The Digital Divide Presented by : Sid Soundararajan Laura West Lena Tesone Tamar Ben- Shachar Emily Feenstra

Introduction The digital divide is a term that refers to the gap between the people who have access to computers and the internet. This gap has evolved to become a gap in many cultural, political, and academic areas. There are many projects currently on the way to reduce this gap, slowly bridge the differences it has created in society.

Background Information The term digital divide emerged in the mid 1990s the describe the chasm between those who have used computer based technology and those who have not. This is mainly due to socioeconomic inequalities, those with more money automatically have more access to technology. This is a worldwide problem, mainly because of the lack of economic development or even in some cases, censorship.

Steps in the Right Direction Now addressing issue – One laptop per child Free WIFI projects Charity in the Community (CITC) Technology for Humanity

Associated Problems Relative expense of solutions –Funding issues Continuing innovation –Innovations build on one another Overcoming cultural barriers –Comparison with basic needs Basic logistical shortage of resources –Most personnel, distribution centers and infrastructure

Opinion being bridged by rapid globalization and increased awareness of the issue As a designer I see new tools and strategies being developed ( ex:“One Laptop per Child”) May be bridged by cell phones, rather than computers Improved user interface facilitates usage for previously excluded groups such as the elderly, Digital divide in gender and race has basically disappeared

the end