Darci Chapman: Digital Divide

The Myth of Generation N

Wed, 29 Oct 2003 05:45:02 GMT

http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/wo_garfinkel080803.asp?p=0

"[Commentary] Columnist Simson Garfinkel challenges what he calls the myth of "universal computer competence among young people." While Generation "Net" is more tech-savvy than its predecessors, millions of kids are still not "wired." According to Garfinkel, these kids risk falling behind much faster than their elders. He cites research from the Pew Foundation, which found that 26 percent of young adults do not have Internet access. The educational divide is even more striking: Only 23 percent of people who did not graduate from high school have access, compared with 82 percent of those who have graduated from college. Garfinkel is concerned that today's society is making things increasingly difficult for people who aren't online. He believes that the problem won't be solved through more education or federal grants. "As a society, we need to come to terms with the fact that a substantial number of people, young and old alike, will never go online. We need to figure out how we will avoid making life unbearable for them," he writes. SOURCE: Technology Review; AUTHOR: Simson Garfinkel"

Two Reports on the Digital Divide

Wed, 29 Oct 2003 05:42:43 GMT

CPB Report Shows Surge in Internet Use Among Underserved Children http://www.cpb.org/programs/pr.php?prn=314

"According to the study, parents play an important role in their childrens use of the Internet, with a majority of parents of children ages 2 to 17 and children ages 6 to 17 agreeing that parents have knowledge of and influence over childrens online activities. To a striking extent (86 percent), parents perception of their role is as a guide to good Internet content rather than as a watchdog over their childrens use."

E-Government for All

Mon, 27 Oct 2003 18:08:34 GMT

Announcing E-Government for All

A Virtual Conference on E-Government and the Digital Divide November 3-14, 2003

Issues to be covered at the conference:

E-government best practices
Access to government information, services and decisionmaking
Latest research from leading experts
Citizen's panel: underserved community experiences with e-government
Government website accessibility
E-government and importance of 21st century skills
International perspectives of e-government
And more!

Internet Use by Region in the United States

Sun, 31 Aug 2003 07:17:53 GMT

This looks to be a fascinating report; need to file away for future use regarding issues around the "Digital Divide."

Internet Use by Region in the United States. This Pew & The Internet Report has been making the rounds. The Pew Internet & American Life Project has tracked the growth of Internet usage in the United States, from just under half of American adults in 2000 to about 59% of adults at the end of 2002. These statistics have continually shown that Internet penetration in the United States has been and continues to be uneven. We have discussed in other reports why this growth has not been evenly distributed among those in various racial and ethnic groups, those of various ages, and among those with different levels of education and income. This report explores the reasons behind the uneven distribution of Internet penetration by geographical region. And it looks at variations in use of the Internet by region. The following table outlines the disparities in Internet penetration among 12 regions of the country in 2002. (California is considered separately because Internet access and use vary dramatically from neighboring states.) [LISNews.com]