Elements of

Information UNIT 2 ICT AND DIGITAL DIVIDE

Technology

Structure

2.0 Introduction
2.1 Objectives
2.2 Evolution of ICT
2.3 Meaning of ICT
2.4 Benefits of ICT
2.5 Concept of Digital Divide
2.6 Reasons for the Existence of the Divide
2.7 Dimensions of the Divide
2.8 Impact of Digital Divide
2.9 Measures to Bridge the Divide
2.10 Summary
2.11 Solutions / Answers
2.12 Further Readings

2.0 INTRODUCTION

ICT deals with how digital information passes between the devices. The most prolific
example is the Internet, a worldwide network of computers linked together by
telephone lines. There are however, other examples, like mobile phones, interactive
televisions and personal organizers. When ICT is applied to business, it can lower
Costs, raise productivity and improve customer and supplier relationship. In learning,
ICT widens participation and raises attainment. In public services, ICT engages
people with services more effectively and in communities, ICT links people to
economic opportunity and brings together those with common agendas.

The opportunities for social and economic development which can not be availed by
the people because of inaccessibility and lack of information will now be available to
all. This information could be used for trade, online education, telemedicine,
e­government and many other applications that solve vital problems in the developing
countries. It could open up new possibilities for more transparent and efficient public
administration/governance everywhere. It could distribute knowledge and expertise in
the areas of education and public health from the centers of expertise to the remote
corners of our country. But the advantages of ICT are not reaching to the people who
need it most. Its benefit is going mostly to those who are already well placed.

It has given birth to a new kind of division not only at international even at national
level. This division is between those who have access to ICT and those who don’t
have. This division is popularly referred as ‘Digital Divide’.

In this unit, we will study the evolution of ICT, benefits, concept of digital divide and
the problems created by the digital divide.

2.1 OBJECTIVES

After going through this unit, you should be able to:

• describe the meaning and different forms of ICT;
• explain the evolution of ICT;
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 Elements of • list the advantages of ICT;
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Technology • explain the concept of Digital Divide;
• state the reasons for the existence of digital divide;
• describe the different dimensions of the digital divide;
• list the problems created by the divide;
• explain the possible measures to bridge the divide; and
• describe the challenges posed by the digital divide and the responses of the
government of India.

2.2 EVOLUTION OF ICT

The first major use of Information Technology (IT) could be said to have started with
the introduction of early mainframe computers to respond to the needs of scientific
research and the Government’s statistical data gathering and processing, where the
technology helped to speed up research and forecasting. These techniques were later
applied to the business environment where mainframe computers and robotics were
used to automate business processes and number crunching functions. From
automation of business processes, IT was then applied to higher value­adding,
functions such as design, resource planning, sophisticated manufacturing and mission
critical functions the developments and applications of IT have stretched beyond
imagination. Together with the rapid development and innovation in
telecommunication technology and the Internet, this evolution has ushered in many
new business models and applications.

ICT is robust that it can be harnessed in many ways, but its true potential is limited
only to the human mind. With ICT, the physical boarder dissipates as information
moves freely through the digital medium which is less controlled as compared to other
existing mass media. Globalization is said to accelerate, and enabled by ICT, making
market bigger and more accessible by business with strong capital, management and
technology. Business or E­commerce has started to be done virtually and transaction
occurs at a click of a mouse anywhere and any time. Scientific findings churn faster
and newer discoveries and inventions through the journal and reports are made
available through ICT. The technology that began life as a faster way to process data
and compute statistics has become pervasive in almost all parts of our life today. So
ICT has become the backbone of Techsavvy Society, having combined both
information technology and communication through digital environment today.

Check Your Progress 1

Fill in the Blanks:

i) ICT has become the backbone of __________.

ii) ______________, _________________, interactive television are few

examples of ICT.

2.3 MEANING OF ICT

ICT is an acronym that stands for Information and Communication Technology.

However, apart from explaining an acronym, there is not a universally accepted
definition of ICT Why? Because the concepts, methods and applications involved in
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ICT are constantly evolving on an almost daily basis. It is difficult to keep up with the Digital Divide
changes because they happen very fast.

