ICT &

DIGITAL DIVIDEJohn JacobII - M.A. Mass CommunicationDepartment of Electronic Media & Mass Communication

Submitted to:M. Shuaib Mohamed HaneefAssistant Professor

Defining the ICT• Information And Communication(s) Technology stresses the

role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications, computers, middleware as well as necessary software, storage and audio-visual systems, which enable users to create, access, store, transmit, and manipulate information.

• The expression was first used in 1997 in a report by Dennis Stevenson to the United Kingdom government and Promoted by the new national Curriculum documents for the UK 2000.

Defining the digital divideThe term digital divide refers to the increasing access gap

between those who have and those who do not have:• access to information and communication technologies;• access to content that benefits them socially and

economically;• skills to take advantage of ICT services;• the ability to afford to pay for digital services.

Debate on the priority of ICTs for development – against

Critics argue:

• ICTs are a waste of money

• Funding should be directed to more important areas of impact and real need

• There is the risk of disillusionment

• ICTs will not necessarily provide benefits and may infact open people up to new forms of harm

Debate on the priority of ICTs for development – pro

Supporters argue:

• The digital divide will become perilously wider if ICTs are not promoted

• ICTs can support other social and economic goals to improve peoples lives

• Access to ICTs and participation in the Information Society will have far reaching benefits

United Nations Millennium Development Goals

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development.

Target 18: In cooperation with the private sector make available the benefits of new technologies, specifically information and communications.

Indicator 47: Telephone lines and cellular subscribers per 100 population.

Indicator 48: Personal computers in use per 100 population and Internet users per 100 population.

ICTs and development goals (education & health)

• ICTs as a subject: information literacy, programming and other related skills.

• Computer-based training and distance education

• Access to learning communities

• Access to increased and up-to-date information • Telemedicine: broadband applications – from health clinic to

hospital • Telehealth: phone and computer support for clinic management

and information flows• Information sharing: information and exchange on health priorities,

e.g. HIV / AIDS, TB, cholera• Epidemiology: statistics and information to support knowledge and

disease management

ICTs and development goals (SMMEs & governance)

• ICTs can support routine business operations: accounts, letters, plans

• ICTs can be an opportunity themselves: training, support, sale, program, web

• Linking suppliers directly to markets: reducing role of intermediaries• Info for tenders, linking SMMEs, support & funding, supply and

sales chain• E-Commerce opportunities

• Access to government information, services and processes• Transparency of governance• Mitigation of corruption• Access to representatives: constituents direct link to members of

Parliament

Dimensions of gapHigh vs Degraded quality of access

– Low performance computers– Low performance connections– High price connections– Internet access through Internet café or at home– Internet connectivity

Different levels of skills– Ability to operate the technology– Ability to actually use the technology for some purpose– Need for reading and writing skills– Different levels of training capabilities

• “Computer-literate”

Importance of “closing” gapEconomic equality

– Important, possibly vital information may be accessed/provided through Internet

Social issues– Raise educational level of disfavoured socio-economic children

Gender issues– Eg. To allow girls to access information

Democracy– Increased information / Increased participation to elections, etc.

Economic Growth– Exploitation of latest technologies provide competitive advantage– Economic benefit further provided to highly educated population– Loop

“Global” digital divideWidening of gap: the economic issue

– Wide Internet access => high economics advances – Poor Internet access => low economics result

Awareness of– Importance of technology, in particular information and

communication technology (ICT) for economic development

Problem– Difficult to connect both

How to close the gap?Make access easier and wider

Make content more useful and relevant

Promote entrepreneurial efforts

Change laws and policies at national level – foster information creation and knowledge sharing

Usefulness– adjust technology to human beings and their needs– provide ICT-enabled solutions to help the poor: 

• using new technology to provide clean drinking water • improve (rural) health care services • extend quality of education• Internet-connected libraries

Inform people – advantages and prospect of ICT

How to close the gap?Investment in human resources

Investment in high quality education

Define strategy for

Combining openness to trade, education, government regulations

THANK YOU

John JacobII - M.A. Mass CommunicationDepartment of Electronic Media & Mass Communication

Submitted to:M. Shuaib Mohamed HaneefAssistant Professor