Bridging the Digital Divide: Bridging the Digital Divide: Community Technology and Community Technology and Community Building Community Building April 20, 2001 April 20, 2001 Society of Black Graduate and Society of Black Graduate and Professional Students Professional Students Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. Candidate Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. Candidate Epistemology and Learning Group Epistemology and Learning Group MIT Media Laboratory MIT Media Laboratory
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Community Technology and Community Building April 20, 2001 Society of Black Graduate and Professional Students Randal D. Pinkett,
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Bridging the Digital Divide:Bridging the Digital Divide:Community Technology and Community Technology and
Community BuildingCommunity Building
April 20, 2001April 20, 2001
Society of Black Graduate andSociety of Black Graduate and
Professional StudentsProfessional Students
Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. CandidateRandal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. Candidate
Epistemology and Learning GroupEpistemology and Learning Group
III.III. Observations and ConclusionsObservations and Conclusions
“The ‘digital divide’ between certain groups of Americans has increased between 1994 and 2000 so that there is now an even greater disparity in penetration levels among some groups.”
Falling Through the Net III,NTIA
The Digital DivideThe Digital Divide
“There is a widening gap, for example, between those at upper and lower income levels.”
Falling Through the Net III,NTIA
The Digital DivideThe Digital Divide
“Additionally, even though all racial groups now own more computers than they did in 1994, Blacks and Hispanics now lag even further behind Whites in their levels of PC-ownership and on-line access.”
Falling Through the Net III,NTIA
The Digital DivideThe Digital Divide
Computer Penetration Rates by Race
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
1984 1989 1994 1997 1998
Year
Percent of U.S. Households
White
Black
Hispanic
Other
Δ = 21.5%-pts
Δ = 23.4%-pts
Δ = 16.8%-pts
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
Internet Penetration Rates by Race
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
1994 1998
Year
Percent of U.S. Households (E-Mail Use)
White
Black
Hispanic
Other
Δ = 2.7%-pts
Δ = 13.8%-pts
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
Computer Penetration Ratesby Income by Race (1997)
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
Under $15,000 $15,000-$34,999 $35,000-$74,999 $75,000+
III.III. Observations and ConclusionsObservations and Conclusions
COMMUNITY COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY
“Using the technology to
support and meet the
goals of a community.”
- Beamish (1999)
THREE MODELS OFTHREE MODELS OFCOMMUNITY COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY
CommunityContent
CommunityNetworks
CommunityComputing
Centers
Community Technology Community Technology CentersCenters
Plugged In, East Palo Alto, CAPlugged In, East Palo Alto, CA Playing-2-Win, Harlem, NYPlaying-2-Win, Harlem, NY Computer Clubhouse, Boston, MAComputer Clubhouse, Boston, MA Austin Learning Academy, Austin, TX Austin Learning Academy, Austin, TX New Beginnings Learning Center, New Beginnings Learning Center,
Pittsburgh, PAPittsburgh, PA West Side Community Computing West Side Community Computing
Center, Cleveland, OHCenter, Cleveland, OH
Community NetworksCommunity Networks
Seattle Community Network, Seattle Community Network, Seattle, WASeattle, WA
Big Sky Telegraph, Dillon, MontanaBig Sky Telegraph, Dillon, Montana National Capital Free-Net, Ottawa, National Capital Free-Net, Ottawa,
OntarioOntario Buffalo Free-Net, Buffalo, NYBuffalo Free-Net, Buffalo, NY PrairieNet, Urbana-Champaign, ILPrairieNet, Urbana-Champaign, IL
III.III. Observations and ConclusionsObservations and Conclusions
The Computer Clubhouse The Computer Clubhouse ProjectProject
An after-school community An after-school community technology center (CTC) where technology center (CTC) where youth become fluent with new youth become fluent with new technological toolstechnological tools
The Computer Clubhouse The Computer Clubhouse ProjectProject
Clubhouse members create…Clubhouse members create…– Animations, robotic constructions, Animations, robotic constructions,
musical creations, simulations, video musical creations, simulations, video games, Web sites, ...games, Web sites, ...
The Computer Clubhouse The Computer Clubhouse ProjectProject
A model for low-income housing A model for low-income housing developments as to how developments as to how individuals, families, and a individuals, families, and a community can use technology to community can use technology to support their interests and needssupport their interests and needs
Project SiteProject Site Camfield Estates, Roxbury, MACamfield Estates, Roxbury, MA Predominantly African-American (75%)Predominantly African-American (75%)
– 32% Hispanic / 68% Non-Hispanic32% Hispanic / 68% Non-Hispanic 102 units (80 occupied) and 102 units (80 occupied) and
approximately 250 residentsapproximately 250 residents Participant in HUD’s “Demo-Dispo” Participant in HUD’s “Demo-Dispo”
programprogram Neighborhood Technology Center (NTC) Neighborhood Technology Center (NTC)
Camfield Estates-MITCamfield Estates-MITCreating Community Creating Community
ConnectionsConnectionsProjectProject
VIDEO CLIPVIDEO CLIP
ParticipatioParticipationn
June 2000 September 2000 January 2001
BaselineBaseline0 of 66 people0 of 66 people
Round IRound I::33 of 66 people (50%)33 of 66 people (50%)
Round II:Round II:60 of 80 people (75%)60 of 80 people (75%)
Non-ParticipationNon-Participation
Non-Participation in Round 1 (50%)Non-Participation in Round 1 (50%)– Miscommunication/misunderstandingMiscommunication/misunderstanding– SkepticismSkepticism– Already owned a computerAlready owned a computer
Non-Participation in Round 2 (57%)Non-Participation in Round 2 (57%)– Lack of relevanceLack of relevance– Too many responsibilitiesToo many responsibilities– Health-related Health-related
Creating Community Creating Community Connections (C3) SystemConnections (C3) System
boards, calendar of events, chat rooms, boards, calendar of events, chat rooms, news and announcements, and more.news and announcements, and more.
Community ExtranetCommunity Extranet– Asset-maps (GIS), business database, Asset-maps (GIS), business database,
organization database, customizable web organization database, customizable web portals, security restrictions, and more.portals, security restrictions, and more.
III.III. Observations and ConclusionsObservations and Conclusions
Observations and Observations and ConclusionsConclusions
The Digital Divide is about…The Digital Divide is about…– Outcomes instead of accessOutcomes instead of access– Relevance instead of economicsRelevance instead of economics
Socially and culturallySocially and culturally
– Active producers instead of passive Active producers instead of passive consumersconsumers
– Community technology Community technology andand community buildingcommunity building
Bridging the Digital Divide:Bridging the Digital Divide:Community Technology and Community Technology and
Community BuildingCommunity Building
April 20, 2001April 20, 2001
Society of Black Graduate andSociety of Black Graduate and
Professional StudentsProfessional Students
Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. CandidateRandal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. Candidate
Epistemology and Learning GroupEpistemology and Learning Group