The global divide means that the digital revolution was so enormous and so fundamental, it meant if you were not online or didn’t have access to computers it was a huge disadvantage. The digital divide was known to be a cultural and economic ‘fundamental’ problem. The digital information revolution presents a significant opportunity for developing countries to take a big step forward. The internet was formed in the UK; it was all in the high end research level. As the internet was so limited it meant that the only countries which had good education systems and money were able to involve themselves in the digital revolution. In order to access the internet people need a personal computer (PC). Back in the days PC’s were extremely expensive and for a decent one nowadays they still are, therefore, it is common that the majority of computer owners are fairly wealthy. Urgent actions are needed at the local, national, and international levels to bridge the global digital divide.
Another reason for the global divide would be the inadequate economic statuses between all of the world’s countries. For example, HIC countries such as the US, China and Russia have more access to computer technology and internet because they have enough money to invest in technology. However, countries with less stable economies (LIC’s) wouldn’t have much access to technology as HIC’s do because they don’t have the money to do so. Today there is practically no technological limitation preventing access, even a isolated village in a faraway computer station it will lack telephones and electricity however this and the internet is processed using a satellite dish and solar power. The populations of these low income countries may only have basic internet technology compared to higher income countries who have been used to technology for many years and therefore are always up to date and able to use the latest technology available. This is how there is a digital divide between rich and poor. Not only is the global divide caused by economic status it is also caused by the social and political beliefs of certain countries. An example of this is that certain websites may be blocked in a specific country as they are associated with different political beliefs. The population of the country is less likely to consider any other political principles if the website has been blocked. Regardless of this, other countries may believe in ‘the freedom of speech’ as there is an internet restriction in these countries (LIC’s). The level of control is an effect of social and political beliefs held by some countries across the world and characterizes another procedure of the global divide.
Cultural and geographical reasons can also be linked to the global divide through different social and political beliefs. Although a difficult term to understand, this means that the location and culture of a certain country can affect the accessibility of computing technology and the use of internet access. An example of this would be that locations of some countries mean it’s difficult to access the internet compared to other countries where internet access is not a problem and is very accessible. Some cultures of particular countries will also affect the accessibility of computing technology. For example, countries with high internet usage such as Japan or the US would have accepted the internet as part of their cultures when it was first created in 1991. This shows that the locations and cultures of countries are also responsible of the digital divide.
The BBC website has shown to publish a report how the “digital divide between rich and poor- nations is narrowing fast, according to a World Bank report”. This report explains how banks around the world want to hold a campaign to increase usage and access to technology in poorer areas. The UN also hoped that widening access to technology such as mobile phones will help decrease poverty.
The most recent news story on the BBC website which was published in 2013 explains how “The UK has moved up to the UN’s net-connectivity table, leapfrogging Honk Kong and Japan to take eight places”. The report explains how South Korea has topped the list for the third year in the row while Central African Republic has come last. This is where they warned that the relative high cost of internet access in developing countries was restricting and causing a “digital divide”.
A way to help tackle and decrease the problem of the digital divide is by funding charities such as the Americans have done with their charity organisation of ‘One laptop per child’. These people have set up an overseas charity organisation of affordable educational devices for low income countries. Laptops and computers have been sent to over 30 European countries as well as Central and South American countries, these include: Colombia, Haiti, Peru, Uruguay etc. Laptops are also sent to African countries such as; Ethiopia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Rwanda etc. Lastly the organisation has also sent technological devices to Asian countries which include: Afghanistan, Nepal, Mongolia etc. The charity organisation hopes that this will help to improve the global divide.
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