As discussed earlier, collaboration of various stakeholders and organizations can help ease the digital divide. Through collaborations, media training centers can be established in the rural and urban areas of the country (this strategy can be used in both developed and developing countries). They can help overcome the problems of centers that are created independently on smaller scales. One good example of this is in South Africa. In South Africa, the ICT project centers are established in partnership with the Department of Education and the MIET. They have centralized systems for each district with satellite divisions for adjoining villages.
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a905796506~db=all~jumptype=rss
The benefits of this kind of a system are:
1) Collaborating with local educational organizations can help understand the context of the place better. They help understand the types of resources available, the types of resources that are missing, the gender divide in usage of technology, can advocate for bridging the gender divide, they can form regulations to include every child for education, and they have a certain authority that people seem to respect.
2) Along with bridging the divide, these collaborations can also help in the development of the society. For example, they can offer classes for job training. They can also ask the educational system to make women education mandatory and can therefore enhance women emancipation.
3) By using the educational system, the centers can reach its target audience better. The educational system can integrate the ICT projects within the coursework in order to impart technical knowledge as a part of the main coursework.
4) This kind of collaboration helps reach a broader number of villages (rural area). Every district has a central system and also satellite systems in adjoining rural areas. This helps cover a larger number of villages.
5) The collaborating members can divide the work based on their expertise. They can also prioritize their objectives and assign appropriate members with proper skill sets to these objectives. This will make the process much faster and focused.
However, even with the above stated benefits, there are still a few dilemmas attached to the functioning of such systems.
Many villages and towns in developing countries lack even the basic infrastructure like electricity. So, how can these programs survive in such situations?
One way to achieve this is by collaborating with a big organization that can actually fund the basic infrastructure for the district. This may be impractical but there are companies that have done this in the past. One good example of this is Tata in Jamshedpur, India.
http://www.tata.com/careers/index.aspx?sectid=10thFt4D0OU=
The entire town of Tata has an amazing infrastructure that is funded by the company. The electricity is generated at their power plant and the whole town is provided with their service. However, this is not the most pragmatic way. Mobile satellite ITC centers are probably the best way (discussed in an earlier post) .
http://www.worlib.org/vol17no1/singh_v17n1.shtml
However, much research is still required on this. More data is required in order to understand the situation better. ICTs should seek to understand the local context they are operating in. Also, they should look towards the overall development of the area, rather than concentrating on a handful of people. This is possible through strong strategic collaborations and one good example of this is the collaboration of MIET with the Department of Education in South Africa.
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ763160&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=EJ763160
Friday, November 12, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Education and the Digital Divide
When I first came to America in 2004 (for my undergraduate education), my English Literature professor asked me whether I was comfortable typing my papers on a computer. I had definitely used my laptop for surfing the web or communicating with others (chatting, calling, emailing, filling my online application for American colleges, and even for downloading music, which at that time, took over days to download). However, I had never used it to type papers for high school (a private school in New Delhi) assignments. Our projects were all handwritten and the supporting information were Xeroxed (photocopied) from the sources. The maximum IT we used at school was for a course called IP (Informative Practice). The course circled around q- basic, an ancient computer language that we dreaded to attend. However, we never used the Internet and WWW to conduct in-depth research for any paper/project. For our research work, most books were available at the library. We also possessed the means to buy new books when required. However, when I was introduced to the online database, I understood the versatility and the importance of all the information we had lacked.
Also, even though we were bestowed with resources to buy or borrow books from the shops or libraries, most people in developing countries do not have that luxury.
Many people in rural and urban areas of India are still illiterate. They use Thumbprints instead of their signature on legal documents. However, even though they do not know how to read or use the Internet or any new technology, they are still skilled and well informed about their work. So, a basic question that comes to my mind is: Are children who are using IPads for their school work (for example; http://www.macworld.com/article/153672/2010/08/ipaded.html : many schools in the United States are incorporating IPads in school in the anticipation that IPads are the next generation for digital books and that they help in attracting more students) more accomplished than children of the rural areas of developing countries (who are only skilled to manage their own work)?
To look for this answer, I studied literature from various sources and databases. One such research is highlighted below.
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/1891346370-86979629/content~db=all~content=a911177673~frm=titlelink
A study was conducted on computer and cancer literacy amongst the Latino and the African American parents. Around 120 parents participated in this study. They were made to take a 6 hours course and the control group had 70 non-participants. The results were promising. They reported that parents who were enrolled in the program had better computer literacy and increased cancer knowledge.
