Reader Response 2 (World wakes up to digital divide)

Wakefield (2010) observes that digital divide is becoming a growing concern in the world. In her article, she quotes sources from International Telecommunications Union (ITU) that ranks countries based on their internet connectivity and economic status, where the more economically developed countries are the most connected. Reports from New America Foundations (NAF) also show that the internet usage of a developed nation is not proportionately represented as the rural areas tend to have lesser internet access and usage as compared to the urban cities. The author found that the less developed countries in Europe, which have noticed this trend of unequal usage, try to increase their countries' access to internet of the rural villages by providing Wi-Fi infrastructure to them. This helps some villagers to improve their lives socially, economically and culturally. However, according to Wakefield, there is a fundamental problem that deters the internet usage in the rural areas to rise significantly. The internet usage is too "sophisticated" for many of the uneducated and poor villagers to comprehend and use. This shortcoming of technology has led me into thinking what are the possible remedies and alternatives we have to develop a better living environment for all.

 

I live in a highly economically developed nation with advanced technology, but I also acknowledge the fact that everyone has different resources and abilities. Some of the people are simply too poor to afford the access to neither technology nor an education that enables them to use these technologies productively. However, Wakefield seems to neglect this fact when she remarks that broadband connectivity will improve the lives of people if they use it effectively. In fact, standing in the shoes of a poor and uneducated villager who lives in the rural area of an economically less developed country, I feel that technology may not be the most influential factor that will improve the lives of these members of the society. I will not deny the fact that technology and internet are crucial elements that have brought prosperity and improvement in the living standards of the people of my country. Yet, such degree of effective improvement in standards of living is not applicable to everyone in my society and other parts of the world.

According to the Hierarchy of Needs (Maslow, 1943), 'needs' have different degrees and layers. Many poor in the developing countries could not afford the basic needs for survival, such as food and housing. Technology may then be one of the irrelevant luxurious 'wants' of these poor as it creates an even heavier financial burden to their lives. In fact, the article itself reports that Native Americans who live in the 'barren desert' have to pay more for the Wi-Fi access. In addition, the internet also may provide these less privileged ones with information that will not help to improve their standards of living in a direct and effective manner. This is mainly due to the fact that some of these technologies are simply too expensive for them to use in their daily lives. For instance, telemedicine, which allows patients to receive medical treatment without the need of travelling long distances, is a costly treatment which many poor villagers cannot afford (Hjelm, N. M, 2005).

Such situations are not only relevant in less developed countries; they also surface in highly developed countries, like Singapore and America. In these countries, income disparity is a serious problem in the society. In Singapore, despite the high Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, many poor families still struggle with their basic needs. However, the Singapore government helps this group of people to cope with the advancing technology by providing them with Wi-Fi connection and ways to obtain the knowledge of using this technology. This helps the people to find such technology less alien to comprehend. First of all, the government subsidises housing, education and healthcare service, so that the less privileged members of the society can meet their fundamental needs for survival. After these subsidies are given, the people will receive help in learning the ways to use such technology. The young can learn in their educational institutions while the elderly will be educated on how to operate the computer in classes provided in Community Centres (CC).

Though such system is not perfect in allowing all citizens to have an access to the technology, it shows that the authority has taken note of the priority of needs and wants of the people. Although the access to technology and internet may not be the top priority of the less privileged members of the society, I agree with Wakefield’s view about the positive impact of effective usage of internet. This is probably why the government has implemented those programmes in Singapore to ensure the poor will not be left out in terms technological benefit after their basic needs have been well taken care of.

Instead, the Singapore government focuses efforts on the education. The ruling authority believes that education is the most effective factor in helping all the citizens to improve their quality of life in the long run. Efforts, such as the idea of meritocracy and subsidised education fees, allow all to have an equal opportunity to climb up the social ladder and obtain a better material life for the individuals and their families.

All in all, I believe that effective usage of technology will improve the lives of people in varying degrees, but it may not be the most essential and useful factor to increase the standards of living of the people, especially the less privileged members of the society. Education, in my opinion, with the supplementary use of technology, can create a better future for the people.

References:

Wakefield, J. (2010). World wakes up to digital divide. Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8568681.stm

Maslow, A.H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50 (4), 370–96. Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/motivation.htm

Hjelm, N. M. (2005). Benefits and drawbacks of telemedicine. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 11 (2), 60-70