Purchase Solution

Is the digital divide a major issue within the United States

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Is the digital divide a major issue within the United States or across the globe? If so, what are the solutions and the roles that should be played by IT professionals and their companies? These are the questions asked of us for this module. First, it was important for me to get a clear definition of the "Digital Divide". From the numerous sources I found, the common definition was a separation if those who can use and access information and communications technology (ICT) to gain educational, social, governmental and economic benefits, and those who do not have access, or cannot use this technology for one reason or another. (Peters, 2003) In the next few pages I plan on pulling everything together from what I have researched to give you my opinion on whether or not the digital divide is real, and if so, what role the IT community can take, what are the solutions, and how big of a problem it is in our country and around the world.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

Although the "digital divide" is an issue globally as well as here at home, it's easy to see that it is at very different stages depending on where you look. Our country is more "connected" as an infrastructure, so it's easier to give the technology to those who can use it and need it ... whereas those remote areas of the world that do not have the physical infrastructure to support a lot of the digital technology need more help from the governments and bigger industries that can afford to give more away. I truly believe that until we get more dependent on satellite technology that doesn't rely on a "wired" infrastructure, progress will take some time in the hard to reach corners of the world. But once we get there, I do believe that friendly competition between large technological companies will drive prices down, making the digital divide become ever smaller.

Solution Preview

Is the digital divide a major issue within the United States or across the globe? If so, what are the solutions and the roles that should be played by IT professionals and their companies? These are the questions asked of us for this module. First, it was important for me to get a clear definition of the "Digital Divide". From the numerous sources I found, the common definition was a separation if those who can use and access information and communications technology (ICT) to gain educational, social, governmental and economic benefits, and those who do not have access, or cannot use this technology for one reason or another. (Peters, 2003) In the next few pages I plan on pulling everything together from what I have researched to give you my opinion on whether or not the digital divide is real, and if so, what role the IT community can take, what are the solutions, and how big of a problem it is in our country and around the world.

The most important part of this paper is to determine whether or not there is something called the digital divide. And the answer, in my mind, is very simply, yes. From the definition above, in part, there is a digital divide or separation of the ICT haves and have-nots across the United States and the world. However, I don't believe that in every locale are all the benefits available, or even applicable to specific populations. For example, in the United States, I believe the benefits of online education are huge. That is probably the single most deciding factor of determining an individual's income in this country. Those lacking any formal advanced education (college) seem to have a larger chance of falling below the poverty line than those who continue on after high school. The availability of online schooling allows those who rely heavily on full time employment to pay their day-to-day bills, to attend college classes in a more flexible fashion that better meets their personal schedules, relieving ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
IPOs

This Quiz is compiled of questions that pertain to IPOs (Initial Public Offerings)

Motivation

This tests some key elements of major motivation theories.

Operations Management

This quiz tests a student's knowledge about Operations Management

Change and Resistance within Organizations

This quiz intended to help students understand change and resistance in organizations

Production and cost theory

Understanding production and cost phenomena will permit firms to make wise decisions concerning output volume.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Bridging digital divide in the United States

    Please provide a brief explaination. Is the digital divide a major problem inside the United States? Is the digital divide a major problem around the world?

  • Digital Divide

    Because the digital divide in an international issue, there is more to look at than just technology. Other factors do come into play, such as economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, and political and cultural issues.

  • E-Commerce: Digital Divide, Opt-in and Opt-out

    251168 E-Commerce: Digital Divide, Opt-in and Opt-out What is the "digital divide"? What is "opt-in" and "opt-out"? 1. What is the "digital divide"?

  • Digital Crimes and Terrorism

    531783 Digital Crimes and Terrorism Discuss the topics of digital crime and digital terrorism. Describe how the issue has evolved or been altered over its lifespan. Identify the cause theories associated with digital crime and digital terrorism.

  • Digital Divide in Math

    The Digital Divide in Math is explicated from a personal viewpoint and teaching point.

  • Information Highway

    132361 Information Highway While reciprocal dependency and information common are phenomenon that needs consideration for those who have access to the "information highway" of the Internet, "digital divide" describe the potential issue that there is a

  • Verizon

    The major market for Verizon, ie, United States is a large telecom market, however, affected due to ongoing slowdown and recession in the economy. The organization that I will be writing about is Verizon.

  • Shariah's law

    According to Newt Gingrich "Shariah is a mortal threat to the survival of freedom in the United States and in the world as we know it" (Stern, 2011, para.2).

  • Digital Divide: Ethical Issues in Social Networking

    578715 Digital Divide case study Just looking for one or two paragraphs for each question to get a discussion going: 1) After you read "Wasting Time: The New Digital Divide" (attached), explain the ethical issues involved with the digital divide.

View More Related Solutions