The Global Impact of the Digital Divide

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The Global Impact of the Digital Divide

History and Background

According to Fabian Koss, the “Digital Divide” as it has come to be known, is the gap between individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels and their opportunities to access information and communication technologies. This divide is most prolific in developing countries, along with rural areas, reservations, and areas of high minority populations in the US. The digital divide is a relatively new term in the technology world. It came about in the mid 1990’s when the Commerce Department began to notice disparities in modem ownership and usage among US households. However the digital divide has a much larger realm of impact than just in the US. Many reasons exist why this issue is of severe importance to current and future generations across the world.

When analyzing the digital divide several key points need to be made. The infrastructure that needs to be present in order to have a successful network of information technology is not available to all people. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the basis for the technologically advanced society. It is of main importance to understand that knowledgeable and well-trained people in this area are the key to a highly skilled working society.

Fiber-optic wiring provides the fastest connection times, and high speed capabilities, this is also known as broadband technology. Broadband technology is not available in all areas. It is mostly centralized to high-income, and business areas that are capable of paying higher costs for the advanced technology. Rural and lower-income areas are not receiving these same capabilities as o...

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...the extent of knowledge and high-skilled training one has received. If a large part of society is not up to date with these two areas the workforce available will not suited for the particular needs of a highly technological private sector.

Works Cited

[1] Conhaim, Wallys, W. The Global Digital Divide. Informtation Today, Jul/Aug 2001.

Search Premier EBSCO Publishing. (AN 4770357)

[2] Falling Through the Net. 5 Dec 2001. http://digitaldivide.gov

[3] Koch, Kathy. Digital Divide. The CQ Researcher, 28 Jan 2000.

[4] Koss, Fabian. Children Falling into the Digital Divide. Journal of International

Affairs, Fall2001. Academic Search Premier EBSCO Publishing. (AN 53555490)

[5] Natinoal Telecommunications and Information Association. Index of Charts and

Tables. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fttn00/chartscontents.html

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