Remapping the Digital Divide

Abstract

Just as the introduction of advanced information technologies—computers, telecommunications, microform systems, video and audio devices—into the realms of business, agriculture, education, various social services, and science has had a decided impact on those vital activities, so are these “tools” and their related methodologies having an effect on emergency management. The growing complexity of our society is necessitating changes in many institutions and processes, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. One approach to enhancing governmental preparedness, both at the federal and state‐local levels, is through the selective utilization of devices and networks which facilitate and improve the collection, storage, processing, and dissemination of information vital to those who must anticipate and cope with a range of disasters.     

要积极应对"数字鸿沟"问题

“数字鸿沟”这一概念自20世纪90年代中期诞生以来，已经引起了国际社会的高度关注。信息时代的贫富差距不仅表现为收入水平的差距，而且体现在日益扩大的“数字鸿沟”上。中国作为一个发展中国家，在实现现代化的过程中，必须采取正确的战略，积极应对“数字鸿沟”问题。     

数字鸿沟弥合的若干思考

数字鸿沟是全球范围内数字生态的内在失衡;是由地域、教育水平和种族不同的群体在掌握和运用电脑、网络等数字化技术上存在的差距;是传统的国际和国内经济的不平等和不平衡、传统社会分化现象在新时代下的延续的一种表现形式,需要引起各国政府的高度重视。     

数字鸿沟的本质解析

随着社会信息化的推进,数字鸿沟问题日益凸显,严重影响了和谐社会的构建,要想从根本上弥合数字鸿沟就必须剖析其本质。数字鸿沟本质上是由技术、经济、知识和社会4个层面构成的综合性的差距。在技术层面上,它反映了不同主体在接入新兴信息技术方面存在的差距,是新兴信息技术普及过程中出现的＂技术鸿沟＂;在经济层面上,它反映了国际国内经济不平等和贫富差距在信息时代的延续,是信息时代经济发展进程中出现的＂经济鸿沟＂;在知识层面上,它反映了不同群体使用新兴信息技术获取和利用信息资源方面的差距,是信息主体获取和利用信息资源过程中出现的＂知识鸿沟＂;在社会层面上,它反映了信息社会的阶层分化和社会分化现象,是信息社会不平等导致的＂社会鸿沟＂。

Abstract：

With the development of social informatization,the digital divide problem figures increasingly prominently and affects the construction of the harmonious society seriously.In order to close the digital divide fundamentally,it＇s necessary to anatomize its essence.Digital divide is essentially a comprehensive gap which consists of factors in the technical,economic,knowledge and social aspects.In technical aspect,it reflects the differences among different agents to get access to new information technologies,and it＇s the ＂technological gap＂ which appears in the popularization process of new information technologies.In economic aspect,it reflects the international and domestic economic inequality and the continuation of polarization of poor and rich in the information age,and it＇s the ＂economic gap＂ which appears in the economic development process in the information age.In knowledge aspect,it reflects the differences among different groups to use new information technologies to obtain and utilize information resources,and is the ＂knowledge gap＂ which appears in the information resources acquisition and utilization process by information agents.In social aspect,it reflects the stratum differentiation and social differentiation in the information society,and is the ＂social gap＂ caused by the inequality of the information society.     

数字鸿沟问题研究述评

目前 ,国内外各界对数字鸿沟问题的研究十分关注 ,已取得不少研究成果。对国内外关于数字鸿沟的起源、定义、本质、发展趋势等方面的研究进行了述评。     

中国如何填平数字鸿沟

文章提出了数字鸿沟的有关问题，介绍了什么是数字鸿沟以及它的现状，介绍了发达国家解决这一问题的方法，并探讨了如何在中国填平数字鸿沟。     

Methodological Challenges of Digital Divide Measurements

The term “digital divide” has been used for almost a decade and typically relates to sociodemographic differences in the use of information and communication technology. However, the corresponding measurement is still relatively imprecise. Very often it is simply reduced to comparisons of Internet penetration rates. This article extends the measurements above the usual bivariate comparisons. Within this context, three essential approaches are presented and critically evaluated. First, loglinear modeling is used to address the interactions among the factors affecting the digital divide. Second, compound measures (i.e., the Digital Divide Index) that integrate a number of variables into a single indicator are discussed. Third, time-distance methodology is applied to analyze changes in the digital divide. The article argues that these approaches often yield entirely different conclusions compared to simple bivariate analysis. The examples are presented as a general warning against an oversimplified methodological approach to digital divide studies.     

数字鸿沟与信息扶贫

Based on the study of digital divide, this paper focuses on analyzing the information gap in China, and advocates that we should help the poor with information. The paper devotes a preliminary discussion on the strategies, policies and specific measures that we should adopt in helping the poor with information.     

