The Digital Divide (Wysocki Told Me To: Post #2)

For many of us it is hard to think of our lives without technology. Think about it. When was the last time you spent a day without your cell phone, laptop, iPad, iPod, etc? How much would our lives change without the ease and speed of gathering information from the internet?

For many, this is the case. There are entire areas in the world that have little to no access to the technologies we take for granted. In the United States, 40 percent of homes do not have broadband, 30 percent of these homes are in areas where internet is not available at all. (Survey: 40 percent in U.S. have no broadband)


There are many factors contributing to the lack of technology usage such as: demographics, age, gender, race and employment status. According to The Digital Nation, research results published by the NTIA,

"Persons with high incomes, those who are younger, Asians and Whites, the more highly-educated, married couples, and the employed tend to have higher rates of broadband use at home. Conversely, persons with low incomes, seniors, minorities, the less-educated, non-family households, and the non-employed tend to lag behind other groups in home broadband use."

The lack of internet usage and availability in these areas is attracting the attention of many organizations and political figures/campaigns. The technologies these areas are lacking effects their education and job opportunities, along with their social and political awareness.

"One key to strengthening education, entrepreneurship, and innovation in communities… is to harness the full power of the Internet, and that means faster and more widely available broadband."
   -President Barack Obama, September 21, 2009, in Troy New York

The Digital Divide, the gap between people with effective access to information technologies and those with limited to no access, needs to be closed. The benefits are not only for those who would be getting access, but it would eventually effect the nation.

"Widespread access is critical to America’s future as the world’s economic leader because of its impact on increasing our productivity, global competitiveness, and improving Americans’ quality of life – through economic growth and development, job creation, national security, telemedicine, distance learning, public safety, civic engagement, and telework."
    -The Digital Nation, NTIA.