FRAMING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
The ICT, such as desktop computers,
mobile phones, and internet has changed our society as these modern means of
communication can empower people, benefit business and virtually link people
around the world to share their views, ideas, and innovations. Historically, the term digital divide rose publicy
in the mid-1990s as the National Telecommunication
and Information Administration (NTIA) survey (1995), as cited in Servon
(2002,p. 2), identified the existence of a divide which “separates people with
access to information technology from those without it” in America. Dijk sees
digital divide as “The gap between those who do and do not have access to
computers and internet”. Bridge.org 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
technologies.
United Nations General Secretary,
points out digital divide is “a pressing humanitarian issues “. Furthermore,
many reports are showing that digital
divide exist not only in America but also among countries in the world
especially between developed and developing countries.
There are several factors to explain
why the developing countries are trapped in “the information have-nots”. First factor
is the market influence which correlates to high price of computer and internet
services in developing countries. The second is unequal investment in
infrastructure that suggests inadequate provision of high-end telecommunication
facilities, and the last is discrimination which implies in unbalanced usage of
ICT due to ethnic group’s sentiment.
People need basic ICT devices but
digital divide is much more a complex problem than inadequate of computers. In order
to use internet productively, people must acquire cognitive skills such as
ability in seeking information and finding different types of information. Without
skills, the presence of access will be worthless.
The Association of Progressive
Communication (APC) is one of international non-governmental organizations
and a network which are widespread in five continents in the globe. APC is
formed to provide people with ICT infrastructures. It this actively involved in
assisting governments to produce information and communications policies in
order to make using the internet easier.
APC
designated six strategic priorities for the network until 2012:
1. Advocate for affordable internet access for all
2. Secure and defend internet rights
3. Use emerging technologies
4. Make technologies work to sustain the environment
5. Build the information-commons
6. Improve governance
Access to ICT must give
attention to not only the cultural dimension of how people may get in touch
with technology but also psychological dimension of those individuals to make a
meaningful use the technology.
Internet usage in Indonesia started to increase as
platforms to access the net were provided more widely. The growing number of Internet
cafes (Warnet) was one significant factor that had contributed greatly to
the ICT adoption among Indonesians. Another crucial element that magnified the
ICT adoption, especially youngster, is the distribution of cheap mobile phones
equipped with large internet capacity. In fact it was believed to have played a
major role in the ICT trend within the country. Since than the number continues
to grow, and was forecasted to reach 55 million users by the end of 2011.
The disparities always exist in the world. The digital
divide which takes information and communication
technology into account is one of those disparities. This divide 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 though
certain barriers still remain anyway.
