ICT AND DIGITAL DIVIDE

 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’.

Here we will discuss the evolution of ICT, benefits, concept of digital divide and the problems created by the digital divide.

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;
  • · Lack of relevant content in mother tongue.

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.

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