Desiree Benavides – The Complexity of the Digital Divide: An Annotated Bibliography 1
The Complexity of the Digital Divide: An Annotated Bibliography
Desiree Benavides
INFO 522: Information Access & Resources
March 16, 2012
Introduction and Scope
The following bibliography covers the complexity related to the digital divide. Articles examine the disparities on a global, national, and community level, new divide transitions, as well as polices and solutions to close the digital divide. Several articles evaluated the same disparities of the divide, which include social and economic. Only scholarly articles from 2001 to 2011 relating to the digital divide are covered in this bibliography. The articles chosen were published in different countries in order to gain a global perspective on the impact of the digital divide. An importance was set on finding articles that covered the entire span of the digital divide in order to obtain a better grasp on how it has progressed over the last decade. Knowledge about the digital divide is essential to understanding how it can be closed. The digital divide changes with technology.
Description
Any person who has limited access to information and communication technology (ICT) is considered part of the digital divide. This is a very broad definition for the digital divide because the digital divide means different things to different people. For more than a decade, policies have been enacted and solutions have been promoted, yet the digital divide still lingers. As long as disparities among groups of people and within countries exist, the digital divide will persist. One solution to the digital divide that has positively impacted regions is the access to computers and internet through libraries. The United States is a perfect example. However, being able to expand this access via public libraries across the globe would be beneficial. Access equality may never exist, but availability of ICT is a positive start in the right direction.
Summary of Findings
The rise of the digital divide in the 1990s sparked the debate about solutions on a global and regional level. The same disparities still persist, but new divides have emerged. Yu (2006) explained theoretical perspectives and political viewpoints regarding the information divide. Therefore, this proves that the digital divide is still open to interpretation because each researcher makes his/her own conclusions about the divide. However, the “literature, for the most part, supports the digital divide as a valid framework through which to understand the differential use of ICT” (Hawkins, 2005, p. 172).
The major disparities related to the digital divide on a global scale include social, economical, and geographical concerns. If narrowed, the disparities related to groups of people comprise of race, gender, and age issues. Bertot (2003) discusses the complexity of the digital divide. The divide is more than obtaining access to technology because “one size does not fit all in the Divide and the policy environment should reflect that” (Bertot, 2003, p. 188). It is essential for each region to be viewed individually. One nation cannot be lumped together under one policy because it may not meet the needs of the entire nation. Moreover, the need for regions to have basic IT literacy is essential for information and communication technology (ICT) to be successful. “Basic IT literacy is positively associated with internet access,” which is why the internet cannot function without IT support (Ferro, Helbig, & Gil-Garcia, 2011, p. 5). This support needs to be expanded globally in order to prevent a negative expansion of the digital divide.
Campbell (2001) analyzes the digital divide on a global level. He argues that the need for “information is vital for development” (Campbell, 2001, p. 129). However, development in these countries cannot progress without access to ICT. Surprisingly, countries with similar economic status fall on different ends of the spectrum (Corrocher & Ordanini, 2002). If the digital divide presents issues among the wealthier countries, then the digital divide for developing and undeveloped countries is in desperate need of assistance. Ayanso, Cho, & Lertwachara (2010) examine the digital divide among countries, and the need for improvement is necessary for the betterment of the society. Economic and political turmoil is the result for those will little to no access to ICT.
The United States is a great example of what works and does not work when it comes to the digital divide. Promotion of ICT is vital for the usage of it (Choemprayong, 2006). Despite the closing of the digital divide in the United States, there are still concerns within specific regions. Rural areas have limited access in comparison to urban areas within the United States due to funding limitations (Kinney, 2010). Jaeger, Bertot, McClure, & Rodriguez (2007) confirmed the findings about regional gaps due to funding restraints in specific areas as a pitfall for the United States in particular. While access may be available, access inequities will continue to exist globally, nationally, and regionally. Each geographical area needs to be evaluated on its own terms. The digital divide is not the same for every area, yet successful solutions incorporated across the world can be modified to meet the needs of the lacking regions.
Furthermore, over the last decade, the aspects of the digital divide have changed with technology. The digital divide consists of multiple layers that need to be broken into sections. At first glance, the digital divide is often foreseen as one big problem that can be lumped together, but, in reality, “communities are at different levels of development” (Bertot, 2003, p. 189). Within these communities, the advancement in technology brings new divides to communities, and “access does not ensure effective use” of ICT (Kinney, 2010, p. 148). Therefore, a new divide emerges involving the lack of understanding of ICT, which in turn, forces a new solution to be needed.
According to Ferro, Helbig, & Gil-Garcia (2011), a new IT divide has emerged. The lack of knowledge about IT causes areas to not have ICT access. Those geographical areas that do obtain access via public libraries still run a risk of privacy issues regarding public transactions. As a result, the e-commerce divide surfaces. Rensel, Abbas, & Rao (2006) discuss the e-commerce divide as something that cannot be contained as easily as the digital divide can. Even if the digital divide can be closed, the rise of new divides lingers on. If one problem is resolved, a new one appears. This perspective of the digital divide is essential to closing all divides that may be created by the original divide of ICT access.
