The Digital Divide

The global digital divide is a term used to describe “great disparities in opportunity to access the Internet and the information and educational/business opportunities tied to this access … between developed and developing countries”. Unlike the traditional notion of the "digital divide" between social classes, the "global digital divide" is essentially a geographical division.
The "global digital divide" is distinguishable from the "digital divide", in that “Internet has developed unevenly throughout the world” (Guillen, M. F. & Suarez, S. L. 2005, p. 681) causing some countries to fall behind in technology, education, labor, democracy, and tourism.
The digital divide depicts the disparity of having internet access between the rural and the urban areas of the United States while global digital divide relates this difference between the “haves” and the “have nots” to the less developed nations and the more developed nations. (Wikipedia, 2010). With such diversity and disparity in how technology has advanced in various countries, determine the causes effecting these differences prior to being able to devise a solution. As an integrator of technology I would have to determine the causes, economic, availability, cultural differences etc. that are responsible for aiding the disparity and then create solutions, specific to each cause in hopes to alleviate the divide. Since having access to technology provides users with the opportunity to earn higher wages and to further their education, it is a much needed and desired asset worth pursuing to lessen the divide.
According to James (2008), the internet has taken place overwhelmingly among the upper-income, educated, and urban segments in developing countries. In order to lessen the divide, one must begin to integrate these newer technologies into the less urban areas. Perhaps one way to help lessen the divide in rural areas across the globe is to provide specific hubs within the community internet access and computers that can be utilized. Another way to help lessen the gap between gender divides is to not only supply the schools with technology but also places in the community, for in many developing countries, not all children, especially girls, have the opportunity to attend school. For as Pick and Azari (2008) state, in their study, solutions to the problem include investing in stimulating, attracting, and growing creative technical and scientific workforce, increase the access to education and digital literacy, reduce the gender divide ad empower women to participate in the ICT workforce, emphasize investing in research and development for certain metropolitan areas within these nations.
References:

Guillen, M. F., & Suárez, S. L. (2005). Explaining the global digital divide: Economic, political and sociological drivers of cross-national internet use. Social Forces, 84(2), 681-708.
James, J. (2008). Digital Divide Complacency: Misconceptions and Dangers. The Information Society, 24, 54-61.
Pick, J. & Azari, R. (2008). Global Digital Divide: Influence of Socioeconomic, Governmental,and Accessibility Factors on Information Technology. Information Technology for Development, 14(2), 91-115

Links: The Digital Divide: Is There a Solution?
http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/the-digital-divide-is-there-a/

Red Queens
It was a “no brainer” especially since I haven’t actually entered a video rental store in about 3 years, how I would access the science fiction video for module 4. Netflix! I wouldn’t even have to leave the couch, although I did as I was camping while I had to fulfill the assignment requirements. I searched the Netflix web site and located a few Philip Dick videos that were able to be streamed and I made my choice from those that were available. The ability to stream a video and view in on the laptop all while the kids are roasting marshmallows is an amazing convenience and a service which will soon be obsolescing many other venues of video rentals etc.
Thornburg states that technologies need to be accepted in order to have an impact, and the rate of acceptance which relates to the quality and capabilities of the technology itself (Thornburg, 2008). Apply this idea to Netflix and the ability to stream videos anywhere, at any time and for a fraction of the cost of DVD rentals or Video on Demand charges, and this emerging technology is well on the way to making both obsolete.
This current competition arising between DVDs and video on demand can be considered a Red Queen as the speed for which the competition began was rapid, with each sector trying to outdo the other. Unfortunately, I believe that these two technologies will be upset by a wildcard newly emerging on the scene and that is the ability to stream video. Streaming a video is providing the consumer with a service that helps to make their life less complicated. No longer does one have to trudge out twice (once to get the video and once to return), pay late fees, worry about obtaining a new release. With Netflix the consumer pays a low monthly rate and receives videos via USP. They may keep these videos as long as they want without incurring any late fees and can stream from the Netflix site for no additional charge and view additional movies.
Based on McLuhan’s tetrad, DVDs and Video on demand obsoletes having to travel to the movie theater to view movies, saving consumers money and time. These two technologies also enhanced how people began to view movies, which is now able to be done while wearing jammies sitting on their sofas. This newness of staying home to view movies rekindles the time of the 50’s and 60’s when families spent time together, listening to radio broadcast and TV shows. When pushed to the extreme these technologies will become live video streaming of movies, concerts, news features and possibly new releases currently playing at the local theater.

References
Thornburg, D. D. (2008b). Emerging technologies and McLuhan's Laws of Media. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.
Thornburg, D. (2008c). Red Queens, butterflies, and strange attractors: Imperfect lenses into emergent technologies. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.