Let us focus on the three words behind ICT:

• INFORMATION
• COMMUNICATION
• TECHNOLOGY

A good way to think about ICT is to consider all the uses of digital technology that
already exist to help individuals, businesses and organizations also use information.

ICT covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive
information electronically in a digital form for example, personal computers, digital
television, email and robots.

ICT is concerned with the storage, retrieval, manipulation, transmission or receipt of

digital data. Importantly, it is also concerned with the way these different uses can
work with each other.

In business, ICT is often categorized into two broad types of product:

• The traditional computer­based technologies (things you can typically do on

a personal computer or using computers at home or at work); and

• The more recent and fast growing range of digital communication

technologies (which allow people and organizations to communicate and share
information digitally)

Let us have a brief look at these two categories to demonstrate the kinds of products
and ideas that are covered by ICT:

Traditional Computer Based Technologies

These types of ICT include:

1) Standard Office Applications ­ Main Examples are as below:

Word processing, e.g. Microsoft Word: Write letters, reports etc;

• Spreadsheets, e.g. Microsoft Excel, Analyze financial information,

calculations, create forecasting models etc.;

• Database software, e.g. Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Access, Managing

data in many forms, from basic lists (e.g. customer contacts to complex
material like catalogue);

• Presentation software, e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint, make presentations, either

directly using a computer screen or data projector, publish in digital format
via email or over the Internet;

• Desktop publishing, e.g. Adobe In design, Quark Express, Microsoft

Publisher, produce newsletters, magazines and other complex documents; and

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 Elements of • Graphics software, e.g. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Macromedia
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Freehand and Fireworks, create and edit images such as logos, drawings or
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pictures for use in DTP, web sites or other publications.

2) Specialized Applications

• Accounting packages, e.g., Tally, Sage, Oracle, manage an organization’s

accounts including revenues/sales, purchases, bank accounts etc. A wide range of
systems are available ranging from basic packages suitable for small businesses to
sophisticated ones aimed at multinational companies.

• Computer Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computers to assist the design
process. Specialized CAD programs exist for many types of design like architectural,
engineering, electronics and roadways.

• Customer Relations Management (CRM) is software that allows businesses to

better understand their customers, by collecting and analyzing data, such as their
product preferences, buying habits etc. Often linked to software applications that run
call ­centers and loyalty cards, for example, traditional computer based technologies.

The C part of ICT refers to the communication of data by electronic means, usually
over some distance. This is often achieved via networks of sending and receiving
equipment, wires and satellite links. The technologies involved in communication
tend to be complex. You certainly do not need to understand them for your ICT
course. However, there are certain aspects of digital communications that you need to
be aware of. These relate primarily to the types of network and the ways of connecting
to the Internet. Let us look at these two briefly:

i) Internal Networks

Network which used to share information between a specific group or peoples of an

entity. Internal network is also known as private network. In corporate world internal
network mean the entire employ realm login to one common domain “not Microsoft
OS domain” to access the enterprise’s shareable application like payroll, health
insurance, or emergency services or business development services. These types of
applications are proprietary to the particular organization. To share the information
between employees or different groups of organization, it requires its own network
which is also called as private network or internal network.

This is also usually referred to as a local area network (LAN), this involves linking a
number of hardware items (input and output devices plus computer processing)
together within an office or building. The aim of a LAN is to be able to share
hardware facilities such as printers or scanners, software applications and data. This
type of network is invaluable in the office environment where the colleagues need to
have access to common data or programs.

ii) External Networks

Like we discussed the internal network is the private network and restricted from the
outer world. External network is also called public network. A business entity or the
corporate provide the information and business solution on the www form or web
page to the public on external network of the company, so all the individuals can go
the external network and fetch the information from anywhere according to their
requirement. External network is provided by the service provider or also called
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backbone carrier. For example, AT& T “the mother bell” is also known as the Digital Divide
backbone carrier or service provider world wide. It means when two remote business
entity like to share the private information they can use any service provider network
i.e. “External network” to complete their communication path. Often you need to
communicate with someone outside your internal network; in this case you will need
to be a part of a Wide Area Network (WAN). The Internet is the ultimate WAN ­ it is
a vast network of networks.

