FRAMING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
INTRODUCTION
The existence of information and
communication technology (ICT) as one of key drivers of globalization has
become thefore most discussion around the world. One of notable discussions is
that ICT, such as dekstop computers, mobile phone and internet, has
fundamentally changed our society as these modern means of communication can ”empower
people, benefit bissiness and individual and virtually link people around the
world to share their views, ideas and innovations”.
Research Questions
1.
What
is digital divide and what factors that induced it tibe happened?
2.
What
is APC and are its programs in undertaking the digital divide?
3.
How
effective are the APC’s programs in diminishing the digital divide?
Research Purpose and Approaches
The purpose of this research is to convey the concept of digital divide in global society, The research’s
first section notes on background of digital divide, followed by discussion on
some key notions of digital divide.
LITERATURE REVIEW
History of digital Divide
Historycally, the term digital divide rose publicy in the mid-1990’s as the
National Telecommunications and Informations Administration (NTIA) survey
(1995), as cited in Servon (2002, p.2), identified the existence of a divide
which “separated people with to information technology from those without it”
in America. Castells (2002),as cited in Fuchs & Horak (2008, p.248),
identifies digital divide ad “inequalty to the internet” while Norris (2001,
p.4) defines it as “any an every disparities within the online community”.
Similary, Bridge.org (2001, p.2) concludes it as “the lost of opportunity for
the information have-nots to use ICT to improve their lives. In short, the
digital divide can be understood as disparities in access to information and
communication technology.
Multifaceted Nature of the Informations Have-Not.
Most people believe that there are
several factors to explain why the developing countries are trapped in “the
information have-nots” (Servon,2002,p.8). First factor is the market influence
which correlates to high prices of computers and internet services in
developing countries. Second is unequal investment in infrastructure taht
suggest inadequate provision of high-end telecommunications, facilites, and
lastly,discrimination which implies in unbalaced usage of ICT due to etnic
group’s sentiment. For example, computers are still considered to be
prohibitive exprenses in most of developing countires. In other words, the lack
of material acces to ICT in developing countries plays a significant role in
broadening the digital divide.
Digital Divide an Information Sociaty: the State of
Winner or Lose?
The ideal explanation is that the digital divide manifest with
sosio-economic disparities. These disparities as believed will produce what
fuchs and horak (2008,p.4) call “classes of winner and losers of the
information society”. For example,users who have more experiences with internet
are more likely to have a higher sosio-economic status and others who have less
experience are poor. Likewise, flow of information not only created great
opportunity for firms in developing countries to conduct trade and bussiness on
global scale.
RESEARCH
METHOLOGY
Given attention to methodologies that will be used for this topic, the
research will incorporate case studies and literature reviews. Case studies are
performed to obtain facts related to the topic based on best practice. While
literature reviews are necessary to accomplish profound understanding of teh
research topic’s framework. They will also serve as sources of substantial data
and information. Academic literature sech as books, journals and reports will
serve as research materials.These materials will mainly focus Information and
Communication Technology (ICT),digital divide, and APT as well as Indonesia’s
position in the information society.
DISCUSSION
Bridging the Digital Divide: Study Case of Association of Progressive Communications
(APC)
APC is an international non-government organization and a network which 50
members are widespread in five continent around the globe, the majority is
based in developing countries. Currently, APC works on two broad levels of
digital bridging effort: practice and policies. In Order to support its vision
and mission,APC members designated six strategic priorities for the network
untul 2012:
1.
Advocate
for affordable internet access for all
2.
Secure
and defend internet rights
3.
Use
emerging technologies for social change
4.
Make
technology work to sustain the environment
5.
Build
the information-commons
6.
Improve
governance,especially internet governance.
(Association
for Progresive Communications,2011a,p.16)
Indonesia and the Digital Divide: A Smaller of Bigger
Picture
Indonesia, in this point, has also experiencing the same condition. As
reflected by Nugroho (2010,p.30) that the century, for some people, is
“communication heaven”. In Fact, it is categorized as one of developing
countries that alleviating its position from the “Information have-nots” to
those in “the information haves” due to the country’s progessive ICT
development. Internet usage in Indonesia started to increase as platforms to
access the net were provided more widely. The growing number of Warung
Internet/Internet Cafes (Warnet) was one significant factor that had
contributed greatly to the ICT adoption among Indonesias.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, disparities always exist in the world. One of those
disparities is digital wide which takes information and communication
technology into accont. This divide present many hurdles at international
sphere since it is not only talking about inequality in ICT access and skills
but also suggesting a broader context of international socio-economic gap
between developed and developing countries. Thus, a lot of efforts have been
taken in diminishing the gap even thought certain barriers still remain.
Widya Michella
Nur Syahida
NPM: 1516071051
