Digital Access and Divide - Post 1

Question 1.1 

Digital access: Digital access involves the full electronic participation in society. Technology users need to make themselves aware of the fact that everyone doesn't have the same opportunities when it comes to technology.  

Digital commerce: Digital Commerce is the electronic selling and buying of goods, nowadays technology is having a tremendous influence in our lives; currently we have to deal with the fact that a large share of market economy is being done electronically.

Digital Communication: The electronic transmission of information that has been encoded digitally.

Digital literacy: The ability to find, evaluate, use, share and create content using information technologies and the Internet.

Digital etiquette: Is a basic set of rules that people should follow to ensure that the Internet is better for all users. It's just as important to treat people with courtesy and respect online as it is in real life.

Digital law:  The electronic responsibility for actions, deeds which is either ethical or unethical Unethical use includes theft and crime. Ethical use manifests itself in the form of abiding by the laws of society. Stealing or damaging someone else’s work, identity or property online is illegal. Users need to be aware of certain rules in an ethical society. 

Digital rights and responsibilities: The right and freedom to use all types of digital technology in an acceptable and appropriate manner. 

Digital health and wellness: Is the ability to use technology like computers and phones but not to overuse technology to the point of hurting tour mind or body.

Digital security: Is the protection of your digital identity. This includes the tools used to secure your identity, assets and technology in the online and mobile world.

Use of technology

1 - Use of Technology in Business:

Businesses use technology to compare the amount of money spent on hiring an individual to perform certain tasks. When you compare the amount of money spent on hiring an individual to perform a certain task and to guarantee delivery on time. When it comes to technology a small business can scale out and deliver more with less human resource. Businesses will need to use technology to speed up their services and cut down on costs. This reduces time and money. 

Abuse of technology: 

2- Cyber-bullying: Is defined as the actions that use information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behaviour by an individual or group that is intended to harm another

Misuse of technology

Two of the largest areas of misuse of technology in the workplace were excessive personal emails and access to inappropriate websites. 

Question 1.2: 

1) Socio-economic divide:

The first problem surrounding access is the ability to access raw data and information through the use of digital devices. This lack of access can be referred to as ‘digital divide’ or the “haves” and “have not”. It is associated with           socio-economic factors and the digital divide is associated with demographic factors which include first world countries vs. third world countries. Nations vary widely in the number or ratio of the public with access to the Internet.

2) Divide in infrastructure:

Developed countries have far greater penetration of up-to-date infrastructure than that of developing countries. It is the infrastructure of developing countries that restricts the broad range of access including socio-economic factors. An example would be South Africa’s undeveloped electricity infrastructure that is under extreme pressure resulting in continuous blackouts.  

South Africa is a developing country compared to both first and third world environments with bold and daring entrepreneurs searching for solutions to these problems. Due to infrastructure restrictions, coupled with socio-economic factors, people in townships and rural areas utilise their mobile phones as a point of access to the Internet which is an expensive exercise resulting in the digital divide worsening.

3) Gender divide:

The gender gap is notable in developing countries with real consequences to the girls and women of those communities. Women are online in developing countries 40% less than men. People gain huge benefits through the use of and access to the Internet. These include economic and educational opportunities and accessing career opportunities.

4) Skills divide:

Having the necessary skills to operate a computer is the biggest opportunity to the adoption of technology for development. Skills to operate a computer are not conforming to the same rate of increase regarding accessibility to technology. These skills are digital literacy’s. Those that are disadvantaged due to socio-economic factors have less exposure to digital devices impeding their skills accession in the job market.

5) Universal Access divide:

This refers to those that are physically disadvantaged. Those that suffer from physical disability are disenfranchised when it comes to access because of the unavailability and cost of hardware and software which is exorbitant.

Question 1.3: 

Social capital is the collective value of all social media networks and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other. Social networks have value social capital is about specific benefits that are achieved from the use of social networks such as reciprocity, trust and information. It creates value for people who are connected to each other. 

We build social capital when users engage and participate with social media tools such as Face book and twitter; and this increases their social and communication skills. As digital citizens we are growing our digital literacy and we are increasing our psychological well-being as we feel connected and respected through engagement with others.

Digital divide does however impact on peoples’ ability to leverage their social capital, thereby disrupting their ability to access raw data, information and knowledge that may strengthen their own feelings of self-worth and their ability to improve themselves socially, economically and professionally.

Question 1.4
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-nair-0b6ba913a/	(3)