W hen we hear the term iDigital Dividei, we usually think it refers to the gap between those who can afford technology and Internet access, and those who cannot. However, like just about everything else these days, lumping people in either the techno-rich or techno-poor buckets just wonit cut it. A new study, the results of which were released recently, looked at who makes up the ihave-notsi side of the Digital Divide and came up with some interesting info that sheds new light on the digitally disenfranchised.
Wired News is reporting that a study conducted by The Pew Internet and American Life Project have found that while there are those who canit afford to be technically ensconced, there are many who can, but instead choose a more Luddite-like path. According to the study, 17% of those who do not have Internet access choose to do so for reasons other than their ability to pay for access. Some of the other statistic are equally interesting. From the article Tune Out, Turn Off, Drop Offline:
"People donit actually have a progression from a nonuser to new user and then onto broadband user," said Amanda Lenhart, a research specialist at the Pew project who wrote the new report. "Thatis the case with some people, but with others there are more fits and starts. They try it, then they donit like it, or they get knocked off and spend a year trying to come back online."
Another emerging group left out of the Internet revolution are those who have the opportunity to go online if they want to, but donit.
A total of 80 million American adults -- 42 percent of the adult population -- say they donit use the Internet, the study found. But 20 percent of them have Internet access in the next room and choose not to go online. Or, some of them get family members to go online for them.
Thereis more information in the full article at Wired News.