Kevin Guidry brings into spectrum a very interesting topic
by stating that there is a digital divide between the many different cultures
in America. Digital divide can be classified as not owning a computer or having
access to the Internet.
Based on the information
provided Guidry would not have been inaccurate to assume that a digital divide
would be a problem in the future, however this is based off of old facts.
Though it may not seem as old, being as most of the information that Guidry
calls upon was cited in roughly 2009, a lot has changed within the past three
years
Smart phones are more advanced then ever
Not only are
these devices use to make phone calls, but they can also receive emails, browse
the web, and download apps; all which can be done with relative ease.
Based upon the research done by the Pew Research Center it
is easy to see that within the past four years the use of Internet on mobile
devices has been on the rise. From 2009 to 2012 the percentage of adults that
use devices in order to browse the web has increased by 28%.
This is where I have to disagree with Guidry the there will
be a mobile divide, based upon his definition. Based on the definition stated
above, this clearly shows that use of mobile devices to access the Internet is
on a rise and on a decline. The problem with owning computers will no longer be
an issue either; desktops will become obsolete in the next ten years if not
five.
Now, with smart phones almost anyone is able to access the internet with their phone even if they do not have a computer
Based on more research by the Pew Research Center, Blacks and
Hispanics, which were stated specifically as the cultures that would be hit the
hardest by the mobile divide, have gone up 20% in the last four years when it
came to using their mobile devices to access the internet.
I personally think that there will no longer be a digital
divide. The reasons for this is because portable devices are soon going to take
the place a big bulky computers; who knows maybe in 10 years laptops will be
considered a bulky nuisance! Not only are these devices more convenient to use
they are also much more affordable.
Affordability will play the biggest factor in the future of digital divide
In the past computers were extremely expensive, and on top of the
price of computers issue Internet bills had to be paid every month, which were pricey
as well. Now, price is no longer an issue. When an individual buys a device
they are not simply just buying a device for one purpose, they are buying a
device that combines many different components into one easily usable,
convenient, and efficient device.
Essentially a mobile divide is a thing of the past and
before anyone knows it we will all be connected through our mobile device.
The issue is not ownership but what people do with the devices they own and use which in turn is affected by the kinds of devices they own and how they are typically used i.e., the "affordances" of their devices. One of the primary concerns with the "participation gap" is that smaller, portable devices such as phones and tablets make it more difficult for people to create new things - programs, documents, etc. - outside of the very narrow boundaries provided by applications. So people who only use those devices will be much less likely to create new things not because it's impossible but because (a) it's difficult and (b) that is not what they have done with their devices. So the real concern is that people view and use the Internet differently because they have primarily used devices with fewer affordances for creating new things.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I don't recall writing anything with the title "Digital Divide or Participation Gap? Will Mobile Affect It?" so can you or one of your classmates please send me a copy or some more information? It certainly sounds like something I would have written but I just can't seem to remember or be able to find a publication with that specific title. My best guess is that the article only includes data up to 2009 is because the document was written in or about 2009 (I don't remember publishing much on this in the last 2-3 years). Thanks so much!