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Virtuous Circles and Vicious Cycles


A good read on tackling the digital divide in the UK: BT highlights the digital divide:

"According to the latest figures, 51 per cent of the UK adult population (24.2 million) are digitally excluded in the most basic sense of having no access to a home computer or the Internet. When extrapolated to 2025, it is conservatively believed this will reduce to 23 million adults. While this might seem like slight progress, it was pointed out that this 'hard core of digitally excluded' will be even more adrift in a high-technology society - the divide between the digital haves and have nots will be even more marked.

The gap widens with greater innovation,' he said. 'People who are confident, educated and skilled are on a virtuous circle, while those excluded are in a vicious cycle."

There are six main conclusions of the report:

  • a greater effort to 'market' the Internet itself
  • design new technology explicitly for the currently disenfranchised
  • increasing convergence of technologies should bring simplicity not greater complexity
  • users shouldn't need special skills to engage with technology
  • technology must become more affordable
  • where access issues remain then special programmes and social policies will need to address the issues.


    • Posted by Paul Chenoweth on December 8, 2004 12:48 PM |

    Comments

    It is true that as the gap between the (technological) haves and have nots widens, the more work will have to take place to play "catch-up." This gap is greater than any economical or social gap ever!

    Posted by: Jason In Suzhou | December 9, 2004 12:56 AM