Q: Based on your research and from your previous blog posts, what do you think should be done to relieve the digital divide not just in Singapore, but in other areas with problems similar to this? What can be done to relieve these issues?
The
world is aging. I think for this pure fact, government should be prepared for
the possible changes in the society. Governmental encouragement and support
for initiatives is likely to help local economic development faster
than bureaucratic top-down initiatives that might not be the best solution for
all locations (Parker, 2000) . From my research, I think the biggest obstacle of digital divide comes from the differences of Internet skills, especially between younger and older generation. Similar to
Age UK Camden, which is a local organization that supports and teach old people Internet skills, I think we can also utilize libraries though government fundings. Libraries not only
provide access to content, but also teach the skills necessary to use
information successfully. Government can invest in libraries to teach the
skills necessary to find, evaluate and utilize information successfully to the
older generation. (Kranich 2001)
References:
GovIntOrg. (2013, March 08). Digital inclusion: How age uk camden helps older people to connect. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhx-uqDjvBI
Kranich, N. (2001). Libraries bridge the Digital Divide. Spectra, 37(7), 4-12.
Parker, E. B. (2000). Closing the
digital divide in rural America. Telecommunications Policy, 24(4), 281.
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