Thursday, April 25, 2013

Digital Divide

Even with today's advancements, there still is a digital divide in this country.  When I was a elementary school, my class was just starting to learn about what was then called the Apple computer.  We rarely used it  and after a while, little was discussed about it during the school year.  Now, kids have almost no choice but to know how to use a computer.  They have been integrated in the curriculum of many districts around the country, some to the point where primary instruction is done on one.

The thing is, now computers are all over the place, but there are still a number of people who cannot afford one and have little to no access outside of school or a library.  There was never anything stated as to how everyone would be able to have access, just that they needed to get to a computer at least a few times a week.  Also, as stated in the video about Philly, one of the 'sticking points' was that the carrier did not have to be regulated by the city.  I guess my question is this: how is one supposed to not only get a computer, but pay for Internet access when they cannot even pay to get a cell phone and/or cable.

In San Francisco, there was a plan to get citywide access to the Internet.  That never happened as the then-Mayor, Gavin Newsome, had promised.  There has to be another avenue; at this time, I have no idea what it is.

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