Bowels, author of our textbook, Introduction to Digital Literacy, explains the digital divide and how demographic, eyeing underprivileged as well as those who live in underdeveloped countries play a part in the digital divide. The author goes on to state that factors such as a GE, income and educational attainment can influence an American adult’s ace as to the Internet. Those with disabilities are also less likely to use the Internet. Bowels refers to the old adage, “Knowledge is power. Bowes feels that ethical issues come to play in this digital divide because with this divide, the world would be split into two different categories, the “information-haves and have- onto”. Bowels feels that if there is a grand effort to bridge the gap by introducing al to the world of computers, then everyone can become digitally literate and the knowledge is shared amongst everyone equally. (Bowels, 2013. ). Like Bowels, believe that there are ethical issues at stake here.
Considering just about everything we do involves computers, it’s not fair that everyone doesn’t have access to technology. In some cases, however, some people that are considered underprivileged do not feel comfortable learning something new; Or rather an older citizen may be stuck in his/her archaic ways of processing things without using new technology. In these two cases, I feel our society can help by using tots more comparisons when it comes to the older aged citizens, to show them how much more convenient and effective the use of technology can be in their everyday lives.
Providing more public areas and access to computers to those in underprivileged situations will allow them a better chance to learn and educate themselves without pride and fear of embarrassment. Leopold Bad, author of Media Literacy for Older People facing the Digital Divide, demonstrates the digital divide in Spain. He believes that the digital divide is mainly due to the factor of age. He mentions that although his country’s public policies are plodded with intent to reduce this generational digital divide through their media e-learning initiatives, the efforts are unsuccessful due to their approach.
Bad makes a point that society should be proponents of e-inclusion, thus allowing the elderly population to achieve a better, fuller and more enriched life, thus promoting civic participation. (Bad, 2014. ). I believe Bad makes a strong point here, but not only as it relates to the aged population, but also the economically advantaged, when it comes to digital inclusion making for a better quality of life. When a person attains and gains more knowledge, there is a sense f accomplishment and confidence.
If the older population is able to learn more and participate more with e-inclusion programs, they will become even more active, self-sufficient individuals. The same for the economically challenged populations, when we equip people with tools to learn more, they will do more and contribute more to the growth of their family and community. Van Volume, Staples and Amateur, authors of The North American Journal of Psychology, described in source Revisiting the digital divide: Generational differences in technology use in everyday life, the differences and makeup of the digital divide n the U.
S. The factor of age as well as sex comes into play when determining the divide. According to these authors, men were innately more comfortable with new technology than females. Women became frustrated, whereas men maneuvered with ease. The age factor showed where older adults felt cell phones and other gadgets were not user-friendly, thus creating a gap in use and embrace of new technology. Based on studies included in their journal, older adults that learning and pick up computer skills as well as internet navigation are not as likely to become depressed or lonely.
In addition, the study also showed hat it may be more beneficial and can improve quality of life overall, giving satisfaction and control (Shapiro et al. , 2007). Furthermore, when researchers performed a comparison of adult learners and adult non-learners, they found the non- learners exhibited a significant deterioration of well-being, while the learners showed an increase in their well-being after a computer class. So based on their study, learning new technology not only aid in the improvement of overall well-being, but may have prevented the breakdown of their well-being with regards to aging (Shapiro et al. 2007). When reviewing this article, Revisiting the digital divide: Generational differences in technology use in everyday life, think there is a broad array of data collection to give them a good idea when measuring the digital divide. They took the time to factor in age, gender as well as demographic. While demonstrating the digital divide in the U. S. , these authors were careful to take into consideration the different types of technology, such as cell phone usage, social media as well as internet navigation. All three articles seem to touch on the point of age being a factor when it comes to the digital vivid.
Because of the fast pace of growing technology, it can be difficult for people who didn’t necessarily have the use for new technology, to all of a sudden need it to thrive and have an overall better quality of life. All of these articles covered a possible increase in activity and quality of life, but only one made mention of gender. I guess the same holds true with men and technology as it is for power tools. Most men find power tools and electronics engaging, while most women don’t find much interest in it at all. Men were found to have navigated the internet and gadgets with ease, while women came increasingly frustrated with it.
In my assessment of the digital divide, too, see many factors to be considered. I’d like to look at it from another angle. The last article states that computer knowledge can keep one from becoming depressed or lonely. I’ve been at a point in my life where I believe if it were not for the internet or having a computer, I would have been in a depressive state. After my divorce in 2008, I become more involved in technology and also found friends online to keep me company. Going through a life change like divorce can cripple you socially.