The above stated result somewhere hints that computer based literacy, Internet based Research, or usage of any other technology for information can actually make a huge difference in the way people perceive the world. However, this does not mean that a rural child is any less or more intelligent. It just iterates that the Internet is another easy tool to increase one’s knowledge. If this technology becomes more accessible (like amongst most groups of developed countries), people in small towns and villages could be made to gain more information about their specific trade. They will not have to count on other human or outside sources to provide them with specific information. Also, their knowledge will not stay stagnant. They can grow from it and help others grow too. While, they can acquire information about their specific concerns, they can also help others by making databases with relevant information. However, this may be too ideal a dream for a country where a large number of people are sill below the poverty line and are illiterate. However, this is also the country where big financial institutions like IIM are providing students with online MBA classes.
http://www.indiaedu.com/online-education/online-mba.html
Such a great divide exists within a country that has a handful of people who are extremely rich and then a large number who are struggling to cross the poverty line. The only solution to this could be the private-public collaboration that was discussed in an earlier post.
Also, even though we were bestowed with resources to buy or borrow books from the shops or libraries, most people in developing countries do not have that luxury.
Many people in rural and urban areas of India are still illiterate. They use Thumbprints instead of their signature on legal documents. However, even though they do not know how to read or use the Internet or any new technology, they are still skilled and well informed about their work. So, a basic question that comes to my mind is: Are children who are using IPads for their school work (for example; http://www.macworld.com/article/153672/2010/08/ipaded.html : many schools in the United States are incorporating IPads in school in the anticipation that IPads are the next generation for digital books and that they help in attracting more students) more accomplished than children of the rural areas of developing countries (who are only skilled to manage their own work)?
To look for this answer, I studied literature from various sources and databases. One such research is highlighted below.
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/1891346370-86979629/content~db=all~content=a911177673~frm=titlelink
A study was conducted on computer and cancer literacy amongst the Latino and the African American parents. Around 120 parents participated in this study. They were made to take a 6 hours course and the control group had 70 non-participants. The results were promising. They reported that parents who were enrolled in the program had better computer literacy and increased cancer knowledge.
The above stated result somewhere hints that computer based literacy, Internet based Research, or usage of any other technology for information can actually make a huge difference in the way people perceive the world. However, this does not mean that a rural child is any less or more intelligent. It just iterates that the Internet is another easy tool to increase one’s knowledge. If this technology becomes more accessible (like amongst most groups of developed countries), people in small towns and villages could be made to gain more information about their specific trade. They will not have to count on other human or outside sources to provide them with specific information. Also, their knowledge will not stay stagnant. They can grow from it and help others grow too. While, they can acquire information about their specific concerns, they can also help others by making databases with relevant information. However, this may be too ideal a dream for a country where a large number of people are sill below the poverty line and are illiterate. However, this is also the country where big financial institutions like IIM are providing students with online MBA classes.
http://www.indiaedu.com/online-education/online-mba.html
Such a great divide exists within a country that has a handful of people who are extremely rich and then a large number who are struggling to cross the poverty line. The only solution to this could be the private-public collaboration that was discussed in an earlier post.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Healthcare and Digital Divide
My first few posts have included information on digital divides within and between countries. Also, it has discussed ways in which countries and organizations can try to bridge the divide. From this point onwards, I would like to focus more on individual industries/sectors and the digital divide surrounding them. In this post, I would like to concentrate on digital divide faced by the healthcare sector.
I want to start this post by mentioning an important difference that I have personally felt between the healthcare systems of India and the USA. When my daughter was born in Princeton, most of the bills were paid online. In the first year of her birth, I had visited the doctor’s website many times. I had used the website to fill various forms, view symptoms and cures, and even view her vaccination records. On the contrary, in India, most payments are still made in person or through a bank. While consumers in big cities (metropolitan) may surf the web for information, small towns/villages do not have such facilities. This delineates the digital divide that exists in healthcare between two countries. To bridge this gap, many countries are adopting digital diagnostic services for its rural areas.
In rural India, there is a scarcity of doctors. Very few people with an MBBS degree like to stay in villages. Many non-profit organizations seek to help this situation by conducting free clinics in villages. Rotary and Inner Wheel clubs in India are very active on this front. Their aim is to irradiate polio and TB infections in India.
http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/1715-rotary-polio-eradication-drive
Also, doctors from all around the world volunteer to spend a few months in developing countries to run free clinics and educational classes. Their aim is to help patients suffering from diseases like HIV, Cancer etc.
http://www.unv.org/en/news-resources/news/doc/un-volunteer-doctors-mobilized.html
However, it is not always possible to have doctors volunteer and visit such remote places. In such cases, villagers are looking to adopt digital diagnostic services. These services are available throughout the world.
