The Digital Divide
Kevin Baker
Andrew Goff
Christie Wheeler
What Is the Digital Divide?
In just about every country, a certain
percentage of people have the best
information technology that society has to
offer. These people have the most powerful
computers, the best telephone service and the
fastest Internet connection, as well as a wealth
of content and training relevant to their lives.
2
There is another group of people. They are
the people who for one reason or another
don’t have access to the newest or best
computers, the most reliable telephone service
or the fastest or most convenient Internet
service. The difference between these two
groups of people is what we call the Digital
Divide.
3
The gap in the digital divide is
getting larger, as it relates to the
poor.
4
U.S. Household Computer Penetration
Gap by Income
By Race/Origin --1994 vs. 1998
5
Percent of U.S. Households with a Modem
By Income--1989-1997 (Selected Years)
70
60
50
40
1989
30 1994
20 1997
10
0
>5k 5-10k 10- 15- 20- 25- 35- 50- <75
15k 20k 25k 35k 50k 75k
6
Those who are poor and live in
rural areas are about 20 times
more in danger of being left
behind than wealthier resident of
urban area
7
Percent of U.S. Households with Online Service
by Income
By U.S., Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas
1997
8
Regardless of income level,
Americans living in rural areas are
lagging behind in Internet access.
Indeed, at the lowest income levels,
those in urban areas are more than
twice as likely to have Internet
access than those earning the
same income in rural areas.
9
Percent of U.S. Households with a Computer
By U.S., Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas
1994, 1997, 1998
10
Percent of U.S. Households Using the Internet
By Race/Origin
By U.S., Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas
1998
11
Percent of U.S. Households with a Computer
By Race/Origin
By U.S., Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas
12
Whites are more likely to have a
computer at home and access to the
Internet from home than Blacks or
Hispanics have from any location.
13
The gaps between White and Hispanic households, and between White
and Black households, continues to widen rather than decrease.
Percent of US Homes with a Computer between 95 and 00
1995 (%) 2000(%) Difference from White
% Difference
White Rural 24.6 51.8 27.2
Urban 30.3 57.3 27
CC 29.4 55.5 26.1
Black Rural 6.4 27.5 21.1 -6.1
Urban 11.8 33.3 21.5 -5.5
CC 10.4 28.7 18.3 -7.8
Asian Rural 33.7 70.3 36.6 9.4
Urban 39.5 65.3 25.8 -1.2
CC 35.9 61.1 25.2 -0.9
Hispanic Rural 12 28.8 16.8 -10.4
Urban 13.2 34.2 21 -6
CC 10.5 31.1 20.6 -5.5
14
Percent of US Homes with Computers (1995,2000)
80
70
1995 (%)
60
50 2000(%)
Percent 40
30
20
10
0
Rural
Urban
CC
Rural
Urban
CC
Rural
Urban
CC
Rural
Urban
CC
White Black Asian Hispanic
15
Percent of U.S. Households with a Computer
By Race/Origin
By U.S., Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas
1998
16
Americans with some college and or a
degree are more likely to have Internet
access than those with only a high school
diploma or less.
17
Percent of U.S. Households with a Modem
By Education
1989-1997 (Selected Years)
50
45
40
35
Elementary
30
Some H.S.
25
H.S. Diploma/GED
20
Some College
15
BA or more
10
5
0
1989 1994 1997
18
Percent of U.S. Households Using the Internet
By Education
By U.S., Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas
1998
19
CONCLUSION
Teachers need to take on the
responsibility to teach students the
skills needed to succeed in school
including technology, but learning
how to use the technology will not
address the economic, race and
location issues that play an important
role in the divide.
20