The digital divide

The 'Digital Divide' is the term given to the gap that forms between countries, or societies due to their access to technologies - like the internet. The digital divide can be seen in our culture where access to fast broadband is evident in urban areas but is unavailable in some rural zones. However, the digital divide is more obvious when looking globally. This divide is prominent between First World countries and Third World countries. It is easy for us to take for granted the technology we have. We have enough technology in our Westernised culture to even have an entire course available to study New Media. It is hard to imagine a society where Internet or mobile phones sound simply a myth and a luxury never to be had.

This weeks tutorial reading by Brian Winston discusses the project 'One Laptop per Child'. The project originated from a man called Nicholas Negroponte and his focus was to bring affordable laptops to Third World countries to aid in their education. He wished to address this digital divide and to lessen the gap. Though naturally the arguement arises whether the focus should rather be on the more immediate and essential problems of living before mini laptops are considered for the childrens learning advantage.

Many may think the access to information via the internet is increasingly being seen as a basic human right. In many ways it is becoming a more needful source. Those who don't have it are disadvantaged. But i believe Third World countries could benefit much more greatly if this amount of money were put toward more dire problems such as food, water, shelter and clean toilet facilities. 'One Laptop per Child' seems to be much less urgent in comparison to these pressing issues that are in need of more vital help. Poverty can surely not be helped by laptops, yet.