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/diagnostic-software-aids-rural-providers
This technology allows doctors and non-doctors to diagnose and treat patients by viewing information (images and text) on the software. However, the scope of such information is limited. The database can include only a limited amount of information on a specific disease or problem. Also, non-doctors may assess the symptoms wrongly and this can be fatal. A better system can incorporate online video chats with the doctors who can be more efficient in providing a diagnosis. However, it is again difficult to establish such technologies (Internet, computer and camera usage etc.) in rural area of developing countries (as these places may not have the infrastructure to support such technologies). Also, people in such places are not accustomed to these technologies.
Digital Divide in healthcare is also prevalent within countries. In the United States, minorities and low-income groups face various technological issues. They are unable to afford technology. Even if they have access to technology in some form, they do not use it on a regular basis. For improving the condition of minorities in healthcare, President Obama has asked to deploy the Electronic Health Records. The aim is to reduce cost, aid in record keeping, and help the overall quality of care. However, this plan may backfire.
According to an article in the National Journal, EHR may be creating a bigger digital divide than helping the minorities. They mention that the providers for uninsured minorities may not have adopted EHR as it is very expensive.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/10/health-it-official-to-vendors.php
There are various unsolved issues surrounding the digital divide between and within countries. One way of solving this may be by public-private collaboration (the public gives the expertise/knowledge about the culture and the private puts in the fund and assess the result). However, this is a simplistic way of looking at a very complex problem. More study is required in this area to come up with a working solution.
I want to start this post by mentioning an important difference that I have personally felt between the healthcare systems of India and the USA. When my daughter was born in Princeton, most of the bills were paid online. In the first year of her birth, I had visited the doctor’s website many times. I had used the website to fill various forms, view symptoms and cures, and even view her vaccination records. On the contrary, in India, most payments are still made in person or through a bank. While consumers in big cities (metropolitan) may surf the web for information, small towns/villages do not have such facilities. This delineates the digital divide that exists in healthcare between two countries. To bridge this gap, many countries are adopting digital diagnostic services for its rural areas.
In rural India, there is a scarcity of doctors. Very few people with an MBBS degree like to stay in villages. Many non-profit organizations seek to help this situation by conducting free clinics in villages. Rotary and Inner Wheel clubs in India are very active on this front. Their aim is to irradiate polio and TB infections in India.
http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/1715-rotary-polio-eradication-drive
Also, doctors from all around the world volunteer to spend a few months in developing countries to run free clinics and educational classes. Their aim is to help patients suffering from diseases like HIV, Cancer etc.
http://www.unv.org/en/news-resources/news/doc/un-volunteer-doctors-mobilized.html
However, it is not always possible to have doctors volunteer and visit such remote places. In such cases, villagers are looking to adopt digital diagnostic services. These services are available throughout the world.
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/diagnostic-software-aids-rural-providers
This technology allows doctors and non-doctors to diagnose and treat patients by viewing information (images and text) on the software. However, the scope of such information is limited. The database can include only a limited amount of information on a specific disease or problem. Also, non-doctors may assess the symptoms wrongly and this can be fatal. A better system can incorporate online video chats with the doctors who can be more efficient in providing a diagnosis. However, it is again difficult to establish such technologies (Internet, computer and camera usage etc.) in rural area of developing countries (as these places may not have the infrastructure to support such technologies). Also, people in such places are not accustomed to these technologies.
Digital Divide in healthcare is also prevalent within countries. In the United States, minorities and low-income groups face various technological issues. They are unable to afford technology. Even if they have access to technology in some form, they do not use it on a regular basis. For improving the condition of minorities in healthcare, President Obama has asked to deploy the Electronic Health Records. The aim is to reduce cost, aid in record keeping, and help the overall quality of care. However, this plan may backfire.
