Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id eAADOB915278; Fri, 10 Nov 2000 08:24:11 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 08:24:11 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <001801c04b19$6fd6fd40$45b01918@maine.rr.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Peter S. Hayes" <phayes02@maine.rr.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1412] Re: Digital Divide - A Skills or Access Divide? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 6121 Lines: 130 I think he has absolutely no idea what a dollar means to someone on a low income budget. The $800.00 computer is just as unobtainable as the $2500.00 one to many people, and having access in the home as part of everyday life is drastically different from access in the library or school, as a resource which must be actively sought. The "free" access is anything but. With the advertisements pumped through the access lines, the limitations involved (click on one of the sponsors every N minutes or lose your connection, for example), and the loss of privacy required of these connections, I would not wish to be the user. However, it is a price paid by the poor, not the well-off. Skills are only part of the problem. I think that many young people are relatively well-versed in "using" the internet. However, they don't often use it to best advantage. I have "kids" and end up being the hangout for a number of young teens from the local schools because of a relatively good internet connection and home network. However, few of them realize the benefit of having the internet available for information; they know of its use for "school stuff" (uninteresting and of no use) and for games (interesting but not terribly useful). I think a change in attitudes is needed here, and it is definitely a "class" oriented change, not one of the educational system alone. I think much of the same can be said of their parents. Those I meet often (we live in a relatively affluent suburb of Portland, Maine) have internet access at home. But they often don't think to use it for information access either. They occasionally shop the internet, are becoming familiar with email, and know all about the porn sites, but don't necessarily think of it as a source of good information. Here, skills may be partially lacking (a place where adult ed can do some good) but a change in attitude (why it's important to know some things, to stay abreast of what's happening, to read...) is even more important. I think it's the same societal problem we've always had. Some people are taught to think in our society while others are mostly taught to think they think... I didn't react well to the report, needless to say! Pete ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ajit Gopalakrishnan" <agopalak@crec.org> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2000 5:00 PM Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1408] Digital Divide - A Skills or Access Divide? > Yesterday on NPR's All Things Considered, conservative thinker Dinesh > D'Souza gave a 3 minute commentary on the Digital Divide. You can listen to > his commentary (Real Audio File) at > http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20001107.atc.13.rmm > > In his commentary, he argues that the Digital Divide is really a skills > divide and not one of access. He mentions that five years ago when computers > cost $2500, he could understand that many could not afford it. However, > today with computer costs coming down and used computers costing as much as > a television, and with cheap to free Internet access, he says that the issue > is not one of access but of skills/knowledge. He mentions that getting > Internet access today is liken to getting telephone access or television > access. He also makes the point that internet access is available at public > schools and libraries and that someone who wants Internet access can get it. > > As a means of solving this problem, he goes on to argue that we must teach > the young people of today not only how to use the technology but also its > value in the new world. > > Did any of you hear this commentary? If so what did you think? > > My Views: > He portrays the digital divide ONLY as a skills divide. I disagree with that > view. To me that is exemplified by the struggle adult education programs > have to go through to gain Internet access in their programs. Many times, > they are barred from accessing the computer labs with Internet access that > are housed in the very same public school building that they are housed in, > and are used with the "young people" that Dinesh D'Souza talks about. In > Connecticut (as is probably not uncommon nationwide), programs have had to > remind, advocate, and lobby with their local public school districts to be > included in their school-district wide networking initiatives or technology > purchasing initiatives, from which they are typically excluded. > > Why do I talk about program access? Because for adult education programs to > educate people on technology, which I agree with Dinesh D'Souza is the way > to liberation for many, adult education programs need to have access > first..... and that IS an issue today. Hopefully, with initiatives like the > CTC and our commitment to technology planning, access won't be an issue in > the near future. > > Yes, theoretically access should not even be an issue in a country as > affluent as this one. For that matter, many other issues like health > insurance also should not even be an issue.... but they are... because (I > believe) of fear, prejudice, and power. > > Another question is "where" is the access. I don't believe that having > access ONLY through the public libraries or schools is sufficient. The > technology definitely needs to be part of the home and I am not convinced > that the technology is as affordable as Dinesh D'Souza makes it out to be. > > Lastly, I would like to say that when stating his problem of how Blacks and > Hispanics are not accessing the Internet as much as Whites and Asians are, I > am not sure if Dinesh D'Souza is referring to adults or "young people". > However, when he proposes the solution of skills education, he only makes > mention of educating the young people and says nothing about adults. > > I am also not sure what his views are on who should pay for the > education/skill building that he talks about. > > Ajit > > Ajit Gopalakrishnan > Capitol Region Education Council > 111 Charter Oak Avenue > Hartford, CT 06106 > Phone: (860) 524-4036 > Fax: (860) 246-3304 > Email: agopalak@crec.org > Web Site: http://www.crec.org/atdn/ >
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