Lecture 10: unequal access Communicating in the IT Industry Lecture 10: unequal access Warm up? Zatil Ridh'wah Hj Darot

Unequal access: Learning objectives Local and national implications Global implications

The many benefits of Internet access are clear The many benefits of Internet access are clear. But what happens to people who can’t get high-speed access to the Internet?

Local and national implications In the UK many people who live in rural areas cannot get broadband Internet access because they live too far from a telephone exchange. It’s too expensive for the telephone or cable companies to lay cables for a small number of subscribers.

There is also an age issue, with some older people finding it difficult to come to terms with new technology. As services such as banking and utilities (for example, water, gas and electricity supplies) become increasingly Internet-based, older people may struggle to access these facilities. They may also be placed at an economic disadvantage as Internet goods and service are often ________ that their traditional alternatives. For example, many gas and electricity suppliers offer a cheap rate for people who manage their account online.

It is also worth remembering that Internet access is not free It is also worth remembering that Internet access is not free. Some less affluent families may not be able to afford Internet charges, placing them at a disadvantage when compared with _________ families.

Global implications People who live in less economically developed countries may also struggle to get Internet access. Many aspects of society, particularly education and economic development, rely on the Internet and computer technology. People who don’t have easy access to these are in danger of being left further behind. The division between people who have easy access to computer technologies and those who do not is sometimes called the ____________. A number of projects, such as One Laptop Per Child and 50x15, have been set up to help tackle this problem by developing low- cost computing solutions.