2.3.1 ICT in a Broader Context

ICT will almost certainly cover the above examples of ICT in action, perhaps focusing
on the use of the key applications such as spreadsheets, databases, presentations,
graphics and web design software.

It will also consider the following important topics that deal with the way ICT is used
and managed in an organization:

• The nature of information (the “I” in ICT): This covers topics such as the
meaning and value of information, how information is controlled, the limitations of
ICT, legal considerations;

• Management of information: This covers how data is captured, verified and

stored for effective use the manipulation, processing and distribution of information,
keeping information secure, designing networks to share information; and

• Information systems strategy: This considers how ICT can be used within a
business or organization as part of achieving goals and objectives.

Thus, ICT is a broad and fast­changing subject. A new generation of computer

network software aims at building virtual communities: permanent (or at least
recurring) online meeting places where people can work and play, buy and sell, gossip
and govern, flirt and fight and generally seek their fortunes. The first such places are
being built more or less ad hoc. Their builders are mostly innocent of the history of
human efforts to shape the spaces where people live so that these might better serve
people’s needs and express their dreams. Construction tools appropriate to the
physical (i.e. electronic) constraints of shared online environments are rapidly
becoming available. But there is no generally accepted conceptual framework for their
design, nobody of validated experience to guide their construction. There is not yet
any architecture for cyberspace.

In a world so new that its most fundamental properties are still being created (gravity,
for example), cyberspace designers confront ­ consciously or unconsciously many of
the classic architectural challenges which may be classified as:

i) Selecting from alternative construction approaches and materials: The

“native” medium of cyberspace, a finely woven mesh of polygons with subtly
refractive polychrome surfaces, demands more machine resources than most
visitors can currently afford to. A richly realized environment is thus, in
cyberspace as elsewhere, inevitably an elitist one. Buildings based on simple
cubes covered with low­resolution bitmaps are accessible to all, but are also
banal and dispiriting. How can we build virtual villages that are at once
idiomatic, pleasant to be in and socially inclusive?

ii) Using pre­fabricated elements to reduce costs and speed up construction.

Cyberspace is made of software; and software engineers have been wrestling 22
 Elements of for decades with a problem that is also central to modern architecture how
Information systems can be modularly designed to make them more economic and more
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reliable. Here, however, the issues are more complex, since cyberspace
communities are built on a constantly shifting infrastructure. In fact, the
relationship between structure and infrastructure is all but reversed; how can
we design places for human community that can survive a continual re­design
of the foundations on which they are built?

iii) Supporting sensible patterns of traffic flow: In most virtual settings, next,
ignoring all barriers. People may be present without taking up any visible
space, or alternatively their virtual representative (“avatar”) may be so huge
or so resource intensive that it fills a space intended to hold a hundred
visitors. What is “traffic?” when the users of a space are themselves
constructs produced by other (perhaps even antagonistic) designers?

iv) Designing to human scale: In the virtual world, the role of “size” as a design
factor is disconcertingly variable. It depends on the visitor’s/user’s field of
view and functional reach, which in turn depends on the power of the user’s
display and controls. It is like the shift to electronic music, where timbre,
volume and tonal range, once given by the physical nature of instrument,
become variables, which the composer/performer must learn to control. Issues
of appropriate scale do not go away, but must be redefined in relative terms:
what is the ratio of sizes that must be maintained to support different
experiences?

v) Designing new structures (or re­purposing the old ones) to enhance existing
settings: The Musee D’Orsay and the new subterranean entrance arcade
created for the Louvre will soon have their analogues in cyberspace; perhaps a
conference room smuggled into the design model of an automobile engine, or
an entire city whose “streets” are the circuit diagrams of a computer
processor. Current work to build a database of 3D mages (the “Digital
Human”) to serve as an explorable setting for medical education suggests part
of the challenge; how can virtual reality help making physical/natural
structures more accessible? The far broader issue is: how can we connect the
various virtual environments we build to one another? What design criteria
can be established to aid the process of linking new worlds to the old? There
would­be cyber­architect navigating this maze of conflicting constraints in
search of more than just the solution to a puzzle. In cyberspace as in the
physical world, the goal of architectural design is always a place which, while
fulfilling its various functions, also communicates something to (and about)
the people.

