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DigitalMediaandAccesstoInformation:Thegood,badandunjustoutcomesofthedigitalinformationrevolution

CC0PhotoRetrievedfromKaboomPicsByDanielBartolini

“Phonesarenolongerjustformakingcalls.TVsetsnolongerpullincontentjustfromantennas,satellitesorcables.Themediaworldhaschanged.”(Krashinsky Robertson,2014)

CC0PhotoRetrievedfromKaboomPics

“Our ancient ancestors built the towering Library of Alexandria to gather all of the world’s knowledge, but today, smartphones turn every palm into a knowledge palace.” – (Zane, 2015)


Peoplenowhaveaccesstomoreinformationonlinethantheyhaveeverhadbefore…

But,isthisagoodthing?

Arethebenefitsofthedigitalinformationrevolutionradiatingequallytoallcornersofsociety?


Notnecessarily….

CCBY-NC-ND2.0PhotoDividedRetrievedviaFlickrCourtesy ofIgnatios Apostolidis

“Canadahasadigitaldivide,ademographicthatisn’tfullyconnectedtotheonlineworld.”–(Chapin, 2013)

CCBY2.0PhotoDisconnect Retreivedvia Flickr Courtesy ofScott Swigart

“The digital divide is a spectrum. Rather than haves and have-nots, it’s made up of people suffering from varying degrees of disconnection.” – (Chapin, 2013)

CCBY-NC2.0PhotoDisconnected Retrieved via FlickrCourtesy of Kenny Stoltz

TheElderly

CCBY2.0PhotoElderly Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy ofMoyan Brenn

“Gadgetsthatcaneasetheburdensofagingareslowlybeginningtoappearinolderadult’shomesandcommunities.Theyaredesignedtorespondtovitalneeds,includingcaregiving,transportationandlivingmoresafelyathome”(Gustke,2015)

CCBY-NC-ND2.0PhotoKeeping Up with the TimesRetrievedvia Flickr Courtesy ofMisterG.C.

“Thesetechnologiescanbeapowerfulandpotentialtooltohelpolderadultsbecomemorephysically,mentally,andsociallyactive.Numerousstudieshaveexploredthepotentialroleoftechnologytohelpmotivateolderadultstoadoptahealthylifestyle”(Kim,2014)

CC0PhotoRetrievedviaKaboomPics

Unfortunately,onlysmallpercentagesofolderadultshavebeenusingnewtechnologytoimprovetheirqualityoflife.

CCBY2.0PhotoCouch Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy ofPhotoAtelier

“In2010,only31%ofAmericanolderadultsusedahighspeedinternetconnectioncomparedwith75%ofadultsaged30-49and63%ofadultsaged50-64years”- (Smith,2010)

CC BY-ND 2.0 Picture 70’s Typing Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Sarah Scicluna

Twostudiesreportedthatolderadultsweremuchlesswilling tousetechnology incomparisonwithyoungeradults.(Smith, 2010;Alder&SeniorNet, 2006)

CCBY-NC-ND2.0PhotoCut Off Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy ofOzanHatipoglu

“Notably,olderadultsaged65andoverwerefoundtobelesslikelytousetheinternetoracomputerinthefutureduetolackofinterestorunderstanding”(Kim,2014)

CCBY-NC2.0PhotoTechnologyRetrieved via FlickrCourtesy of Eltpics

Butelderlyadultsarenottheonlyoneslimited intheiraccesstoonlineinformation…

CC BY-NC 2.0 Photo Tech Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Eltpics

ThePoor&Uneducated

CCBY2.0PhotoSlums Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy ofHonza Soukup

StatisticsCanadareportedthatonly62percentofthepoorestquarterofCanadianhouseholdsareconnectedtotheInternetathome,comparedto95percentofthewealthiestquarter–(McGee,Kielburger&Kielburger,2013)

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Photo Digital Divide Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Oliver Lavery

“People with family incomes between $41,000 and $65,000 were more than twice as likely to use the Internet as those in the lowest-income group; people in families with incomes between $65,000 and $100,000 were nearly three times more likely to go online; and people in families whose incomes topped $100,000 were five times more likely” – (Harris, 2013).

