Know IT World - By Trishant

Hello, Today I want to discuss about very serious topic, which has created a whirlpool wind all around the world, i.e, "DIGITAL DIVIDE".




But before going on to the topic, I would like to narrate you one incident…..

Few days before, we were having a party; it was just a get-together with all my good old school friends which were meeting after a long span of time. There was one cousin named “Raju” along with me who came from a small village. As we were meeting after a long gap everyone just asking for each other, “Hay! What’s your e-mail address? What’s your e-mail address? ”. One of my friend suddenly asked Raju, “hay! Raju, what’s your e-mail address? “. He just became nervous and looked at me with petty eyes and told him, “Sorry! I have mail address not e-mail address. What this “e” stands for? “.
At that moment I felt how this digital gap still prevailed in our society and how much this digital gulf is widen.
At the one end we are utilizing all recent technologies including TV, Telephones, Fax, Computers, Internets and countless other technological tools and instruments that are routinely used by millions of affluent people to greatly improve their productivity, their health, and their quality of life.
But tragically, the large majority of world about six billion people is not in a position to access the systems or are at ease with the programs which make it work. Millions of them have still to make their first telephone call.
In this respect, today a world can be divided into:







There was a time when it was used to say, “Might is right”.
Then after time changed and it was said, “Money is power”. The spinning wheel of time again moved ahead and now “Information is power”. Sometime it is also referred to as “Information Revolution”. Today person having information can get triumph in all sector of life and who don’t have right information can lag behind. This gap between haves and have-nots commonly refer to as the Digital Divide.
Mr. Kofi Anan, secretary general, UN in one of his speech, rightly said,
“The digital divide is basically, a divide of opportunities, of leverage to take advantage of the resources, of knowledge and of course of our future.”
As we are now moving into the 21st century, the pace of globalization and the growth of new technologies, such as the Internet, are fueling both economic prosperity and human advancement. The Internet itself has started to transform the way we deliver and receive information and, in turn how we live and do business.
Despite this undisputed potential offered by Information and Communication technology we must not forget what life really is like for the majority of the people on this globe. It is shame for us to see that about 3 billion people live on just 2 dollars a day and about 1 billion people live on mere 1 dollar a day. Poverty, sickness, homelessness, martial violence, lawlessness and powerlessness continue to determine living condition worldwide. This social and economic inequality is due to the lack of access, access to opportunities, access to information, and access to resources.
Recent studies showed that the digital divide in United States is closing, But what about the less developed or developing countries?

Some relevant data:

►On average, a person in US has to spent 1 month salary to purchase a computer, whereas in Bangladesh, whole annual salary is needed to purchase the same computer.

►To date, there are 610.5 computers per 1000 people in the United States but only 11 per 1000 people in country like India.




►There are 70 phone lines per 100 people in US, whereas India have only 9 phone lines per 100 people and 1 out of 3 persons has no electricity.




Internet today is a buzzword, but the digital universe created by the internet is still untouched by many people. The graphical form of Internet, WWW, is only a six year old kid.




According to the latest available figures:




• There are estimated 429 million people online globally; this is just six percent of the world population.
• Of those 429 million, 41 percent are in USA & Canada.
• 27 percent belongs to Europe, Middle East & Africa.
• 20 percent of the online population logs on from Asia pacific.




One projection estimates a rise to 720 million people worldwide in 2006, which will be also mere 10 percent of world population. It is true that countries like US, Japan, Germany, UK, Australia, France and others have already gained the digital prosperity, but the developing countries including India (except states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh are clearly a cut from the rest) has to make extra efforts in achieving digital prosperity. The number of computers in India has now reached 5 million but this is just a fragment of the countries one billion people and country is leader in Information Technology.
This digital divide is multidimensional challenge. The Internet and other technologies itself can not solve all social and economic problems till the key issues like,
Education, health, transport etc are not addressed properly and effectively. The London based Panos Institute rightly remarked, “The Internet comes close to being a mass medium in the industrialized countries but a minority medium in developing countries.”
Now the question arises that how we can bridge this wide gulf?
So, there is a need of systematic analysis, an innovative blend of creativity and commitment to bridge this digital gulf. In my view, there are at least five key prerequisites for bridging this inequitable gap and in order to achieve technological equality. These are:

a) Awareness i.e. Education.

