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From: eileen trainor <et02@swt.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1425] Re: Digital Divide - A Skills or Acces
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No. Usually you can download software from the net. Check that you
have the correct driver for the CD-ROM. If you have Windows 98 2nd ed
or better, it should detect your CD-ROM and install it for you.
\\ wrote:
>
> Does one need a cd rom drive to get free ISP services? A cd rom was just
> installed on my computer but doesn't work. Thanks for your responses!
>
> --On Tuesday, November 14, 2000, 1:35 PM -0500 Ken Springer
> <info@premier-programming.com> wrote:
>
> > www.freeinet.com
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nifl-technology@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-technology@nifl.gov]On
> > Behalf Of \
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 9:54 AM
> > To: Multiple recipients of list
> > Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1420] Re: Digital Divide - A Skills or Acces
> >
> >
> > How can one access the free ISPs?
> >
> >
> >
> > --On Friday, November 10, 2000, 2:30 PM -0500 "Peter S. Hayes"
> > <phayes02@maine.rr.com> wrote:
> >
> >> I am guilty of a bit of hyperbole! I'll agree that the free ISPs aren't
> >> necessarily targeting the poorer users. However, they are the ones who
> >> are more limited to the free ISPs, complete with all of the imposed
> >> conditions (cookies, better tracking, streaming advertisements and
> >> crawling information...).
> >>
> >> With absolutely no proof (just anecdotal observation) I wonder if these
> >> people aren't even more susceptible to the tactics (of sales, marketing,
> >> targeting). Also, most merchants who accept your credit card information
> >> commit to making your information available only for certain relatively
> >> explicit purposes. When that information is given in exchange for "free"
> >> access, are the same types of agreements tendered? The few I've read have
> >> scared me away!
> >>
> >>
> >> Pete
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Ajit Gopalakrishnan" <agopalak@crec.org>
> >> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov>
> >> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 10:33 AM
> >> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1413] Re: Digital Divide - A Skills or Acces
> >>
> >>
> >>> Peter,
> >>>
> >>> I concur with most of the points you raised, especially that having a
> >>> computer at home is a lot different from occasionally going to the
> >>> library or school and using it. I think it is an issue of transfer... or
> >>> may be internalization of learning. This makes an argument that the
> >>> access-divide and the skills-divide are somewhat related and not totally
> >>> independent of each other; bridging the former, goes toward bridging the
> >>> latter.
> >>>
> >>> I think I differ from some of your views with regard to free internet
> >>> access.
> >>>
> >>> I agree that free access is anything but free. I also agree that, though
> >> the
> >>> time limits you mention (i.e. clicking on the advertisements) seem to
> >>> have all but disappeared from the Free ISPs, they still pump advertising
> >> through
> >>> their channels. In my personal experience with free access with both
> >>> Altavista and Bluelight, the advertisement downloads seem to take
> >> precedence
> >>> over any other download the user might have requested.
> >>>
> >>> As regards privacy, I don't know enough to say whether using free ISPs
> >>> present any greater privacy concern than simply surfing the net or
> >>> filling out an online survey or perhaps buying something online with a
> >>> credit
> >> card.
> >>>
> >>> I also don't believe as you mention that the privacy lost when using
> >>> Free ISPs is a price paid only by the poor and not by the well-off. I
> >>> don't
> >> know
> >>> of statistics that support that point i.e. who are the users of Free
> >>> ISPs.
> >> I
> >>> will say however that, in my opinion, the Free ISPs are really not
> >> targeting
> >>> the poor but others with more purchasing power.
> >>>
> >>> This is somewhat supported by the fact that the Free ISPs require the
> >> latest
> >>> versions of browsers and operating systems which typically require newer
> >>> machines that cost $800 or more. These Free ISPs will not run, for
> >> example,
> >>> on 486s or used, refurbished older Pentiums with low RAM, which Dinesh
> >>> D'Souza rightly points out are available for the cost of say a 20"
> >>> television. Those older machines crash often or are dismally slow when
> >>> loaded with Win 95/98; I believe they are functional and useable when
> >> loaded
> >>> with simpler operating systems like New Deal.
> >>>
> >>> 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/
> >>>
> >>> > -----Original Message-----
> >>> > From: Peter S. Hayes [SMTP:phayes02@maine.rr.com]
> >>> > Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 8:23 AM
> >>> > To: Multiple recipients of list
> >>> > Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1412] Re: Digital Divide - A Skills or
> >>> > Access Divide?
> >>> >
> >>> > 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/
> >>> > >
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
--
Eileen Trainor, Grant Coordinator
Project Inter-ALT http://cie.ci.swt.edu/interalt
Texas Crime Stoppers http://www.crimestoppers.swt.edu
Center for Initiatives in Education http://cie.ci.swt.edu
Southwest Texas State University
College of Education
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666
et02@swt.edu (email)
512 245 9047 (voice)
512 245 8151 (fax)
877 798 8324 (toll free)
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