As Stanford students, we are in the
heart of Silicon Valley -- site of the largest and fastest creation of wealth
ever recorded. By pursuing degrees in Computer Science, we are expressing our
belief that technology will guide society and business into the 21st century.
Why do we believe so strongly in computers when, for the vast majority of
society, computer access is not a reality? Many communities throughout the
United States and the world lack adequate technological knowledge and
equipment. Even in close proximity to Stanford University, East Palo Alto
lacks the quality of teaching and resources that many of the surrounding
communities enjoy.
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To
combat this, an organization entitled Plugged In began giving the community
access to the future. Through their computer cluster and teaching programs,
they are turning people on to the importance of technology. Our project will
explore the current state of the "Digital Divide" and its related
causes. We will focus specifically on the East Palo Alto community by
examining its technical literacy, identifying the areas of greatest need and
implementing a program to aide the community's development. Our hope is that
this project will further Plugged In's tremendous success and help spread the
benefits of technological change throughout the community.
Defining the "Digital Divide" Interaction between human and computers has greatly increased as we embark on the twenty-first century. The ability to access computers and the internet has become increasingly important to completely immerse oneself in the economic, political, and social aspects of not just America, but of the world. However, not everyone has access to this technology. The idea of the "digital divide" refers to the growing gap between the underprivileged members of society, especially the poor, rural, elderly, and handicapped portion of the population who do not have access to computers or the internet; and the wealthy, middle-class, and young Americans living in urban and suburban areas who have access. Factors Attributing to the Digital Divide Although the number of Americans with access to computers and the Internet continues to soar on a yearly basis, the digital divide also continues to grow at an alarming rate. On the one hand, sections of society already connected - such as higher income, educated White and Asian Pacific Islander households - are adopting newer technologies faster and are connecting even more. On the other, groups with traditionally lower rates for Internet and computer usage continue to lag far behind. Unfortunately, according to a study conducted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), entitled Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide, the gap is widening along already strained economic and racial lines. Something Must Be Done With the technology continually advancing, the issue of the "digital divide" cannot be ignored. In our society, where the distribution of wealth is already heavily unbalanced, access to computers and the Internet is unbalancing the situation even more. Those with computers and access to the Internet are becoming even richer through the power of information, while those without them are becoming even poorer in comparison. According to William Kennard, the Chair of the FCC, "In a society where increasingly we are defined by access to information and what we earn is what we learn, if you don't have access to technology, you're going to be left in the digital dark ages. That's what the digital divide is all about." The digital divide will not close unless there is an initiative to seal the gap. With socio-economic divisions already present in today's society, the digital divide is compounding the effects. It is not just the cost of computers that results in the digital divide, but also the presence of widespread illiteracy among overlooked populations. One out of four adults in the U.S. is illiterate or has limited literacy skill. Technological literacy cannot be promoted if basic literacy skills are lacking. Rectifying the digital divide, according to President Bill Clinton, "is the greatest opportunity the U.S. has ever had to lift its people out of poverty and ignorance." As statistics have shown in the past few years, the gap is continuously expanding.
Overcoming the Digital Divide: What Needs to Happen? The digital divide, as a whole, remains an enormous and complicated issue - heavily interwoven with the issues of race, education, and poverty. The obstacle, however, is by no means insurmountable if broken down into specific tasks that must be accomplished. Aside from the obvious financial barriers, the following would help narrow the gap: Current Programs Given the wide scope of the still expanding digital divide, help of any kind truly makes a positive impact. Fortunately, the government, nonprofit groups, and private foundations have started programs aimed at narrowing the gap. While the following list of programs and sites by no means covers all the programs in existence, it provides a mixed sampling of the types of initiatives currently underway.
The Schools and Libraries
Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
Enables schools, libraries, and rural health care providers - that could normally not afford them - with network wiring and access to both telecommunications and Internet services. Otherwise known as the "E-rate" program, requires telecommunications companies to provide services to those eligible at rates discounted from 20 to 90 percent. The highest priority and discounts are given to the most economically or geographically disadvantaged schools and libraries, based on the household incomes of student's families. Congress and the FCC approved $2.25 billion in annual funding. In the first year of funding, the program helped connect 80,000 schools and 38 million children.
The Community Technology Center's
program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education
Promotes the development of programs aimed at increasing and demonstrating the value of technology in "urban and rural areas and economically distressed communities." The program awards three-year grants on a competitive basis to fund Community Technology Centers.
The Neighboorhood Networks
Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD).
As a community based initiative, encourages the development of resource and computer learning centers in privately owned HUD-assisted and HUD-insured housing in order to make technology more accessible. Each community independently plans, manages, and funds their Neighborhood Networks center, but HUD often provides grants, loans, and volunteer service. The centers mainly offer computer access, computer assistance and training, GED certification, health and social services. The program currently contains 608 active centers, and plans on establishing 705 more with the help of business and community partners.
Private/Corporate
The AT&T Learning Network
This program offers free online resources to help families, schools and communities use technology effectively to enhance teaching and learning. A "Virtual Academy" offers an array of online courses, while GetNetWise provides a Web-based resource for parents to safely manage children's access to content.
America Online's AOL@SCHOOL
AOL@SCHOOL builds upon the increased access in classrooms by providing a variety of age-appropriate educational content and tools such as encyclopedias, dictionaries and online homework collaboration tools. The program is provided free of charge to K-12 schools.
The Intel Computer Clubhouse
This is a successful program that uses technology creatively to enable under-served youth to acquire the tools, problem solving skills and confidence for successful lives. Intel will support the establishment of 100 Intel Computer Clubhouses in under-served communities worldwide and hopes to touch the lives of more than 50,000 young people. The Teach to the Future program, in conjunction with the Microsoft Corporation, seeks to train 400,000 teachers in 1000 days in effectively applying technology to improve student learning.
Microsoft
Public libraries: In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft will donate an estimated $200 million in software to create access to technology at public libraries that serve low-income communities. Working Connections: This 5-year, $30 million grant program supports the development and enhancement of information technology training for underserved populations through the nation's community college system.
Nonprofit
PowerUp
PowerUp is comprised of more than a dozen nonprofit organizations, major corporations and federal agencies that have joined together to launch a major new multimillion dollar initiative to combat the digital divide. Based in schools and community centers around the country, PowerUP will provide access to technology and guidance how to use it.
Alliance for Latino Community
Technology (ALCT)
The ALCT is "an dedicated to preparing Latinos to acquire the skills of technology literacy." The ALCT runs the following programs in an effort to help underserved communities: Pathfinder, a Web-based tool hopes to link people with social services and resources; Edvantage, an on-site training program, provides information technology programs to help Latino non-profit organizations; Cybervan, a mobile technology resource unit is designed to expose technology and its uses in inner city and rural communities.
CitySkills
CitySkills is an online community focused on bridging the gap between urban communities and technology employers by extending technology education and empowering urban residents with real career-building opportunities. The site also offers fundraising tools relative to tech training, community Forums with bulletin boards and classified listings, and relevant research/news. |
Monday, October 3, 2016
Digital Divide (Stanford University)
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