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 eAEJNO912503; Tue, 14 Nov 2000 14:23:24 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000 14:23:24 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <3541802484.974204411@dhcp-176-0218.unm.edu> 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: "\\" <sreiers@unm.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:1426] Re: Digital Divide - A Skills or Acces X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Mulberry (Win32) [1.4.4, s/n S-399010] Status: O Content-Length: 14125 Lines: 371 The computer that I am trying to connect to the internet is an older one. I tried to install a cd rom drive so that I could access the internet temporarily with free trial disks. I am trying to set this computer up for my mother who cannot afford monthly internet service. The cd rom drive does not work and so I am not sure if I can download some other way, maybe by floppy disk. I'm not sure what my options are. --On Tuesday, November 14, 2000, 2:04 PM -0500 eileen trainor <et02@swt.edu> wrote: > 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)
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jan 16 2001 - 14:45:41 EST