3 CURRENT ISSUES IMPACTING

THE DEVELOPING WORLD

DIGITAL INEQUALITY...

...& THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

THE MATTHEW EFFECT:

The socio-economic phenomenon of cumulative advantage of economic capital, where the "rich get richer and the poor get poorer"

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken even that which he hath.

—Matthew 25:29, King James Version.

DEFINING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

AND DIGITAL INEQUALITY

In an information and communications technologies for development (ICT4D) educational context,

"digital divide"

may be defined as a difference in access to and use of information and communication technologies between

"haves" and "have-nots".

"Digital inequality"

may be defined as inequality among persons with

access to information and communication technologies (DiMaggio, 2001).

Unfortunately, digital divide and inequality can be "positive" feedback loops .

UNESCO (2014) describes this in ICT4D by noting the presence of

The Matthew Effect.

We will examine 3 such issues,
and ideas for solving them...

3 CURRENT ISSUES IMPacTING THE DEVELOPING WORLD

1. 90% mobile-cell penetration in developing countries

by the end of 2014... leading to new inequalities

2. Affordability, literacy, gender bias and other inequalities

remain formidable "sticky" obstacles to technology adoption

3. Absence of strong, free economies maintains digital divides and inequalities

1. MOBILE-CELL PENETRATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES > 90%

Despite the near-saturation level of mobile communications technology, problems remain. Inequality never completely goes away, it simply shifts to other areas. For example, mobile-cell penetration arrives as feature phones - unequal when compared to the developed world's smart phones. Additionally, mobile-cell penetration does not yet equate to internet access: only 20% of the population of Africa will be online by the end of 2014 (ICT, 2014) because of inequality problems such as lack of infrastructure, cost to users, etc. Bridging the divide of mobile-cell accessibility has led to a new digital divide.

2. certain inequalities remain "sticky" obstacles to technology adoption

How much learning happens when field work comes first? Obstacles to widespread adoption of internet and communication technologies include the following: Affordability - According to Measuring the Information Society (2014), prices remain much too high for ICT services. Literacy - UNESCO (2014) estimates 774 million adults & 123 million young people cannot read or write, obstructing ICT usage Gender biases - In many developing countries cultural and societal expectations stipulate that women receive less education. Frustratingly, many digital inequalities such as these are
highly resilient and resistant to change.

3. Absence of strong, free economies maintains digital divides

Because an important measurement of the digital divide - subscribed telecommunications capacity - is distributed along the lines of income inequality (International Telecommunication Union, 2012), income levels are important determinants of digital inequality in developing nations, and so therefore is the strength of their economies. This has been observed recently in Asia as South Korea's "Miracle on the Han River" catapulted it from aid-recipient to first-world power, and also as China's similar export-driven economy lifted half a billion out of extreme poverty. In both cases, vibrant economies that embraced free trade and globalization crossed digital divides and reduced digital inequalities. The vast majority of developing nations still struggle economically, and because income levels do as well, digital inequality persists despite massive aid, the UN's Millennium Development Goals and other efforts.

solutions

There are no simple solutions.

But there are positive directions that often solve smaller problems, one at a time.

The following are some ideas that may contribute to
solutions for each of the three issues.

1) Addressing new inequalities as
the developing world goes mobile:

Research emphasis for mobile-learning should be further expanded from the digital divide to the full range of digital inequality (DiMaggio, 2001). Much of our research from as recent as just a few years ago has focused more on the issue of a divide, as developing countries struggled simply to connect. Now that the lights are going on, a re-focus is needed to inform future policy directions and decision-making.

2) Tackling obstacles that seem resilient to change:

These obstacles are varied and thorny.

Some are sociological or cultural. Others require more physical infrastructure or other government and private-enterprise resources. Educational technologies can tackle many, such as affordability and literacy, by connecting individuals with open source and public domain digital resources.

Connection to these types of resources can create access to information and opportunity never seen before.

3) Enabling stronger economies that reduce inequality:

This is perhaps the most problematic issue, largely the
realm of the field of "the dismal science," economics.
How can digital (including educational) technology contribute?
Perhaps by top-down, as well as a bottom-up, approaches. Digital technology connects people, collaborates action and illuminates issues with transparency. These can pressure governments and industry to reduce corruption and increase efficiency. Individuals can combat illiteracy and become better educated, increasing their value as labor ... or increasing their odds of innovating as entrepreneurs.

final thoughts

This:
<----
is becoming a reality in the developing world.
It's incremental progress, crossing the digital divide
and tackling digital inequality.

Capitalism pushes access to digital technologies, such as mobile phones and internet. New inequalities appear, requiring focus on new research and solutions.

references

DiMaggio, P., & Hargittai, E. (2001). From the "Digital Divide" to "Digital Inequality": Studying Internet Use as Penetration Increases. Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies
International Telecommunications Union (2012). Measuring the Information Society
West, M., & Han, C. E. (2014). Reading in the mobile era: A study of mobile reading in developing countries. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Cover photo courtesy John Corney via Flickr Creative Commons
Slide 4 photo courtesy International Livestock Research Institute via Flickr Creative Commons
Slide 5 photo courtesy Nick Brooks via Flickr Creative Commons
Slide 6 photo courtesy UNESCO
Slide 7 photo courtesy photo courtesy United Nations via Flickr Creative Commons
Slide 9 photo courtesy Cyrus Farivar via Flickr Creative Commons
Slide 13 photo courtesy John Spencer via Flickr Creative Commons
Slide 14 photo courtesy United Nations via Flickr Creative Commons