Defining the Digital Divide Irelands late adopters Dr. Susan ODonnell ICT Expo – Dublin - April 2003

Use Internet to improve quality of life and community Use Internet to contribute to the knowledge society Use Internet to improve access to government services Everyone should have the opportunity to:

Defining factor: Internet use Late adopters: use the Internet less than once a month Most late adopters do not have Internet access/computers 55 % of Irish adults are late adopters Estimated 1,700,000 Irish adults (latest Irish data) How is the digital divide defined?

Women with home duties (78% are late adopters) Retired people (90% are late adopters) Tradesmen/skilled workers (68% are late adopters) Agriculture, forestry, fishing (85% are late adopters) Unemployed people (73 % are late adopters) Also other workers (?? where/who are they ??) Who are the main late adopters?

Most say no Minority say yes – overall numbers very large Estimated 570,000 overall want ICT skills training 5 main late adopter groups – 280,000 want training Other workers, some students – 250,000 want training Do late adopters want ICT skills training?

Emphasise benefits of ICT Simple message, delivered by peers Learning supports in ICT taster programmes Target programmes for specific late adopter groups How to motivate them?

425,000 are late adopters 80% never had IT training 33% interested in ICT training 42% have household incomes under 10,000 a year 42% age 55 plus Women with home duties

235,000 are late adopters Only 14% have had IT training Only 14% interested in ICT training 31% have household income under 10,000 90% men Retired people

145,000 are late adopters Only 13% have had IT training 31% interested in ICT training 33% have household income under 10, % are men Tradesmen/skilled workers

95,000 are late adopters 38% have had IT training 41% interested in ICT training 39% have household income under 10,000 77% are men Workers in agriculture, forestry, fishing

90,000 are late adopters 16% have had IT training 29% interested in ICT training 55% have household income under 10,000 65% are men Unemployed people

650,000 are late adopters Do not know much about them - yet 40 % have had IT training 33 % interested in ICT training 28% have income under 10,000 Other workers

Shift from skills to learning Many (25 to 50 %) have literacy difficulties Need flexible, learner-centred approach Need specific supports for each LA group Focus on progression to further training/Internet use Main issues for ICT skills training for LA

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