Check Your Progress 2

1) Discuss the meaning of the term information and communication technology?

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2.4 BENEFITS OF ICT

Obviously, there are significant tangible and intangible benefits of ICT:

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• Can be a powerful enabler of development goals because its unique
characteristics dramatically improve communication and the exchange of information
to strengthen and create new economic and social networks;

• Is pervasive and cross cutting as it can be applied to the full range of human
activity from personal use to business and government. It is multifunctional and
flexible, allowing for tailored solutions — based on personalization and localization
— to meet diverse needs; and

• Facilitates disintermediation, as it makes it possible for users to acquire

products and services directly from the original provider, reducing the need for
intermediaries. This not only become a considerable source of efficiency, but has in
fact been one of the factors leading to the creation of an alternative development
paradigm that skips the formation of Co­operatives and self­help groups.

It is, thus, evident that ICT has the potential to bring in multiple benefits in the areas
of governance, integration of marginalized sections, development of rural areas
profitability, and productive improvement in major sectors of the economy. This
would provide the much­needed forward linkage by adding value to information for
using it as an enabler that has been discussed widely in literature. What need to be
tested are the various hypotheses that evaluate the role of ICT and its contribution and
impact on the Indian economy.

Till this section we have seen the concept of ICT and its benefits. Let us study about
the Digital Divide and its impact in the next sections.

2.5 CONCEPT OF DIGITAL DIVIDE

As evident, the term ‘Digital Divide’ combines two words in itself: ‘Digital’ &
‘Divide’. The term ‘Digital’ here refers to Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) while ‘Divide’ means differences, disparity or gap. In general, the
digital divide is a phenomenon wherein those who have access to ICT are benefited by
the use of it. Their economic well being is ensured in the form of highly paid jobs and
more business opportunities, while those who do not have the access to ICT remain
aloof of these benefits and hence comparatively they are in a disadvantageous
position. The divide does not affect only economically but socially as well. Hence the
digital divide is the socio­economic difference between peoples in their access to ICT.
The term also refers to gaps between groups in their ability to use ICTs due to varying
literacy and technical skills, and the gap in availability of quality, useful digital
content. The divide is seen as a socioeconomic problem.

The term was used for the first time in the mid­1990s in reference to the disparity in
Internet access between rural and urban United States of America. The idea of the
digital divide, as put by some scholars, echoes of reservations against claims of the
revolutionary power of the ICT. It is commonly suggested that the ICT is
transforming society by bridging the distance or gap. Against this the skeptics have
pointed out that ICT is forming a new kind of gap and this gap is known as digital
divide. Their argument is based on a hypothesis found in Communications Studies
i.e., “the knowledge gap hypotheses”.

2.5.1 Knowledge Gap Hypothesis

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 Elements of The knowledge­gap hypothesis suggests that each new medium of information
Information increases the gap between the informed class and the uninformed class in the society.
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Those who have access to the new medium will get more information than their
counterparts. It was first proposed by Phillip J. Tichenor and his colleagues. However
this hypothesis is applicable more in case of print medium than in non­print medium
because in case of print medium illiteracy also plays a role to widen the gap. The gap
was thought to decrease as television replaces newspaper as a source of knowledge.
As compared to newspapers, television requires less literacy. But with the advent of
the ICT, in particular the internet, it is feared that the gap may widen, since it is
predominantly a text medium.

