Digital exclusion
Despite increased access to the internet amongst the population, there is a ‘digital divide’ between those who do not use the internet for reasons of skill competency, failure to see its relevance or lack of access, and those who make regular use of it.
What are the implications?
- Further marginalisation and increased socio-economic inequalities for those who are ‘digitally excluded” particularly for the elderly and those in lower socio-economic groups.
- If ICT costs continue to decrease, there is likely to be a higher proportion of the population online, which may further exclude those who are not and/or do not want to be online.
- ICT has been identified as a major skills gap for VCOs, this is likely to continue.
- This driver may have important implications for those charities that work with elderly people.
- This driver may have important implications for those charities that work with those in poverty or low incomes.
Moving forward
Online services risk excluding some groups, the VCS has a strong interest in combating exclusion, therefore it is important that the VCS continues to support and combat any possible marginalisation that may occur.
- Does your organisation have a policy or strategy in place that ensures it accounts for any possible exclusion that online services might bring?
The VCS often has an important role in the development of skills for both their staff and for the vulnerable and marginalised people they work with.
- Can you invest in basic ICT training for those members of your staff that do not have a high level of ICT literacy?
- Does your organisation need to think about how it can play a role in raising levels of ICT literacy in users who are socially excluded and marginalised in other ways?
Want to know more?
Published by: Spatial Literacy- an initiative between UCL and the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
Date: 2006
Format: Web
What is it?An on-line tool allowing users to identify the level of digital exclusion in a given area. Users enter any UK postcode and find out how that area is classified according to 23 ‘e-types’ developed by the researchers. Each e-type refers to the level of access to technology experienced by households in that area’.
How useful is it? The research aims to build a comprehensive picture of access to digital technology in Britain, using information from the electoral roll, the most recent census and data firm Experian. It moves away from the concept of a single digital divide where people are classified as either ‘haves’ or ‘have-nots’. The tool could be used to support proposals for funding to promote digital inclusion.
Other comments:
Challenging the digital divide? A literature review of community informatics initiatives
Published by: Joseph Rowntree Foundation – a social policy research and development charity.
Date: 2004
Format: PDF
What is it?One of several articles which form part of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s'The digital age: opportunity or exclusion?' series. It reviews evidence of the effectiveness of initiatives providing better access to information and communication technology for people experiencing exclusion.
How useful is it? The report looks at a number of different initiatives which attempt to respond to the digital divide in the UK. Since a large proportion of these initiatives are based on ‘community informatics’- exploring the potential ability of the new ICTs for community development – the report focuses on community-based initiatives, such as public based access centres. More specifically, it analyses what we know about how effective these are. It concludes that the effectiveness of these initiatives has not been proven, but provides some useful pointers for those wanting to address the digital divide at a community level.
Other comments:
Beyond digital divides? The future for ICT in rural areas
Published by: DEMOS– a social policy think tank.
Date: 2005
Format: PDF
What is it? An in-depth pamphlet which looks specifically at the digital divide, namely access to broadband, in rural areas.
How useful is it?The pamphlet traces the rise of broadband in rural areas and looks at the issues it poses for these areas in the present day. It identifies new digital divisions emerging as the traditional divide which has seen rural areas lag behind urban in terms of access to technology, tails off. The final section of the pamphlet goes on to explore three possible scenarios for broadband in rural areas in 2020.
Other comments:
Web I’m 64: Ageing, the internet and digital exclusion
Published by: DEMOS – a social policy think tank.
Date: 2007
Format: PDF
What is it? An article looking specifically at the effect of the digital divide on the older generation.
How useful is it? The first section consists of a review of existing information and data, identifying what is known about the division in technological access between younger and older generations. The research team conduct expert interviews, case studies and focus groups with older people which identify an enthusiasm amongst old people to be part of the technological revolution, but a sense of disconnection from a techno-culture aimed at a younger generation. The article finishes by looking at future trends in access to technology amongst the older generation and the potential benefits and dangers that these pose.
Other comments:
Discuss
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