CCBY-NC-SA2.0Photo Fence Retrievedon Flickr Courtesy of Michael

“Among Canadians 16-54, researchers found a stronger relationship between education and online activities, while for Canadians 55 and older, income was a more important predictor of Internet proficiency” –(Harris,2013)

CCBY-NC2.0PhotoEducate Retrieved via FlickrCourtesy of {Flixelpix}David

“Similarly,witheducation,universitygraduatesperformednearlyfivemoreactivitiesonline thanthoselackingahighschooldiploma”– (Harris,2013)

CCBY-NC2.0PhotoThe Graduates Retrieved via FlickrCourtesy of Luftphilia

“Thedigitalunderclasscan’tfullyparticipateinasocietythathasmigratedmostessentialservicesonline.Itisharder, ifnotimpossible, forthemtofindwork,getaneducation,accessgovernent servicesandmaintainbasicconnections. Yetratherthaninvestinsolutions, ourgovernmenthaspinnedasocietalissueonindividuals”– (Chapin,2013)

CCBY-NC-ND2.0PhotoUnderRetrieved onFlickr Courtesy ofSeveral Seconds

So,whatcanwedo?

CCBY-NC2.0PhotoBridgeRetrieved via FlickrCourtesy of MarianoMantel

“Borrow the motto ‘No one left behind.’ In addition to public access, we need freely available, one-on-one assistance and small group training through government-funded community technology sites, like public libraries. The result will be a “learning citizenry” capable of adaptation to rapid change.” (McGee, Keilburger & Keilburger, 2013)

Eric Stackhouse, chair of Nova Scotia Community Access Program:

“School computers and library access aren’t enough –too many low-income households don’t even have computers. While the private sector is stepping in with innovative solutions like refurbished computers and low-cost Internet plans, there’s room for governments and community groups to help by determining which households should be targeted for these programs.”(McGee, Keilberger & Keilberger, 2013)

Mark Goldberg, telecommunications consultant in Thornhill, Ont


“We must bridge the digital divide across geography and economic means to help families in need and build stronger, more vibrant communities. Through partnerships between governments and industry, we can harness our shared expertise and resources to enable connectivity for all.”(McGee, Keilburger & Keilburger, 2013)

“Start early with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curricula, emphasizing digital skills, literacy and exploration in elementary and high schools across the board.” (McGee, Keilburger & Keilburger, 2013)

Anabel Quan-Haase, associate professor of sociology at the University of Western Ontario

Jill Schnarr, vice-president of community affairs at Telus


Sources:

• Alder,R.,andSeniorNet."OlderAmericans,broadbandandthefutureoftheNet."SeniorNet.2006.http://www.seniornet.org/research/SeniorNetNNPaper060606.pdf

• Chapin,Angelina."DigitalDivide:Canada'sPoorestSacrificeBasicNeedsToGetConnected."HuffingtonPost,December14,2013.http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/11/14/digital-divide-canada-poor_n_4269171.html.

• Gustke,Constance."Technology,WhileNotaFountainofYouth,CanMakeAgingSafer."TheNewYorkTimes,July24,2015.https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/your-money/technology-while-not-a-fountain-of-youth-can-make-aging-safer.html.

• Harris,Misty."DigitalDividepersistsinCanada,bothinaccessandInternetfluency."FinancialPost,March21,2013.http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/digital-divide-persists-in-canada-both-in-access-and-internet-fluency?__lsa=fe2f-00ef.

• Kim,Kyungo."Understandingolderindividuals'emotionalresponsestonewtechnologyassociatedwithhealthylifestylechoice."JournalofPhysicalEducationandSport14,no.2(2014):138-47.

• Krashinsky Robertson,Susan."FourwaysCanadiansareconsumingmediadifferently."TheGlobeandMail,December04,2014.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/four-ways-canadians-are-consuming-media-differently/article21949630/.

• McGee,Craig,CraigKeilburger,andMarcKeilburger."Haveyoursay:HowcanwehelpCanadiansgainbetteraccesstotheInternet?"TheGlobeandMail,November25,2013.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/giving/have-your-say-how-can-we-help-canadians-gain-better-access-to-the-internet/article15585113/.

• Smith,Aaron."HomeBroadband2010."Pewinternet.org.August11,2010.http://www.pewinternet.org/2010/08/11/home-broadband-2010/.

• Zane,J.Peder."IntheAgeofInformation,SpecializingtoSurvive."TheNewYorkTimes,March19,2015.https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/education/in-the-age-of-information-specializing-to-survive.html.


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