2.6 REASONS FOR EXISTENCE OF DIGITAL DIVIDE

There are many reasons which are responsible for the existence of the divide. Some of
them are:

• The non availability of a reliable ICT infrastructure to access the internet. The
ICT infrastructure of a country is determined through a number of measures like
number of PCs, tele­density etc. ICT is highly advanced technology and it is available
with select countries. Hence, other countries have to import the necessary structure.
There is lack of resources to invest in information infrastructure, and research and
development in most of the developing countries.

• There are problems in accessing the internet regularly. There is the problem
of connectivity i.e., availability of a fast, reliable and cost effective internet
connection. Then there is the cost of accessing the internet which includes telephone
tariff and line rental and cost of Internet Service Provider (ISP). To this may be added
the replacement cost of computer. Cost of Internet access may be prohibitive for many
low­income households. The quality of service provided by ISP is also important.
Because of poor quality of services available due to backward technology it becomes
difficult to exploit benefits of ICT.

• Education is one of the major factors hampering diffusion of ICT amongst

masses. Only those who are not only literates but computer literates can really benefit
from ICT. In developing countries where Governments are still trying to universalize
elementary education computer literacy is a far cry. Hence, the divide is bound to
exist.

• The availability of relevant material in one’s own language. The most

important benefit of the internet is that it is the vast reservoir of knowledge &
information. However this knowledge should be comprehensible to those who
actually require it i.e., there must be availability of web content in the language of the
user. Another challenge for the user is to find the information. The absence of relevant
content may act as a barrier to Internet access.

• The digital capacity of the society i.e., e­readiness. E­readiness is the capacity
of the society to incorporate ICT in all its pursuits. The e­readiness of the society
primarily depends upon availability of skilled human resource that is capable of using,
improving, innovating and adapting the new technologies. The different segments of
the society viz the households, business, the government etc. should be willing to
accept and absorb ICT. The government must provide a regulatory framework by
making necessary laws and rules to govern the use of ICT in different sectors of the
society. Lesser the readiness, wider the divide and vice­versa.

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2.7 DIMENSIONS OF THE DIVIDE Digital Divide

The concept of digital divide as presented above may give an impression that it is a
clear single gap which divides a society into two groups: information haves and
information have­nots, but the gap is much complex than this simple formulation. In
the initial stage the debate on digital divide was focused on the issue of availability of
ICT to all at an affordable cost. But now many new dimensions have been added to
this debate. An overview of the dimensions of the divide can be presented in
following manner:

2.7.1 Global Dimensions of Digital Divide

The global digital divide, refers to differences in availability of the ICT between
countries which is reflective of existing economic realities in the world. The
developed nations with the resources to invest in and develop ICT Infrastructure are
reaping enormous benefits from the information age, while developing nations are
trailing along at a much slower pace. This difference in rates of technological progress
is widening the economic disparity between the most developed nations of the world
(primarily Canada, the United States, Japan, and Western Europe) and the
underdeveloped and developing ones (primarily Latin America, Africa, and Southeast
Asia), thus creating digital divide.

Between the countries, the divide’s features have common characteristics. The level
of national income is strongly related to ICT diffusion and is clearly the distinguishing
feature of the divide between industrialized and developing countries. The cost and
availability of telecommunications determines the extent to which the Internet is used,
and per capita access costs are most often higher in poorer countries. According to the
latest UN Human Development Report, industrialized countries, with only 15% of the
world’s population, are home to 88% of all Internet users. Barely 6 per cent of the
world’s people have ever logged onto the Internet and 85 to 90 per cent of them are in
the industrialized countries. Less than 1% of people in South Asia are online even
though one­fifth of the world’s population lives here. The situation is even worse in
Africa. There are only 1 million Internet users on the entire continent of billion plus
people. In the early 21st century; residents of developed countries enjoy many Internet
services which are not available in developing & under­developed countries,
including widespread internet access, e­commerce, online education etc..

