Give an example of how the digital divide is a potential problem in each of the following areas:
- Education: Digital advances can do wonders for education but will do nothing for those students who can not afford a computer. Resources on-line have almost become unlimited, but if you can't access the internet, they do no good. Take example of the school that paid a whole bunch of money to finance a new computer lab, but then had no one to teach it. The computers ended up collecting dust, and went to no good. The great thing about textbooks is that you can take them anywhere with you, and a lot of times, schools provide them for their students. These books are a LOT less expensive then providing computers the students. If a teacher puts material on-line, and some students are able to access it, and some aren't, then it puts those students at a disadvantage because they are losing out.
- Government- The government has been trying to simplify some processes by putting forms and information on the web. Again we see the divide, because many people can not afford either a computer and/or internet access. Much of the information on the web can greatly benefit the poor, or unemployed; however, many people do not know that this information even exists. This perpetually furthers the metaphor of the wealthy not needing but gaining, and the poor needing and suffering.
- health- There has been a lot of information put on the internet concerning health. This material includes: dieting, disease, medications, infections, etc. People can easily look up what illness they have by searching the internet with their symptoms. There are also many sites that talk about which foods to eat, and which not to eat, and what foods can be dangerous. The people who can't access the web miss out on this plethora of information. For example, they may have an illness but because they know that it would cost too much money to visit the doctor unless it was an emergency, they won't do anything about it. If they had internet access, they could easily see if they should be going to the ER immediately or not. This would save them time and money, but because they don't have the money, they end up suffering.
- Entertainment- A lot of information containing showtimes, movie information, and other various information exists on the web. A disadvantage to not having internet would be that people couldn't look up showtimes or see what a movie was about. They could always buy a newspaper, but that would be an inconvenience, and sometimes hard to do depending on what area you live in, and if they have the right kind of newspaper. Also, the people who don't have access to the internet can not order movies on-line. Because of this, they are forced to pay more at video rental stores because they are themselves struggling to survive against the web.
- work- There has been huge problems with the advancement of technology in the workplace. Technology is starting to take the jobs of unskilled workers, such as check out clerks at grocery stores. The fact that anyone can ring up their item, greatly lowers the need for these clerks. Also, by blockbuster and netflix putting all of their movies on-line, there is no longer the need for video rental stores. The downside to the internet is that many people are losing their jobs because virtually everything can be sold on-line and shipped.
