Introduction
Hi, welcome to the second lesson of Unit 5 CSP! We will be discussing the impacts of computing throughout this unit.
The main purpose of this article is to cover the material in the AP CSP CED.
- IOC-1.C : Describe issues that contribute to the digital divide.
Digital Divide
The digital divide refers to gaps between those who have access to technology and those who don’t. This can happen due to various factors.
Demographic: Younger people may have an easier time navigating and becoming familiar with technology, as they were usually more exposed to it from a young age than an older person. People with higher levels of education tend to also use technology more than people with less education. In some areas, women may have restricted access to technology.
Socioeconomic: People of higher income are more likely to purchase and use pieces of technology that others may not be able to afford.
Geographic: Some countries most likely have more access to technology than in other places in the world.
As you can probably tell, the digital divide is caused by differences in financial status to educational and regional.
Beyond individual digital divides, it can also affect a group of people. For example, citizens of less developed countries may have a harder time accessing technology and using it.
Because of the boom in technological advancements and the widening of the digital divide, we may raise ethical concerns about how we are able to bridge the gap between international developments.
Reducing the Digital Divide
There are some things we can do to reduce the digital divide. For example:
Governments may sponsor digital literacy programs which teach large amounts of people how to use the Internet and other forms of technology.
Organizations can also raise funding to donate technology to underserved communities, along with providing access to the Web.
Individuals can help raise awareness towards family and friends and pass down digital knowledge such as general computer and internet security skills.
All of these examples actively help close the gap further in our rapidly developing world.
And that’s it for this lesson! Before answering the questions, think about what you can do as an AP CSP student to contribute to the bridging of the digital divide.