Global Divide

Digital Divide


The Digital Divide refers to the automatic and easily recognized contrasts between different groups. This refers to whether or not they have access to the knowledge of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) or even if they can use the information. The Digital Divide is withing different countries and would consist of individuals, households, businesses and geographical areas.

There are three main Digital Divides: Global, Local and Bridging. I will be talking about these three in more detail.


Rich and Poor


This literally is the statement that you either have money, or you don't and so that you therefore do not have the technology. This is the main divide, this is because without having money to buy the technology you simply can't afford it and the latest technology is increasing in price because it is so high tech.


Urban and Rural


Urban - "the urban popularity"
Rural - "remote rural areas"


This basically mean that you live on the country side or in the city. And dependent on this you will be more likely to have internet connection. If you live in the country you will be likely to have bad WiFi reception whereas if you were to live in the country you would be likely to have a relatively good WiFi reception, this is because in the city they are more developed and it is expected to have internet connection.


Educated and Uneducated


This is the statement of whether or not you are educated with technology or not. The majority of the country will be highly likely to be 'educated' this is because we have grown up with the usage of the internect so we have become acustomed to the technology. However if you live in a county that having a WiFi connection is not likely then you will be labeled 'uneducated' as you do not know you're way around a computer.


Global Divide


The "global digital divide" is essentially a geographical division. The digital divide is a term used to describe the differences that countries have which either have access to the internet, or don’t.There are three main global divides which are: rich and poor, urban and rural and educated and uneducated.


Examples of Global Divide would be things such as:

• Internet Cafes
• Mobile Phones
• ECommerce
• Shipping Goods

All of these things will be found in the UK and will in fact be an expected thing and we would take all of these things for granted as we have had these things for years. However there are countries that are not accustomed to things such things as they do not have the facilities or the money to do so. However the servers in which we need when we are using computer technologies are situated in India.

Local Divide

The Local Divide is referring to the speed of the internet and the comparisons across the country meaning that in the same country there will be people who will have a better and faster connection than someone else, who is in the same country. As well as the speed of internet comparisons the Local Divide also refers to the resources you have as some people will be able to afford a higher priced piece of technology whereas another might only be able to afford a standard piece of technology, if any at all.

Because technology is increasingly being used, for simple tasks such as homework, it is extremely important to have a computer as well as an internet connection because a lot of homework now-a-days, will be set and the resources that the pupils will need will be found on the internet, so without the use of the internet simple tasks such as homework won't be able to be done. Where some people will only be able to afford a computer and a stable dial up connection there are people who will earn a lot more who are able to afford a laptop as well as a WiFi, which would enable them to be portable when working, whereas if you have a computer and a dial up you would have to stay in one place, other wise you will lose your connection.

Advantages of the Local Divide:

• The ways in which people used to find out information will still be used
• We wouldn't become dependent on technology

Disadvantages of the Local Divide:

• We are becoming dependent on technology
• Because people don't earn enough they don't get the chance to use the technologies
• A divide is formed simply because you don't earn enough

I am lucky enough to go to a school that has been funded so that it can become an IT school. This has enables be to become accustomed to using technology, especially as the subject that i do are very computer based subjects, without the use of technology i wouldn't be able to do the simple tasks that i do, including homework. 

Roughly, my school has 800 computers which the pupils within the school are able to use and do in many of their lessons. Technology is always changing and we are constantly having to keep up to date with the latest updates. If you don't keep up to date with the latest technology you will soon become computer illiterate and will not be able to use the technology.

Bridging The Divide

Because there are people who aren't up to scratch with technology there are people who chose to help them, to become up to scratch with technology, to enable them to get computers and even just to help them learn how to use computers. My school has recently sent off computers which used to be used in my school to Africa as they are a county who are computer illiterate as they have not got the chance to learn how to use computers.

Tesco Vouchers

In recent years the supermarkets such as Tescos have been giving out computer vouchers which your school will collect and they will then be able to get more computers. The way in which this works is that when you spend over a certain amount in Tescos you get vouchers. The way in which the Tescos i shopped gave out a voucher for every £10 pounds you spent. This helped out schools that could not afford to get computers and helped to bridge the gap.

Outreach

Outreach is held at St Phillips church in Sherwood, they offer a once a week course which is free and the they would be given the choice of what they wanted to do. The majority of the people there would do things ranging from using word to using photoshop and movie maker. Outreach was created that people of all ages could get help using computers however the people that go are not students or people in education. All of the people that go to outreach are computer illiterate so going to this course also helps to bridge the gap and give a chance for everyone to use technology to the best of their ability.