According to an article in the National Journal, EHR may be creating a bigger digital divide than helping the minorities. They mention that the providers for uninsured minorities may not have adopted EHR as it is very expensive.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/10/health-it-official-to-vendors.php
There are various unsolved issues surrounding the digital divide between and within countries. One way of solving this may be by public-private collaboration (the public gives the expertise/knowledge about the culture and the private puts in the fund and assess the result). However, this is a simplistic way of looking at a very complex problem. More study is required in this area to come up with a working solution.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Public- Private Collaboration
Many countries are using a new model of alleviating the digital divide. They believe that involving the private sector in this process will help remove discrepancies faced earlier. One example of this can be found in Taiwan. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Taiwan has started the ADOC project. This project seeks to collaborate with the private sector in order to achieve focused goals. They are working with companies like ACER (second largest PC maker) by making ‘digital cars’. These units will help as mobile classrooms and serve more people. The project is already gaining success in eastern Taiwan.
http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=111056
Government officials of many developing countries believe that the public-private partnership can result in more sustainable programs. Such programs will not only offer an in-built structure for accountability but will also help with transparency. According to Dr. Krishna (Additional Secretary for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India), “This transparency brings about improved accountability of the [government] agency and gives satisfaction to the people.”
http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2010/oct/20/public-private-coalitions-key-digital-divide/
Another example of this collaboration can be seen in Vietnam. Cisco has collaborated with educational institutions to create a highly skilled workforce by supporting the demands for information and communication technology. According to Sandy Walsh (Regional manager of Cisco in Asia Pacific), " Students learn both ICT and other 21st century skills which give students an edge in their career as networking professionals of the future.”
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cisco-helps-transform-education-in-vietnam-by-investing-in-next-generation-2010-10-19?reflink=MW_news_stmp
This collaboration will help the students in achieving competitive advantage. They can be considered for employment all over the world.
The public-private collaboration is indeed a better way of dealing with the situation. This will allow the companies to focus on a particular issue and diligently manage it. Because the company’s reputation is at stake, they will handle it better than the public organizations. They will try to cut through the corruption or will have financial tools to face them. To acquire a better understanding of the situation, I conducted a telephonic interview with the chairman of a railroad ties company in India.
According to my interviewee, private sectors can indeed put in more money and effort in the process. He believed that the public sector had the potential to get the work done but due to too much intrinsic politics and lack of proper resources, they start well but eventually get stuck. He said that the private sectors could help change this.
The private sector is more interested in sustainability and stakeholder relations. By taking over a project, they can help the local community while keeping their employees and other stakeholders happy. Also, many industrialists who have done well for themselves like to give back to their community as they have strong ties with them. This is more on the lines of pure philanthropy.
The involvement of private sector will help establish checks and balances that will help in improving accountability and transparency of a particular project. Also, these companies like to assess their impact and that such assessment is possible if there is better funding. So, it is definitely better to involve the private sector. The only problem associated with such collaborations is that the public and the private sector may not have the same goals. So, it is imperative that such goals are decided upon at the nascent stage.
http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=111056
Government officials of many developing countries believe that the public-private partnership can result in more sustainable programs. Such programs will not only offer an in-built structure for accountability but will also help with transparency. According to Dr. Krishna (Additional Secretary for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India), “This transparency brings about improved accountability of the [government] agency and gives satisfaction to the people.”
http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2010/oct/20/public-private-coalitions-key-digital-divide/
Another example of this collaboration can be seen in Vietnam. Cisco has collaborated with educational institutions to create a highly skilled workforce by supporting the demands for information and communication technology. According to Sandy Walsh (Regional manager of Cisco in Asia Pacific), " Students learn both ICT and other 21st century skills which give students an edge in their career as networking professionals of the future.”
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cisco-helps-transform-education-in-vietnam-by-investing-in-next-generation-2010-10-19?reflink=MW_news_stmp
This collaboration will help the students in achieving competitive advantage. They can be considered for employment all over the world.
The public-private collaboration is indeed a better way of dealing with the situation. This will allow the companies to focus on a particular issue and diligently manage it. Because the company’s reputation is at stake, they will handle it better than the public organizations. They will try to cut through the corruption or will have financial tools to face them. To acquire a better understanding of the situation, I conducted a telephonic interview with the chairman of a railroad ties company in India.
According to my interviewee, private sectors can indeed put in more money and effort in the process. He believed that the public sector had the potential to get the work done but due to too much intrinsic politics and lack of proper resources, they start well but eventually get stuck. He said that the private sectors could help change this.
The private sector is more interested in sustainability and stakeholder relations. By taking over a project, they can help the local community while keeping their employees and other stakeholders happy. Also, many industrialists who have done well for themselves like to give back to their community as they have strong ties with them. This is more on the lines of pure philanthropy.
