equipment Division suggest supporting the sales staff through Internet connections. Managing Partner, Richard Hevey decided an upgrade to the networks and a connection to the Internet were needed. He is faced with both short-term and long-term decisions about Norwels infrastructure.

Global Digital Divide, Global Justice, Cultures, and Epistemology

2011 ◽  
pp. 37-50
Author(s):  
Soraj Hongladarom
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Social Epistemology ◽  
Global Justice ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Social Good ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Digital Divide

The problem of global digital divide, namely disparity in Internet access and use among the various regions of the world, is a growing concern. Even though, according to some reports, the gap is getting narrower, this does not mean that the problem is disappearing, because the problem does not just consist in getting more people to become “wired,” so to speak. This chapter investigates the various relationships among the global digital divide, global justice, cultures and epistemology. Very briefly stated, not getting access to the Internet constitutes an injustice because the access is a social good that can lead to various other goods. Furthermore, as information technology is a second-order technology, one that operates on meaning bearing symbols, access to the technology is very much an issue of social epistemology, an attempt to find out the optimal way to distribute knowledge across the social and cultural domains.

scholarly journals Solar-Supplied Satellite Internet Access Point for the Internet of Things in Remote Areas

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1409
Author(s):  
Angus Wong ◽  
Yan Tai Chow
Keyword(s):  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Access Point ◽  
Satellite Communications ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Wireless Technology ◽  
Internet Connectivity ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
The Internet Of Things

As satellite communications provide ubiquitous coverage, they play a key role in providing Internet connectivity in remote or marginalized areas, so as to enable the vision of a truly global connectivity of the Internet of Things (IoT). However, these areas often lack reliable electricity supply. Thus, this paper proposes a satellite internet access point powered by solar energy, so that a stable Internet connection can be provided. The access point provides Wi-Fi coverage so that sensors, IoT, and devices can connect to the access point using the Wi-Fi, a common wireless technology. Our design took some cost-saving measures to make it affordable and selected the components that require minimal maintenance operations. The satellite access point costs about USD $500, and can provide four days of Internet connectivity without solar energy.

Determinants of Digital Divide in Africa and Policy Implications

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-79
Author(s):  
Stephen Kwamena Aikins
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
The Internet ◽  
International Telecommunication Union ◽  
International Telecommunication

This article investigates the reasons most African households are not using the internet and discusses the policy implications for bridging the digital divide. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reports that at the end of 2014, only 7 percent of households in LDCs, most of whom are in Africa, had Internet access. This study analyses data from the ITU database and other sources to identify the determinants of the digital divide in Africa. Results show that peculiar challenges such as affordability and digital literacy do influence the percentage of African households who do not use the internet.

``Town Hall" Meetings for the Masses or ``Social Clubs" for the Motivated? - A Study of Citizens' Discussions on the Internet

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Strandberg
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Discussion Boards ◽  
Reinforcement Theory ◽  
Social Clubs ◽  
Mobilization Theory ◽  
New Form ◽  
The Masses

The growth of the Internet during the last decade has resulted in much scholarly attention. Supporters of the optimistic mobilization-theory argue that cyber politics and cyber discussions are comparable and sometimes even superior to traditional politics. Moreover this new form of politics has the potential of mobilizing new citizens into the realm of politics. Critics, however, argue from a reinforcement perspective that the effects of cyber politics are utterly limited. Even in a utopia with the digital divide in Internet access abolished, reinforcement proponents argue that politics on the internet still only appeals to the politically "converted" citizens. In this study I focus on six Finnish electronic discussion boards. The main question asked is whether these electronic debates display traits of either the mobilization or the reinforcement theory. Is cyber politics mobilizing the masses or do the discussions resemble social clubs for the motivated?

scholarly journals Internet Access as an Independent Human Right: a Palpable Consequence of the Covid-19 Pandemic?

2021 ◽  
pp. 82-97
Author(s):  
Kunal Bilaney ◽  
Gauri Thampi
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
World Order ◽  
Public Access ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Individual Rights ◽  
New World Order ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
State Responses

The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic has established a new world order which is heavily reliant upon the internet for public access to health, education, employment, and recreation among other services. Furthermore, the growing dependence on technology has also been crucial in the battle against the pandemic. However, despite the irreplaceable utility of the technology, state practices have remained divergent in this field. While a multitude of nations have recognized internet access as a fundamental right, many nations imposed unjustified restrictions on their citizens during the pandemic and some even failed to provide affordable access to internet facilities, which has proven to be detrimental to the realisation of basic individual rights. As the world makes a transition from a pandemic, the intensifying reliance upon the internet has given rise to a need to recognise access to the internet as an independent human right. In light of the above, the present paper seeks to elucidate how access to the internet has emerged as a necessity in the backdrop of a pandemic and examine how the differing state responses in this context have been violating individual rights. The paper also delves into how internet access is being dealt with under the existing international and domestic regime. Further, the authors attempt to philosophically justify a human right to internet access and politically conceptualise the same, and argue in favour of recognition of internet access as an independent human right under international law.

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 The Digital Divide And Job Stability During The Great Recession

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Sumati Srinivas
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Great Recession ◽  
Computer Use ◽  
Job Loss ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Policy Objective ◽  
The Great Recession

Researchers and policy makers have identified the existence of a Digital Divide in the United States, between those who have access to the internet and technology in general, and those who do not. Most research into the relationship between the access to technology and labor market outcomes has revolved around on-the-job computer use and the extent to which it determines wages. Using a nationally representative dataset, this study looks instead at access to the internet at home prior to the Great Recession, and examines whether this is significantly related to job loss during the Great Recession. The results of this analysis indicate that internet access prior was a stronger predictor of job loss during the Great Recession than on-the-job computer use. With recent data that internet access levels in the United States may have plateaued for certain sections of the population, this finding has broad implications for both workers and employers, and lends urgency to the policy objective of expanding internet access.

Overcoming the Digital Divide

2011 ◽  
pp. 1578-1584
Author(s):  
Al P. Mizell ◽  
Cecil Sugarman
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Income Levels ◽  
Information Tracking ◽  
Education And Employment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The U.S

We all know that technology has become a dominant force in today’s society for people of all ages. However, certain elements of society have less access to technology than others. In the literature, discussions and research on these discrepancies tend to focus on factors such as gender, sex, socioeconomic status, race, education, and employment. Occasionally, age is taken into consideration. In reviewing online articles related to the digital divide, it appears that there are many more articles, reports, and projects that focus on factors other than age. Few looked at the impact of the digital divide on senior citizens. One article, “The Internet and Older Adults” (U.S. Administration on Aging, 2004), reports that: Senior citizens comprise 13% of the U.S. population, but just 4% of the U.S. Internet population. Since their numbers are so small, there has not been much research about what these ‘wired seniors’ are doing online and how they feel about the Internet. It turns out that seniors who have Internet access benefit greatly from the resources available online—communicating with family, researching health information, tracking their investments—all from the comfort of their home or senior center. (paragraph 2) The term “digital divide” is often heard and freely used, but what is it? It has been defined by Carvin (2000) as: “…the gap between those people and communities with access to information technology and those without it. Yet, the fact is there are many divides, characterized by community, ethnic, economic, and age groups.” He goes on to add that “households earning incomes over $75,000 are over 20 times more likely to have home Internet access than those at the lowest income levels” (Carvin, 2000, paragraph 1).

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