Comments on: The Digital Divide http://www.futurist.com/2007/09/04/the-digital-divide/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:16:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Todd http://www.futurist.com/2007/09/04/the-digital-divide/#comment-16911 Todd Mon, 17 Sep 2007 02:03:16 +0000 http://www.futurist.com/2007/09/04/the-digital-divide/#comment-16911 I can identify with this post! I'm in education and I've noticed the "return of information" on those who utilize technology and those who don't. It is frustrating when you are "wired" and others don't have a clue. Even when you make it so easy for them... ;-) I can identify with this post! I’m in education and I’ve noticed the “return of information” on those who utilize technology and those who don’t.

It is frustrating when you are “wired” and others don’t have a clue. Even when you make it so easy for them… ;-)

]]> By: Brian http://www.futurist.com/2007/09/04/the-digital-divide/#comment-15807 Brian Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:57:14 +0000 http://www.futurist.com/2007/09/04/the-digital-divide/#comment-15807 <i>We should pay attention.</i> I will allow that it is frustrating to deal with people who are not wired in as you are. Even chit-chat can be banal when you read something on, say, Slashdot and it's old news because you read about it yesterday. What do we do about it? Do we really need to do anything about it? I don't know but it feels like most people who desire to be wired .. are. A desktop computer is cheap, broadband is reasonably available. Computers and Broadband are - again this is a feeling - like color TV in the 70s; expensive but anyone who wants to can save for a month or two and pluck down the cash for a color tv. Where it is not there are alternatives - my house in Texas was '6 months' away from being DSL ready ... for five years. We got by with a dial-up server for our four computers. It wasn't speedy but it sufficed for chat, mail, server access, games at Yahoo, web surfing. Aside: broadband penetration is one thing - but are 90% of the Koreans (or Icelanders or Chinese Hong Kong) actually using their broadband to be 'wired' or are they doing what my mother does with HER broadband - email and looking at pictures in the photo gallery that Dad set up? We should pay attention.

I will allow that it is frustrating to deal with people who are not wired in as you are. Even chit-chat can be banal when you read something on, say, Slashdot and it’s old news because you read about it yesterday.

What do we do about it? Do we really need to do anything about it?

I don’t know but it feels like most people who desire to be wired .. are. A desktop computer is cheap, broadband is reasonably available. Computers and Broadband are - again this is a feeling - like color TV in the 70s; expensive but anyone who wants to can save for a month or two and pluck down the cash for a color tv.

Where it is not there are alternatives - my house in Texas was ‘6 months’ away from being DSL ready … for five years. We got by with a dial-up server for our four computers. It wasn’t speedy but it sufficed for chat, mail, server access, games at Yahoo, web surfing.

Aside: broadband penetration is one thing - but are 90% of the Koreans (or Icelanders or Chinese Hong Kong) actually using their broadband to be ‘wired’ or are they doing what my mother does with HER broadband - email and looking at pictures in the photo gallery that Dad set up?

]]> By: Kanna http://www.futurist.com/2007/09/04/the-digital-divide/#comment-15800 Kanna Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:27:41 +0000 http://www.futurist.com/2007/09/04/the-digital-divide/#comment-15800 I've also been thinking about this report - especially, the fact that the average American employee produces $63,885 of wealth per year. Can you imagine if that wealth were distributed even a little more evenly? There are too many Americans who only see a tiny fraction of the value they produce. I’ve also been thinking about this report - especially, the fact that the average American employee produces $63,885 of wealth per year. Can you imagine if that wealth were distributed even a little more evenly? There are too many Americans who only see a tiny fraction of the value they produce.

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