The involvement of private sector will help establish checks and balances that will help in improving accountability and transparency of a particular project. Also, these companies like to assess their impact and that such assessment is possible if there is better funding. So, it is definitely better to involve the private sector. The only problem associated with such collaborations is that the public and the private sector may not have the same goals. So, it is imperative that such goals are decided upon at the nascent stage.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Do programs really work?
Do bridging programs help or do they increase the divide?
Many researchers believe that bridging the digital divide will help in the development of a country. They conduct programs that may help to bridge the digital divide and then measure the changes in the development of the country.
http://mcs.sagepub.com/content/29/6/869.abstract
One such example is the Passenger Reservation system in India.
The Passenger Reservation system for Railways in India was one of the first successful projects in India that aimed at bridging the digital divide. It made travel and its bookkeeping easier. According to an article by SS Rao, this system made life easier for the common man.
www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1718896&show=pdf
Lately, the computerization of the reservation system has extended itself to online reservation of tickets. Prior to this, the ticket could only be reserved at the counters. However, with the advent of the World Wide Web and the Internet, the existing system has tried to improve itself. It has incorporated the new technologies in order to make life easier for the consumers. This post will discuss whether this advancement is helping bridge the digital divide or expanding it.
I want to point out that people in villages are not technically educated to reserve/book their tickets through the Internet. Also, most villages do not have Internet connections or even electricity to run the technologies (Rao, 365). While people in towns and cities can easily avail this service, people in villages have great difficulty in achieving the desired result. This in itself defeats the whole purpose of using technology to lessen the divide.
A few weeks ago, some relatives of mine were traveling from Patna (the capital of a state in India) to a small town in West Bengal. After waiting for a while at the railway station, they realized that there was no information for their designated train. They went to the railway administrator who informed them that the train had been canceled a few weeks earlier and that no such train was on the timetable anymore. The information on the website was not only incorrect, it also made a vital mistake of accepting reservations for a train that did not exist. The refund process took about 3 months. This process is known for its delayed response.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Now-you-can-plan-your-railway-travel-in-India-from-your-home-How-to-book-your-e-ticket
So, any person who is economically unable to afford another ticket would have to wait until the refund from the prior cancellation was received. On the contrary, people who are affluent can reserve their tickets again, without waiting for the refund. They can also ask agents, who take a higher premium, to reserve or cancel by making a phone call. In my opinion, this is reestablishing a bigger digital divide based on financial status rather than helping the issue.
Another problem with the online system is that the website does not provide comprehensive information. Users do not have enough information about various seat options etc. They may pay a higher premium for a seat that they may have to share with 4-5 other people (RAC). Also, these tickets are non-refundable. Purchasing the tickets at the counter have more advantages than purchasing them over the internet. Even though the users have to wait in long ques to buy their tickets, they still possess the opportunity to ask questions about the type of ticket/seat.
http://www.indiamike.com/india-articles/indian-railways-rac-and-indian-railways-waitlists/
Also, many travel agents buy the tickets before hand in order to sell them at a higher commission, making it difficult to find tickets. The affluent can again afford the tickets. However, it is tough for the lower class to buy such highly priced tickets from the agents.
The system faces other technical difficulties. It has a very slow interface and hangs frequently. Many users believe that this is purposefully done. According to these users, the incompetence of the system renders the users to buy the tickets from travel agents at higher commissions. However, this accusation has not been proven.
http://www.inewsindia.com/2010/06/02/is-tatkal-railway-reservation-system-working-for-common-people/
These programs are genuinely trying to make a differences but they face problems due to restricted resources (making good interface or spreading the programs to other parts of the country) and corruption (agents, politicians, and bureaucrats reserve a large number of seats beforehand and make it difficult for common people to find vacant seats). My next post will discuss new ways by which such discrepancy can be countered.
Many researchers believe that bridging the digital divide will help in the development of a country. They conduct programs that may help to bridge the digital divide and then measure the changes in the development of the country.
http://mcs.sagepub.com/content/29/6/869.abstract
One such example is the Passenger Reservation system in India.
The Passenger Reservation system for Railways in India was one of the first successful projects in India that aimed at bridging the digital divide. It made travel and its bookkeeping easier. According to an article by SS Rao, this system made life easier for the common man.
www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1718896&show=pdf
Lately, the computerization of the reservation system has extended itself to online reservation of tickets. Prior to this, the ticket could only be reserved at the counters. However, with the advent of the World Wide Web and the Internet, the existing system has tried to improve itself. It has incorporated the new technologies in order to make life easier for the consumers. This post will discuss whether this advancement is helping bridge the digital divide or expanding it.