2.7.2 National Dimensions of Digital Divide

Within countries, the digital divide often has common characteristics. Use of the
internet is more common among young generation than older one, men than women,
the well educated than the lesser ones, urban rather than rural population, and those
with higher incomes. In our country some states are ahead of others so far as
availability of ICT is concerned. The states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra
Pradesh etc. are more advanced in ICT as compared to states like Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, and Orissa etc. Further ICT is seldom available in villages where it is needed
most. Income level is an important factor since like every other technology ICT has
also got a cost and its benefits can be reaped by those who can pay for it. A study has
concluded that the penetration rate of ICT for the highest income groups is
approximately 7 times larger than that for the lowest income groups. Hence, the poor
are largely left out of the ICT. Another significant factor is the level of education, as
ICT is basically a print medium. The impact of education will be discussed below
while discussing the reasons for the existence of the divide. The gender disparity is
also visible in case of use of ICT and in most of the countries the percentage of 26
 Elements of females is less than one­third of the population on­line. According to the Human
Information Development Report 1999, the average age of the internet user is in between 30­40
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years. However there is a clear increase in all age groups in the world as for as use of
ICT is concerned.

2.7.3 Connectivity Based Divide

This is an emerging dimension of the divide which has come up due to technological
innovations in the field of ICT. A new kind of digital divide based on the usage of
more sophisticated, advanced telecommunication technologies — that include
broadband, WLANs, PDAs and other new information and telecommunication
technologies are emerging. So while developing countries are still in the process of
implementing basic telephony services, advanced countries are focused on rolling out
wire line and wireless broadband services.

Check Your Progress 3

1) Whether digital divide is a simple divide between the haves and have­nots?
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2.8 IMPACT OF DIGITAL DIVIDE

In this section, we are going to discuss the effect of digital divide. There should not be
any kind of divide in the society, all should be equal & every benefit should go to all.
But it’s a distant dream. In fact there are various kinds of divide in the society &
digital divide is one of them. Greater the divide, greater is bound to be the tension
between people and in the society. Due to the impact of the ICT the world is
becoming a global village. The marketing strategies is adopted by the producers with
the help of improved communications technology opposed both rich and poor, equally
to the better quality of life, better consumer goods and so on and thus, they aspire for
the same. If those aspirations are not fulfilled it may lead to frustration and possibly
anti social behavior.

The divide’s impact can be explained as follows:

2.8.1 On Employment

In order to understand the impact of the divide on employment, we have to see how
ICT has changed the work scenario in the economy. By removing the obstacles to
communication ICT has made work independent of location. ICT has created a new
class of skilled workers who are highly paid. There is huge demand of software
professionals. The creation of jobs, the nature, content and quality of work, the
location of work, the education & skills required etc. is to be determined by ICT. But
the question is: Will the information economy be a jobs economy? The World
Employment Report 2001 examines this question and is optimistic. There is evidence
that employment ratios are highest in those countries where the use of ICT is most
widespread. Use of the technologies is nevertheless associated with new patterns of
job creation and job loss. And despite the hopeful signs of employment creation, it is

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clear that jobs will also be lost through three main channels: obsolescence, Digital Divide
automation, and disintermediation.

Certain kind of works, for example, manual record keepers will become obsolete. The
producers and consumers can directly interact on­line so that there is no longer
requirement of channels of distribution. ICT replaces old tasks and occupations
through automation, such as the telephone switchboard operator. But the ICT has also
created new jobs such as webpage designers or call­centre workers and a variety of
new intermediaries. Hence, those who are skilled in ICT are benefited. In such a
scenario if there is digital divide, then those who are at the disadvantaged side have
lower job prospects.

2.8.2 On Development

ICT is associated with productivity improvements. The exploitation of the ICT gives
industries of a country a competitive advantage. ICT opens up a whole new avenue of
economic activities including development of hardware and software, online services,
and many others. ICT offers tools that accelerate development and may become
shortcut to economic growth. The countries with the right mix of skills, infrastructure,
and policies could become important locations in global markets for ICT products
generally.

