Technological Revolution and Digital Divide

Larry Irving, assistant secretary for Communication and Information Administrator for National Telecommunications and Administration (NTIA),in her article "Technological Revolution has created a Digital Divide" asserts that the information revolution has led to a digital divide between those who have access to computers and the internet and those who do not. It is obvious that the overall number of Americans with computers and internet access has increased but the gap between people who have access to these technologies and those who do not is also increasing successively.

Income, race/origin as significant determinant of access to computer and internet.Data collected from various sources shows that an income over $75000 are more than 5 times as likely to have a computer at home and more than 7 times as likely to have home internet access as those with an income less than $10000.Urban Asian pacific islanders have computer penetration rates (55.6%) and internet access rates (36.5%) followed by white households (46.6% and 29.8% respectively). Black and Hispanic households have far lower PC penetration levels at (23.2% and 25.5%) and internet access levels (11.2% and 12.6%). Education and household type are other influencing factors in access to technology. Those with high school degree or higher education are more than 8 times more likely to have computer at home (68.7 versus 7.9%) and nearly 16 times as likely to have home internet access (48.9% versus 3.1%). Similarly, female headed households are less likely to have access to computer and internet as of dual-parent households (Irving, 2004).

The divide between those with technological haves and have nots is a negative aspect of technological revolution. Race/origin and income are the significant determinants of this gap.