I want to point out that people in villages are not technically educated to reserve/book their tickets through the Internet. Also, most villages do not have Internet connections or even electricity to run the technologies (Rao, 365). While people in towns and cities can easily avail this service, people in villages have great difficulty in achieving the desired result. This in itself defeats the whole purpose of using technology to lessen the divide.
A few weeks ago, some relatives of mine were traveling from Patna (the capital of a state in India) to a small town in West Bengal. After waiting for a while at the railway station, they realized that there was no information for their designated train. They went to the railway administrator who informed them that the train had been canceled a few weeks earlier and that no such train was on the timetable anymore. The information on the website was not only incorrect, it also made a vital mistake of accepting reservations for a train that did not exist. The refund process took about 3 months. This process is known for its delayed response.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Now-you-can-plan-your-railway-travel-in-India-from-your-home-How-to-book-your-e-ticket
So, any person who is economically unable to afford another ticket would have to wait until the refund from the prior cancellation was received. On the contrary, people who are affluent can reserve their tickets again, without waiting for the refund. They can also ask agents, who take a higher premium, to reserve or cancel by making a phone call. In my opinion, this is reestablishing a bigger digital divide based on financial status rather than helping the issue.
Another problem with the online system is that the website does not provide comprehensive information. Users do not have enough information about various seat options etc. They may pay a higher premium for a seat that they may have to share with 4-5 other people (RAC). Also, these tickets are non-refundable. Purchasing the tickets at the counter have more advantages than purchasing them over the internet. Even though the users have to wait in long ques to buy their tickets, they still possess the opportunity to ask questions about the type of ticket/seat.
http://www.indiamike.com/india-articles/indian-railways-rac-and-indian-railways-waitlists/
Also, many travel agents buy the tickets before hand in order to sell them at a higher commission, making it difficult to find tickets. The affluent can again afford the tickets. However, it is tough for the lower class to buy such highly priced tickets from the agents.
The system faces other technical difficulties. It has a very slow interface and hangs frequently. Many users believe that this is purposefully done. According to these users, the incompetence of the system renders the users to buy the tickets from travel agents at higher commissions. However, this accusation has not been proven.
http://www.inewsindia.com/2010/06/02/is-tatkal-railway-reservation-system-working-for-common-people/
These programs are genuinely trying to make a differences but they face problems due to restricted resources (making good interface or spreading the programs to other parts of the country) and corruption (agents, politicians, and bureaucrats reserve a large number of seats beforehand and make it difficult for common people to find vacant seats). My next post will discuss new ways by which such discrepancy can be countered.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Digital Divide within countries
This week I want to discuss the prevalence of digital divide within different countries. After reading various articles, I realized that this divide exists within both developing and developed countries. This post seeks to elaborate the former point by stating examples from different countries.
While researching on this topic, I came across an interview I had conducted a couple of years ago for some undergraduate class. This interview was based on the idea that women in developing countries, and especially in rural areas, are also being introduced to new technologies. However, after interviewing a technical assistant for an IT development center in a village in Bihar, India, I gathered that most of the people who used the technologies from this IT center were men. Very few women visited the IT center (some by choice and others due to societal expectations).
Context plays a very important role in the creation of digital divide. For example, the caste system in India is a very influential part of the society. Women from certain castes are not allowed to perform certain tasks. Also, associating with different castes is considered to be profane or wrong. While some women are not allowed to attend emancipation programs, others do not join them voluntarily. I came across an article that describes this phenomenon really well. It depicts the important role of context in shaping the society. Also, it outlines how participation of women and other underprivileged groups are shaped by the societal structure and results in minimal participation from these groups.
http://mcs.sagepub.com/content/29/6/869.abstract
This furthers our discussion about the digital divide between men and women in South Asia. The article below describes how there is a considerable difference in phone usage between men and women in the South Asian countries. This study was conducted in 2006 and showed that phone usage in women (BOP) were limited in comparison to men. Also, in the higher classes, the male members were considered to be the primary decision-makers in the family and had an advantage over the women while using technology.
http://nms.sagepub.com/content/12/4/549.abstract
Gender difference is not the only reason for this digital divide. Economic instability is another big deciding factor. Countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, India etc., all have a huge disparity between the rich and the poor. According to a U.N. report, 30% of the South Asian population still lives on a dollar a day.
http://www.mdgasiapacific.org/node/126
However, in truth, this percentage could be much higher. This is due to the fact that many people in these countries are still illiterate and uneducated. They may not participate in the surveys/census conducted by various governmental and non-governmental parties. On the other hand, there is an upper class that is becoming technologically savvy. They are sending their children to Britain and USA to have a better education. The middle class is also trying its best to catch up with the current trends. This difference within the various subsections of the society causes the digital divide.