Countries as diverse as Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Israel, Malaysia and Romania have
all been able to gain niches in such markets. This benefit of ICT is denied to those
countries that stand at the other side of the digital divide. Thus, the existing gap
between the developing and developed countries keeps on widening. ICT has spread
at an astonishing rate. This has created disruptions and divisions in the world.
Disruption occurs because of the inadequacies of existing institutions to cope with the
rapid change and new demands. Institutions and organizations that do not cope up
would, risk loss, irrelevance and closure. Technological changes are favourable to
those who are prepared in advance. The world’s different speeds of change and
different stages of preparedness mean that the existing “digital divides” are certain to
widen.

2.8.3 On National and Social Interest

Access to the ICT is an important component of civil life. Telephone (including

mobile services) is often considered important for of security, and in emergencies.
Internet is an important source of many vital information regarding career, civic life,
safety, etc. In the unit on e­governance we have seen the use of ICT in governmental
functions. In that unit we have seen how the use of the ICT would lead to a healthier
democracy by increased public participation in election and decision making
processes. Many social welfare services are delivered through ICT. ICT improves
social mobility by enabling people to remain in touch with others. ICT plays
important role in the learning and career. The existing digital divide works unfairly to
all those in the lower socio­economic status and all the above mentioned benefits do
not accrue. In the ultimate analysis it is national and social interest which suffers.

Check Your Progress 4

1) What are the harmful effects of the digital divide?

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2.9 MEASURES TO BRIDGE THEDIVIDE

Those who are on the less favorable side of the divide have less opportunity to take
part in new ICT based economy, in which more and more jobs are related to
computers. They have fewer opportunities to take part in the education, training,
shopping, entertainment and communications as compared to those who have access
to ICT.

Since, now more people are regularly making use of ICT, people who lack accesses to
it are at an increasing disadvantage. Therefore increasing the number of people who
have access to ICT is of vital importance. So now it is imperative to bridge the divide.
The solution lies in the problem itself and ICT is the very tool that can be used to
bridge this divide. There are certain steps which can narrow down the divide if not
completely close it. These have been mentioned below:

1) Providing internet access at public places

The first step to be taken in this direction is to solve the problem of non
availability of infrastructure. Since it is impossible to give everyone the
required infrastructure there can be community approach i.e. all have access
to common facilities which are available at public places like schools and
libraries. The lack of infrastructure & financial resources in many countries
suggests that access at public locations will be a relatively cheaper means for
increasing internet access and use. These could either be publicly owned
libraries, community centres, etc. or private cyber cafes, internet cabins.
Increasing Internet connectivity in public places would effectively improve
the internet access and use by those who cannot afford computers.

2) Education matters most of all

Education is vital for reaping the advantages from the emerging ICT era. The
promotion of education and literacy generally, and digital literacy in
particular, is a basic step to bridge the divide. Educational differences
underlie the different rates of penetration of ICT and Internet usage. Efforts
have to be made to provide computer education along with schooling.
Providing computer only is insufficient, teachers need to be trained in ICT.
Besides the school goers, large part of the existing workforce also needs to be
trained in ICT. Training them taking into account their needs is the key to
narrow the digital divide.

3) Exploring the various forms of ICT

Besides the Internet, there are other information and communications
technologies which can be helpful. International Telecommunication Union
has reported that mobile phones diffuse faster than the Internet. Thus, mobile
phones can become alternative routes of getting information because they are
not as demanding as computers and the PC­based Internet in terms of cost and
skills. Even illiterates can use them.

4) Government policies and support

Enhanced governmental support in the form of budgetary allocations, lower
taxes and a regulatory framework are essential for the transition to the ICT
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 ICT and
society. Besides economic support the presence of an appropriate Digital Divide
telecommunication policy is also necessary. The deregulated
telecommunications market in the European Union has led to a substantial
decline in access cost and a sharp rise in Internet users. Clearly­defined
national strategies promoting the development of the Internet and other ICTs
– as in the U.K., Japan, or Korea – accelerate the diffusion of Internet use
through government sponsored projects.

