Digital Inequality

Presentation
By: Kim Hefty, Angie Kruzich, Tyler Zunker,
Rashell Clarke

Digital Divide vs Digital Inequality

Digital Divide refers to the gap that exists between those who
have access to technology and those who do not
Digital Inequality refers to inequalities that exists among
various groups in society that affect their technology access
and use. These factors are:
o Equipment
o Autonomy of Use
o Skills
o Social Support
o Use Pattern

Importance of Addressing Digital

Inequality
Digital inequality influences social inequality
"Washington is an information enigma. Some of the nation's
leading digital-technology companies are headquartered in
and around Seattle, yet vast areas of the state are starved of
local news. ...In short, Washington is a digital state with a
rural information ghetto." (Washington state, Seattle Times)

Scenario:
We, the Digital Inequality Task Force, have been hired by the
Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Randy
Dorn. He has been given a special allocation of $50M to address
digital inequalities in the state of Washington, and he wants us,
the Task Force, to consider several options.

Ideas for Addressing Digital

Inequality
Install computers in public libraries
Expand staffing and resources in public schools
Provide computers to individuals in disadvantaged
communities
Provide high-speed Internet and mobile access to all
residents
Provide low-cost Internet access to all residents
Provide information literacy courses to residents
Develop free online educational content to the public

Alternative Ideas
Provide support and/or create Internet cafes"
Create mobile computer centers

#1 Recommendation

Expand staffing and other resources so that public schools

can be open to the public after normal school hours, on
weekends, and during the summer months.

Reasoning:
According to Bernard, three factors that are vital to leveling
the digital "playing field," involve addressing:
Availability of the devices themselves
Accessibility of the technology at hand
Literacy

#2 Recommendation

Install computers in all public libraries in the state and

expand the hours when the computers are available.

Reasoning:
Although this option provides the technology and expands
hours so the technology is available to the public, it does not
include funding for support staff to provide literacy education
to those who need it.

#3 Recommendation

Provide high-speed Internet and mobile access for all state

residents

Reasoning:
This option provides the technology and accessibility but
lacks funding for literacy education.

#4 Recommendation
Create mobile computer centers
Reasoning:
This option provides the technology but lacks funding for
literacy education and technology accessibility.

#5 Recommendation
Provide information literacy courses to enhance computer
skills and enable knowledgeable use of digital technologies.
Reasoning:
This option only addresses one vital factor for closing the
digital gap: literacy education.

#6 Recommendation
Subsidize Internet Service Providers to provide low-cost
Internet to all state residents.
Reasoning:
This option is ranked 6th because it only addresses one
factor for closing the digital gap: technology accessibility.

#7 Recommendation
Provide individuals in disadvantaged communities with
computers
Reasoning:
This option is ranked 7th because it only provides the
technology. It does address technology accessibility or
literacy education.

#8 Recommendation

Develop free online educational content, giving first priority to

content most relevant to lower socio-economic groups before
content that is relevant to the rest of the public.

Reasoning:
This option only addresses literacy education. However,
education requires technology availability and accessibility,
which the funding does not allow for.

#9 Recommendation
Provide support and/or create Internet cafes in urban and
rural areas open 24/7 at no cost to those who qualify, and
minimal cost to general public who can afford.
Reasoning:
This option is ranked last because it only addresses
technology accessibility.

Conclusion
Closing the digital divide is critical for society as a whole. We need to
encourage those digitally unequal to improve their skills with
technology and increase their knowledge of all things digital. As our
society becomes more dependent on technology those without the
skills to access data or utilize data will have to be assisted. Society will
need to create a system to provide assistance and to effectively deal
with inequalities of digital learning and education. Those without the
ability to utilize technology will suffer compared to those with these
privileges. The longer society waits to address this issue, the harder it
will be to close the gap
.
As Cooper stated, ...digital technologies change society very quickly.
The ability to participate and prosper in the new economy will be
severely restricted if a household is cut off from technology for more
than a decade (Cooper, 2004, pg 13).

References
Bernard, S. (n.d.). Crossing the Digital Divide: Bridges and Barriers to Digital Inclusion.
Edutopia. Retrieved from
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-divide-technology-access-inclusion
Cooper, M. (2004). Expanding the digital divide and falling behind in broadband.
Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union, October. Retrieved from
http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/digitaldivide.pdf
Hargittai, E. (2003). The digital divide and what to do about it. New Economy Handbook,
821-839.
Retrieved from http://www.eszter.com/research/pubs/hargittai-digitaldivide.pdf
Kang, S. & Pamukcu, A. (2009). Digital inequality: Information poverty in the information
age. The Greenlining Report, Retrieved from
http://greenlining.org/resources/pdfs/digitalinequality.pdf
Washington states rural information ghettos. (n.d.).The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 5,
2012, from
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2018445689_guest18pintak.html