So far, this post has discussed the Digital Divide in developing countries. Now, it aims to emphasize that such differences also exist in developed countries. Brussels is a good example to consider.
A study in Brussels delineates that youths who belong to immigrant families do not use computers and the Internet as much as other average young people. So, ethnicity is very important in deciding the digital divide. It also outlines that religion plays an equally important role in establishing the divide.
http://www.reference-global.com/doi/abs/10.1515/COMM.2010.010
While researching on this topic, I came across an interview I had conducted a couple of years ago for some undergraduate class. This interview was based on the idea that women in developing countries, and especially in rural areas, are also being introduced to new technologies. However, after interviewing a technical assistant for an IT development center in a village in Bihar, India, I gathered that most of the people who used the technologies from this IT center were men. Very few women visited the IT center (some by choice and others due to societal expectations).
Context plays a very important role in the creation of digital divide. For example, the caste system in India is a very influential part of the society. Women from certain castes are not allowed to perform certain tasks. Also, associating with different castes is considered to be profane or wrong. While some women are not allowed to attend emancipation programs, others do not join them voluntarily. I came across an article that describes this phenomenon really well. It depicts the important role of context in shaping the society. Also, it outlines how participation of women and other underprivileged groups are shaped by the societal structure and results in minimal participation from these groups.
http://mcs.sagepub.com/content/29/6/869.abstract
This furthers our discussion about the digital divide between men and women in South Asia. The article below describes how there is a considerable difference in phone usage between men and women in the South Asian countries. This study was conducted in 2006 and showed that phone usage in women (BOP) were limited in comparison to men. Also, in the higher classes, the male members were considered to be the primary decision-makers in the family and had an advantage over the women while using technology.
http://nms.sagepub.com/content/12/4/549.abstract
Gender difference is not the only reason for this digital divide. Economic instability is another big deciding factor. Countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, India etc., all have a huge disparity between the rich and the poor. According to a U.N. report, 30% of the South Asian population still lives on a dollar a day.
http://www.mdgasiapacific.org/node/126
However, in truth, this percentage could be much higher. This is due to the fact that many people in these countries are still illiterate and uneducated. They may not participate in the surveys/census conducted by various governmental and non-governmental parties. On the other hand, there is an upper class that is becoming technologically savvy. They are sending their children to Britain and USA to have a better education. The middle class is also trying its best to catch up with the current trends. This difference within the various subsections of the society causes the digital divide.
So far, this post has discussed the Digital Divide in developing countries. Now, it aims to emphasize that such differences also exist in developed countries. Brussels is a good example to consider.
A study in Brussels delineates that youths who belong to immigrant families do not use computers and the Internet as much as other average young people. So, ethnicity is very important in deciding the digital divide. It also outlines that religion plays an equally important role in establishing the divide.
http://www.reference-global.com/doi/abs/10.1515/COMM.2010.010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Global Digital Divide
Subject: The topic for this week is Global Digital Divide. Our aim is to outline the definition of Digital Divide and how it is prevalent between countries.
When we think of Digital Divide, there are various classifications that come to our mind. Digital Divide can be assessed from a global standpoint, as well as, by divisions within a country. These divisions can be based on gender, urban/rural location, ethnicity, economic level etc. In an article, “Bridging digital divide: Efforts in India”, S.S Rao mentions that digital divide can exist due to differences in economic standing of individuals, economic prosperity of nations, ethnicity, age (young/old), rural/urban, gender, geographic location, quantitative and qualitative aspects, dial-up and broadband access.
http://www.ci-journal.net/index.php/ciej/article/view/313/429
We know that digital divide exists at various sections and sub-sections of the global society. However, what is digital divide? It is characterized by the gap between people who have the technology and people who do not have it. Also, it is believed that people with technology are ‘information rich’ while people without it lack information.