数字鸿沟效应研究述评

随着全球信息化的推进,数字鸿沟问题日益凸现,它对社会经济各领域所产生的深远影响就是数字鸿沟效应。数字鸿沟效应主要体现在经济、社会、政治三个方面,研究发现:(1)数字鸿沟的经济效应有加剧南北经济差距、阻碍信息化落后行业提高收益、拉大群体间的收入分配差距;(2)数字鸿沟的社会效应有加剧性别鸿沟、扩大教育鸿沟和引发新形式的阶层分化;(3)数字鸿沟的政治效应有造成公民权利不平等以及威胁发展中国家的国家安全。在文献评述的基础上,对数字鸿沟效应未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

Methodological Challenges of Digital Divide Measurements

The term “digital divide” has been used for almost a decade and typically relates to sociodemographic differences in the use of information and communication technology. However, the corresponding measurement is still relatively imprecise. Very often it is simply reduced to comparisons of Internet penetration rates. This article extends the measurements above the usual bivariate comparisons. Within this context, three essential approaches are presented and critically evaluated. First, loglinear modeling is used to address the interactions among the factors affecting the digital divide. Second, compound measures (i.e., the Digital Divide Index) that integrate a number of variables into a single indicator are discussed. Third, time-distance methodology is applied to analyze changes in the digital divide. The article argues that these approaches often yield entirely different conclusions compared to simple bivariate analysis. The examples are presented as a general warning against an oversimplified methodological approach to digital divide studies.     

全球数字鸿沟现状分析

信息技术在全球得到广泛应用的同时，也在全球产生了数字鸿沟。本文分析了各个区域之间和各个国家或地区之间的数字鸿沟，指出不同区域、不同国家或地区之间存在明显的数字鸿沟。     

Digital Divide Complacency: Misconceptions and Dangers

In the United States an intense debate has taken place between those wishing to minimize the digital divide and others who are skeptical of this view. In regard to the global digital divide, by contrast, although a similar type of complacency can be found, it has not yet been seriously debated. This article, accordingly, hopes to initiate such a discussion. It attacks the notions that information technology can be easily compared with the earlier diffusion of consumer durable goods, that the divide can be made to disappear by redefining the issue, and that the global divide can be analyzed without the help of basic knowledge from fields such as innovation studies, technology and development, and the diffusion of process innovations.     

Digital Divide and Caste in Rural Pakistan

This study examined how caste influences adoption of information and communication technologies. It entailed a survey of 2750 farmers, who were interviewed in person, in rural Punjab (Pakistan), and two different methods for data analysis—data mining and indices-based statistical analysis. The analysis shows digital divides at the caste level. Furthermore, it shows that old and new technologies diffuse differently among castes.     

Digital Divide Complacency: Misconceptions and Dangers

In the United States an intense debate has taken place between those wishing to minimize the digital divide and others who are skeptical of this view. In regard to the global digital divide, by contrast, although a similar type of complacency can be found, it has not yet been seriously debated. This article, accordingly, hopes to initiate such a discussion. It attacks the notions that information technology can be easily compared with the earlier diffusion of consumer durable goods, that the divide can be made to disappear by redefining the issue, and that the global divide can be analyzed without the help of basic knowledge from fields such as innovation studies, technology and development, and the diffusion of process innovations.     

基于数字鸿沟与教育鸿沟的高校馆读者信息素质塑造冷思考

本文作者从普通高校图书馆践行信息教育职能的实际情况出发,在分析了数字鸿沟、教育鸿沟产生的原因及负面影响后,指出了图书馆在填充高等教育鸿沟工程中的重要作用,并阐述了几项切实可行的操作方法,供业内人士参考、商榷。     

我国“数字鸿沟”研究述评

对国内数字鸿沟的定义及本质、表现及成因、实证研究等方面进行述评,指出了未来的研究方向.     

论数字鸿沟的产生、发展及消亡

通过对信息不公平在当今时代的表现形式——数字鸿沟的产生、概念,以及近年来数字鸿沟的相关数据发展变化情况进行分析,得出信息不公平将伴随人类社会长期存在,但是数字鸿沟终会消亡的结论。     

我国数字鸿沟的社会效应分析

数字技术在给我们带来诸多便利的同时,也带来了新的不平等和新的社会分化,这就是数字鸿沟.数字鸿沟对社会产生的影响即是数字鸿沟的社会效应.教育鸿沟、性别鸿沟、城乡鸿沟是其3个主要方面.直接影响着经济社会的和谐发展.     

The Digital Divide as a Complex and Dynamic Phenomenon

The purpose of this article is to propose a fruitful analytical framework for data supposedly related to the concept of the so-called "digital divide." The extent and the nature of this divide depend on the kind of access defined. Considering the possession of hardware, growing divides among different categories of income, employment, education, age, and ethnicity can be proved to have existed in the 1980s and 1990s according to official American and Dutch statistics. If only by effects of saturation, these gaps will more or less close. However, it is shown that differential access of skills and usage is likely to increase. The growth of a usage gap is projected. Multivariate analyses of Dutch official statistics reveal the striking effect of age and gender as compared to education. The usage gap is related to the evolution of the information and network society. Finally, policy perspectives are discussed.