One positive solution is the rise of public libraries offering access to ICT despite the risks of privacy like Rensel, Abbas, & Rao (2006) argues. Public libraries can be viewed as a starting point for individuals seeking access to ICT. With the betterment of oneself through education due to this access, private access can eventually be obtained. Therefore, public libraries enable people to grow socially, economically, and politically. Bertot (2009) evaluates the necessary funding for public access technologies (PAT), which is essential for continual growth and development of the community.
Cullen (2003) analyzes the need to have access to ICT in a variety of settings including schools and libraries. The extension of ICT access from libraries to schools, churches, community centers is a great way for the public to have different opportunities to obtain ICT. A survey that was evaluated in D’Elia, Jorgensen, Woelfel, & Rodger (2002) discussed the benefits for usage of the internet in libraries. This survey will enable future research about the impact on internet and ICT access overall in conjunction with libraries. Nevertheless, access to ICT across the United States has improved dramatically over the last decade. If this same access can be transitioned across the globe, then all countries can start to move in a positive direction and the digital divide will shrink.
Simple access to ICT will not fix the other issues concerning specific areas, but it can allow for better economies to form. Stakeholders have more to lose than the actual users in specific areas according to Houston & Erdelez (2004). However, one could argue that the need for ICT access is crucial to the future success of the user. “The interdisciplinary area of information inequality research, however, is still largely divided along traditional dichotomies” (Yu, 2011). Overall, the closing of the digital divide has moved forward in a positive way. Despite the spark of new divides, the knowledge available about the digital divide is abundant, but new literature is still needed.
The digital divide is continually changing with new technologies being developed, so new research is essential to the eventual closing of the gap if even possible. The public needs to be aware of the lack of ICT access and the impact on the user and the geographical area as a whole. Research on specific areas is still needed to better those areas, and a comparison needs to be done in relation to success stories like the United States. Lastly, starting with some sort of public access to ICT is crucial in order to positively impact one area at a time.
Bibliography
Entry 1:
Ayanso, A., Cho, D. I., & Lertwachara, K. (2010). The digital divide: Global and regional ICT leaders and followers. Information Technology for Development, 16(4), 304-319.
Abstract: “The “digital divide” has sparked serious debates along the lines of economic disparity among world nations. Many in academics and policy circles believe that the digital gap could further widen the economic gap between developed versus developing nations. Among the components that are taken into consideration for measuring and analyzing the digital divide between countries, the information and communication technologies (ICTs) is the key component. This paper adds to the existing body of knowledge on the issue of regional and global digital divide by profiling 192 member countries of the United Nations based on their ICT indicators. Using clustering and statistical analysis, our results identify “leaders” and “followers” in ICT infrastructure and utilization at both regional and global settings.”
Annotation: Information and communication technology (ICT) impact countries on a daily basis. Compared to other articles, these authors examined the digital divide on a global and regional scale through a cluster analysis that sets the foundation work for future research. Because the data created profiles for the nations and regions, the implementation of new policies to close the gap of the digital divide can be commenced with further studies. However, one significant drawback was the failure to discuss possible policies that could ease the gap in the follower nations.
Search Strategy: After I found the article written by Campbell (2001), I looked through the articles that cited it. I thought this article would be useful. Campbell (2001) was found in the Web of Science database, so I browsed the results in this database. I was able to access the full text of the article through ScienceDirect.
Database: Web of Science
Method of Searching: Citation search & Browsing search
Search String: Cited below article:
Campbell, D. (2001). Can the digital divide be contained? International Labour Review, 140(2), 119-141.
Scholarly/Refereed Status: After locating the article, I verified that the article was listed as a scholarly journal that was peer-reviewed in Ulrich. According to the journal’s website, the journal articles are peer-reviewed.
Entry 2:
Bertot, J. C. (2009). Public access technologies in public libraries: Effects and implications. Information Technology and Libraries, 28(2), 81-92.
Abstract: “Public libraries were early adopters of Internet-based technologies and have provided public access to the Internet and computers since the early 1990s. … This article explores the implications for public libraries of the provision of PAT and seeks to look further to review issues and practices associated with PAT provision resources. While much research focuses on the amount of public access that public libraries provide, little offers a view of the effect of public access on libraries. This article provides insights into some of the costs, issues, and challenges associated with public access and concludes with recommendations that require continued exploration.”
Annotation: Public libraries face challenges by utilizing public access technology (PAT) because patrons expect more then what is currently being offered. PAT allows the public to have access to information and communication technology that would otherwise be limited. While the author failed to mention the words digital divide, it is apparent that the access of technology in public libraries helps alleviate the gap in the geographical area that was examined. One shortcoming was the assessment of PAT in public libraries in five specific regions; it was not on a national scale. Bertot is a well-regarded author in the field of information studies.
Search Strategy: I read the article written by Kinney (2010), and I looked through the references listed. I thought this article would be helpful. I searched for this article in the Web of Science database in the title search field. I was able to access the full text of the article through Academic OneFile.
Database: Web of Science
Method of Searching: Footnote chasing
Search String: Referenced in: