Digital Divide By: Devon Gray Photo: Lucasz via Flickr
May 08, 2015
Digital Divide
By: Devon Gray Photo: Lucasz via Flickr
Digital literacy and the Digital Divide have been identified as a cause for concern by the Canadian Government.
Photo: Katy Pang
As more services become available online, the ability to be connected and digitally literate becomes increasingly important.
Photo: 401(K) 2012 via Flickr
Photo: Jessica Duensing, Opensource.com via Flickr
The Digital Divide in Canada has been identified as being largely the result of income
and education.
Photo: Svilen Milev Source: Misty Harris, Financial Post
Among Canadians between the ages of 16 and 54, researchers found a stronger relationship between education and online activities.
Photo: Ann Arbor District Library via Flickr
Source: Misty Harris, Financial Post
For Canadians 55 and older, income was determined to be a more important predictor of Internet proficiency.
Photo: Mosman Council via Flickr Source: Misty Harris, Financial Post
The increased use among youth has been identified as primarily the result of job-seeking and participation in the digital economy.
Source: Misty Harris, Financial Post
Individuals with post-secondary education have internet-use rates of 10% higher than those with a high school diploma and 50% higher than those without a diploma.
Photo: Gadgetdude via Flickr Source: Misty Harris, Financial Post
A 2010 survey by Statistics Canada found that 1 in 5 Canadians had not used internet in the past year, 2009.
Photo: John Dodge Source: Misty Harris, Financial Post
Only 60% of households in the lowest income bracket had used internet in the
past year.
Photo: Roderigo Argenton Source: Misty Harris, Financial Post
Why is this important?
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman noted that over half of today’s jobs require technology skills…
Photo: Nasa Goddard Photo and Video via Flickr Source: Jane Levere, NY Times
and nearly 80% of jobs in the next decade will require digital skills.
Photo: Rubin Starset via Flickr Source: Jane Levere, NY Times
In order to combat the Digital Divide, Canada aims to have high-speed internet access
available to over 98% of all Canadians by 2017 as part of the Digital Canada 150 campaign.
Photo and Source: Government of Canada
The Canadian Government will provide $305 million to extend and enhance high-speed internet access in rural and remote areas
for 280000 households.
Photo: Jerome Lessard Source: Government of Canada
Government funding through the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians Program has already provided broadband internet
access to 218000 rural and remote households.
Source: Government of Canada
In order to bridge the technological gap…
Photo: Pawel Loj via Flickr
we must continue to educate ourselves and others in information and communication technologies.
Photo: Juan Cristobal Cobo via Flickr
Changes in technology mean that this will always be an on-going process, however…
Photo: Juan Cristobal Cobo via Flickr
striving for national digital literacy will ultimately lead to a successful economic,
social and engaged population.
Photo: FutUndBeidl via Flickr
Image Attributions All attributed images are Creative Commons License 2.0. All other images are Public Domain.
Slide 1: Lucasz via Flickr Slide 2: Katy Pang Slide 3: 401(K) 2012 via Flickr and Jessica Duensing, Opensource.com via Flickr Slide 4: Svilen Milev Slide 5: Ann Arbor District Library via Flickr Slide 6: Mosman Council via Flickr Slide 8: Gadgetdude via Flickr Slide 9: John Dodge Slide 10: Roderigo Argenton Slide 11: Nasa Goddard Photo and Video via Flickr Slide 12: Rubin Starset via Flickr Slide 13: Government of Canada Slide 14: Jerome Lessard Slide 16: Pawel Loj via Flickr Slide 17: Juan Cristobal Cobo via Flickr Slide 18: Juan Cristobal Cobo via Flickr Slide 19: FutUndBeidl via Flickr
Sources
• http://business.financialpost.com/2013/03/21/digital-divide-persists-in-canada-both-in-access-and-internet-fluency/?__lsa=a962-6b3d
• http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/21/business/a-campaign-to-help-
people-learn-internet-skills.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1399226466-rQtvTT6+KfVehBCR4PSvIQ
• https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/028.nsf/vwapj/DC150-
EN.pdf/$FILE/DC150-EN.pdf