In 2005, a research showed that 85% of Internet usage came from developed countries. This means that the developing countries only used 15% of the total amount. This highlights the digital divide amongst the two sections. The following website delineates the global digital divide in terms of use of personal computers. In 2001, North America championed the PC market, while South Asia was the lowest consumer. http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/communication/digitaldivide.php
So, is it true that people lacking technology are less informed than the ones with technology? We know that growing technologies and especially convergence introduces us to new ideas more conveniently. This convenience gives us the impetus to access more technology at our own discretion. Also, it provides users with an advantage of creating their own content. It is an important platform that gives individuals a chance to have their voices heard. Also, it helps in introducing people to new ideas and cultures from all around the world. In the United States, growing technologies are being used to impart education in schools and colleges. It is being anticipated that such usage will grow in future. For example, the Stanford School of medicine has decided to give away IPads to all its incoming students in 2014.
http://www.imedicalapps.com/2010/07/stanford-school-of-medicine-ipad-incoming-class/
However, in contrast to the United States, most South Asian countries do not involve this kind of media usage for school curriculum. Especially, the rural sections of the society have limited accessibility to technology and the usage of computers and PCs are mostly concentrated in the metropolitans or smaller cities. But in contrast to other technologies, the growth of mobile phones in developing countries has been substantial. Most villagers use it not only for personal communication but also for their local businesses. In countries like India, mobile phones have been made economical. Also, televisions are popular throughout most countries but new interactive media has not seen much development.
http://design4dev.wetpaint.com/page/Mobile+Phone+Use+in+India
Lately, NGOs and governmental organizations are trying to establish new technologies in the rural areas of South Asia. Their belief is that such technologies will aid in the rural development, as well as, help in expanding media literacy. Examples of these programs can be seen in India. A few examples are Akshaya e-centers in Kerela and Passenger reservation system for railways etc.
However, many studies claim that these programs help in increasing the digital divide rather than alleviating it. More about this in my next Blog.
When we think of Digital Divide, there are various classifications that come to our mind. Digital Divide can be assessed from a global standpoint, as well as, by divisions within a country. These divisions can be based on gender, urban/rural location, ethnicity, economic level etc. In an article, “Bridging digital divide: Efforts in India”, S.S Rao mentions that digital divide can exist due to differences in economic standing of individuals, economic prosperity of nations, ethnicity, age (young/old), rural/urban, gender, geographic location, quantitative and qualitative aspects, dial-up and broadband access.
http://www.ci-journal.net/index.php/ciej/article/view/313/429
We know that digital divide exists at various sections and sub-sections of the global society. However, what is digital divide? It is characterized by the gap between people who have the technology and people who do not have it. Also, it is believed that people with technology are ‘information rich’ while people without it lack information.
In 2005, a research showed that 85% of Internet usage came from developed countries. This means that the developing countries only used 15% of the total amount. This highlights the digital divide amongst the two sections. The following website delineates the global digital divide in terms of use of personal computers. In 2001, North America championed the PC market, while South Asia was the lowest consumer. http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/communication/digitaldivide.php
So, is it true that people lacking technology are less informed than the ones with technology? We know that growing technologies and especially convergence introduces us to new ideas more conveniently. This convenience gives us the impetus to access more technology at our own discretion. Also, it provides users with an advantage of creating their own content. It is an important platform that gives individuals a chance to have their voices heard. Also, it helps in introducing people to new ideas and cultures from all around the world. In the United States, growing technologies are being used to impart education in schools and colleges. It is being anticipated that such usage will grow in future. For example, the Stanford School of medicine has decided to give away IPads to all its incoming students in 2014.
http://www.imedicalapps.com/2010/07/stanford-school-of-medicine-ipad-incoming-class/
However, in contrast to the United States, most South Asian countries do not involve this kind of media usage for school curriculum. Especially, the rural sections of the society have limited accessibility to technology and the usage of computers and PCs are mostly concentrated in the metropolitans or smaller cities. But in contrast to other technologies, the growth of mobile phones in developing countries has been substantial. Most villagers use it not only for personal communication but also for their local businesses. In countries like India, mobile phones have been made economical. Also, televisions are popular throughout most countries but new interactive media has not seen much development.
http://design4dev.wetpaint.com/page/Mobile+Phone+Use+in+India
Lately, NGOs and governmental organizations are trying to establish new technologies in the rural areas of South Asia. Their belief is that such technologies will aid in the rural development, as well as, help in expanding media literacy. Examples of these programs can be seen in India. A few examples are Akshaya e-centers in Kerela and Passenger reservation system for railways etc.
However, many studies claim that these programs help in increasing the digital divide rather than alleviating it. More about this in my next Blog.
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