5) Uneven distribution of ICT

Last but not the least understanding the causes of the uneven distribution of
ICT across countries is the most important step in bridging the digital divide.
As we have seen that digital divide has got many dimensions. Further, there
are various factors responsible for the existence of the digital divide, bridging
the digital divide is more complicated than merely providing computers and
internet connections. Bridging the divide has to promote both broader access
to and effective use of, the Internet. It requires cooperation between
governments, the private sectors, and non­governmental organizations.

Check Your Progress 5

1) In what way access to ICT can be provided to those who can not afford it?
.......................................................................................................................
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2.10 SUMMARY

ICT stands for information and communication technology. It is concerned with the
storage, retrieval, manipulation, transmission or receipt of digital data. Importantly it
is also concerned with the way these different uses can work with each other. It is
very essential for businesses, individual and government.

E­readiness is the degree to which a country/state is prepared to participate in the

networked world and demand the adoption of important applications of
ICTs in offering interconnection between the government, business and the citizens.

Digital Divide refers to the gap between those who have access to ICT and those who
have not. The divide is not a unitary concept but a multi­dimensional problem. Some
of its dimensions are:
• Global digital divide i.e. the divide between the countries in their capacity to
adopt and use ICT.
• National dimension of digital divide; in a country ICT is not evenly spread in
all regions, over all societies. There is also a gender and generation based digital
divide.

Due to technological innovations like broadband, wifi etc., there is an emerging

connectivity based digital divide. The divide exists because of:
• Non availability of ICT infrastructure;
• High installation and access cost;
• Low level of education and e­literacy;
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 Elements of • Lack of relevant content in mother tongue.
Information
Technology
The divide has adverse impact on:
• Employment
• Development
• National and social interest

Certain measures can be taken to bridge the divide. These are:

• Making ICT accessible to all.
• Universalizing education including computer education.
• Through governmental support.
• Understanding the causes of the divide and remedying them

In India, the position of digital divide is serious both in terms of global and national
dimensions of digital divide. Governments have taken certain steps in this direction.
Major steps are: (i) Promotion of e­literacy and (ii) E­governance.

2.11 SOLUTIONS / ANSWERS

Check Your Progress 1

Fill in the Blanks

1) (i) Tech Savvy Society and (ii) the Internet, Mobile Phone

Check Your Progress 2

1) ICT stands for Information Communications Technology. ICT is concerned

with the storage, retrieval, manipulation, transmission or receipt of digital
data.

Check Your Progress 3

1) Digital divide is primarily the divide between those who have access to ICT
and those who have not. But this simple statement does not cover the whole
concept of digital divide. The divide has got many dimensions. There is (i) a
divide at global level, (ii) a divide at national level, and (iii) connecting bored
divide.

Check Your Progress 4

1) Digital divide harms in many ways. It affects people by restricting

employment opportunities and through denial of benefits of ICT. If affects
countries by slowing down their economic growth and development.

Check Your Progress 5

1) Access to ICT can be provided by installing computer systems at public

places like Schools, libraries community centre etc. By encouraging private
persons to establish internet kiosks will also help in diffusion of ICT.
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 ICT and
Digital Divide
2.12 FURTHER READINGS

1) Employment strategy (EMP/TRENDS)­World Employment Report 2001,

International Labour Organisation. Sept. 2004.10Jan.2006
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/strat/wer2001.html.
2) Emerging Trends in Business: Role of Government & Industry, N.Vittal,
Paper presented in the IPM Seminar. Meerut.28 Jan. 2002. 4
Jan.2007<http://cvc.nic.in/>.
3) ITU Telecom Asia 2002: Spotting trends in communications, Network
Magazine, Sandeep Ajgaonkar, http://www.networkmagazineindia.com.
4) Digital Divide: Where Does India Stand? And the Way Forward, Subhash
Bhatnagar, Workshop on Scaling up ICT for Poverty Alleviation in India.
Indian Institute of Management. Ahmedabad. 26­27 Feb. 2004.
5) The Four Digital Divides, Ed. Kenneth Keniston and Deepak Kumar. New
Delhi, Sage Publishers, 2003.
6) Government of India. Ministry of communication and Information
Technology.

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