b) Access.

c) Affordability i.e. economic development.

d) Availability.

e) Adaptability i.e. sovereignty.
a) Awareness: - Awareness among people is very important. Education is probably the most important issue that affects the ability to benefit from technology. Unless people can read and understand what they find on the Internet, all the computers and networks in the world would not be of much use. People must be made aware of the benefit of computer and Internet. Quality education must be made available all where in cities as well as rural areas. I am stressing upon Quality education not mere education. As the percentage of village with school is only 49.3 in Kerla and over 92 percent in Bihar. Yet Kerla has over 85 percent literacy while the situation of Bihar is not hidden to us.

b) Access: - Although many people are aware of the potential and importance of the digital revolution, not all of them have access to technologies. So, global as well as rural connectivity is essential today. This connectivity should be physical as well as electronic, domestic as well as international connectivity. I am talking about access to market, access to opportunities and access to information. Well connected roads, proper supply of electricity and effective communication line i.e. phone, broadband, satellite are essential for the overall development of cities and rural areas.

c) Affordability: - Today, not everybody can afford new communications technologies. In most countries, the cost of hardware, software and the connection fee are so high that Internet access remains out of reach for most people in those countries. Today we are talking about broadband but it is out of reach of people in rural areas, low-income groups. So there is a need of economic development which will lead to the development of people. Free training should be provided by government and private sector to those who can’t afford this. Telephones, computers should be provided either on low cost or minimum interest rate. Enhanced education system and improved policy and execution can create more opportunity for poor and low-income group.

d) Availability: - Although, the Internet is an immense online library of information, it is also an info inferno where the Gems often have to be dug out of the trash. The bombardment of info has to be selected, refined, digested and understood in order to become useful information and to be transformed into knowledge. Language is another barrier, today, all technology; basically Internet is available in English. As a result, people who don’t know English get difficulty in locating information. Therefore, other languages also must be promoted, so that more and more people can join this revolution. Many efforts have already been started. In India, Microsoft Corporation has recently launched the Hindi version of Windows operating system.

e) Adaptability: - People should be able to adapt to the changing technological environment and to use new technology effectively. They would be provided with all kind of new technology as well as all necessary amenities. People must be free and independent to opt for the technology he requires. New and modern infrastructure and working practices should be created in this regard.

Setting up computer and internet Kiosks is on of the effective medium for
bringing the information and communication technologies to rural communities in developing countries. These kiosks are being used to deliver a host of services such as education, health care, agriculture, e-government and communication (email, voice mail).
Recently India has launched the National E- Governance Action Plan, which placed a great emphasis on these kiosks as the main vehicle for delivering e-government services in rural areas. Over the past few years, a large number of such rural kiosks have been established in many states across the country. Even it is estimated that over 600 rural kiosks are functioning in Tamil Nadu alone.
So, it is not as efforts are not being made off. Everywhere it is like a “Mission” is going on to bridge this unpleasant gap, but still there is a long way to go...

Unfortunately time is pressing somewhat. I would therefore like to add my closing remarks without further ado. As I already indicated that we are going through a “Information Revolution.” Today Knowledge, learning, Information and Communication technologies are the prime movers of social and economic development. About 4.8 million people who live in developing countries face both a massive challenge and a major opportunity with respect to the digital revolution. If digital inclusion fails, many countries may be left behind in a cycle of poverty and instability. There is a need to identify the right mix of politics and programs and will require greater competitions and efficiency, economic growth and employment generation, access to basic social services. In turn, this will require broader participation and the strengthening of local communities, coupled with a strong voice for the poor.

The challenge is huge, enormous and difficult but not unbeatable. Appropriate coalition, support and cooperation including government, the private sector and key civil society actors can lead to success in bridging this gap. Therefore, it is politically, socially and economically absolutely imperative that we address and overcome it in the interest of ourselves, in the interest of all people and in the interest of our future generations.

As the old saying goes: -