Jamie vincent dair was born 20 June 1985 in Ninewells hospital Dundee, scotland. son of John and Maureen dair. He has two male siblings Christopher and Michael who were aged 2 and 4 at his birth. His early childhood years were spent in Carnoustie, Scotland. Jamie and his family moved to Brisbane, Australia in 1989.
The Digital Divide – Introduction
Bagchi, K.2005. “Global Digital Divide�? Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 8(3): 47-46.
Bagchi investigates the possible factors relating to the creation of the digital divide. The “global digital Divide�? takes an international viewpoint for study and explores three main questions. 1.For the entire group of nations, what indicators contribute to the Digital Divide? 2.Are there differences in indicators of Digital Divide and their impact on Digital Divide for developing and industrialised nations Development over Time. 3.Have the relationships of indicators with Digital Divide changed over time for developing and industrialized nations? Bagchi provides a theoretical foundation drawn from previous studies and explores possible global factors which have created the Digital divide phenomenon.
Wallsten, S. 2005 “Regulation and Internet Use in Developing Countries. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 53(2): 501-524.
Wallsten provides more introductory understanding of Digital Divide and how it has become a major focus in recent years. He suggests that the digital is a cycle where by Low income promotes limited information technology use and low information technology use limits the potential to increase ones income. This article also explores reasoning as to why developing countries have limited internet usage. It focuses on regulation of internet and technology and how such regulation can promote the uptake of ICT. Wallsten identifies competition as a necessary part of a growing internet marketplace but still believes limiting entry barriers and comprehensive regulatory guidelines would ensure a diminishing Digital Divide in developing nations.
Sub Topics
Age
Hindman, D. 2000. “The rural-urban digital divide�? Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 77(3): 549-561.
Hindman presents a study on the digital divide and the factors which promote limited use of technology, it is suggested that age is a key factor as to a persons interest and ability to use new ICT and it takes precedence over geographical location. Hindman hypothesises that within one country geographical location can create a digital divide, however after testing such hypothesis on results of two national surveys in May 1995 and November 1998 The rural urban Digital Divide suggests that there was an increase in technology usage between surveys but geographical location was of limited influence, factors which were more influential included age, income and education.
Gender
Ono, H., and M. Zavodny. 2005. Gender Differences in Information Technology Usage: A U.S.-Japan Comparison. Sociological Perspectives, 48 (1) 105-133.
Ono and zavodny study the factors which promote internet usage between genders in Japanese and American society. The study suggests that before we can compare the differences in gender and the Digital divide we must understand the social context which creates inequality, then compare and contrast such inequality in relation to internet usage and country. Gender differences in Information Technology uses believe that societal differences can be partly attributed to the access and use of internet and technology. Japanese woman are victims of a limit social standing and have less access to internet in often lower paid and under skilled jobs which do not promote the use of technology. They concluded that Gender role within society deminishes their own personal interest in ICT.
Attitudinal
Huang, H, C. Keser, J. Leland., and J. Shachat “Trust, the Internet, and the digital divide�?, IBM Systems Journal, 42(3): 507-508.
The digital divide can be attributed to the levels of trust towards internet and its uses. Trust, the internet and the digital divide studies the penetration of internet in countries which have a high level of trust for new technology; the article explains the possible positive uses for the internet and looks at growth statistics which provide a link between development and ICT. It attributes this growth to the attitudes towards internet and technology. It also draws the link between countries of higher socioeconomic standing experiencing higher levels of trust and interest in new and emerging technologies.
Socio-economic
Cullen, R. 2003. “The digital divide: A global and national call to action�? The Electronic Library Oxford, 21(3): 247- 258.
Cullen explores the digital divide and attributes it to the socioeconomic status of countries. He suggests that without adequate education and increased income, citizens of developing nation’s will not and cannot use ICT to its full potential. The article suggests that technology can still be evident even when a country has large scale socio-economic problems, it uses India as an example of a country actively adopting ICT however still experiencing the highest concentration of poverty in the world. Cullen uses New Zealand as another example of both socio-economic and racial barriers in the use of ICT and concludes that Government must promote the integration of ICT into community and make substantial efforts to ensure personal socio-economic factors don’t inhibit ones opportunity to access new and emerging technologies.
Geographical
Espiritu, A. 2003. “Digital divide and implications on growth: Cross-country analysis�? Journal of American Academy of Business, 2(2):450-454.
Espiritu discusses the notion that a countries economic growth is directly correlated with their access to ICT (information and communication technology) and attempts to explore the validity of the term Digital Divide. The study uses a sample of 36 countries to compare and contrast economic growth and technology usage. It is concluded that there is a direct relationship between growth and internet access. Growth associated with internet users in the developing countries is lower than industrialised countries by approximately .07%. This article also looks at the term digital divide and attempts to prove or disprove its influence and place in modern technology discussion.
Mistry, J. 2005. “Bridging the Digital Divide,�? Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 8(3): 28-47.
Mistry provides a concept framework to explain factors which can be attributed to the growing digital divide and ways in which countries can move to bridge the gap. For the purpose of this study India is used as an example of a developing nation experiencing the positive and negative affects of ICT. The study recommends a Conscious effort by government to play both a direct and indirect role in bridging the digital divide, by promotion of government services using internet and computer based technologies.
Educational
Finn, S., and J.G. Inman. 2004. “Digital Unity and Digital Divide: Surveying Alumni to Study Effects of a Campus Laptop Initiative. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 36(3): 297- 318.
This study explores the affects of an information technology initiative in an educational institution. The article explores the term digital divide providing some historical background and introductory information to ensure better understanding of who is affected by the digital divide. City Grove University implemented a comprehensive laptop initiative to combat the negative affects of the increased reliance on information technology. The study showed that students were actively using information technology as the laptops were accessible and the university implemented a broad infrastructure to support it. It concluded that persons undertaking higher education are exposed to technology daily and have more access than those who possess limited education. It also suggests that the larger the technology focus within the institution the larger the chance students will be actively involved in internet and other forms of technology both in their educational and personal lives.
