A4 Refereed article in a conference publication

Revitalizing the Quantitative Understanding of the Digital Divide: An Uptake on the Digital Divide Indicators




AuthorsFarooq Mubarak

EditorsKaija Saranto, Maaret Castrén, Tiina Kuusela, Sami Hyrynsalmi, Stina Ojala

Conference nameInternational Conference on Well-Being in the Information Society

Publication year2014

Book title Safe and Secure Cities

Series titleCommunications in Computer and Information Science

Volume450

First page 120

Last page130

Number of pages11

ISBN978-3-319-10210-8

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10211-5_13


Abstract

Recent advances in ICT research have uncovered several facts regarding the nature of

the digital divide. Following the renewed dimensions of the term, the need for universally accepted

digital divide indicators has significantly heightened across the academic and policy discourses. Tra-

ditionally, researchers have subscribed to the belief that the digital divide is a mere separation be-

tween “have” and “have nots”; however, as the digital technology continues to experience innovation

in the information age, digital divide is increasingly being understood as a multi-dimensional phe-

nomena. The research to date has mostly focused on the qualitative rather than the quantitative nature

of the digital divide. The few existent accounts of quantitative studies on the digital divide are often

criticized for deploying unreliable data in their analysis. Inaccurate predictions significantly derail

policymakers’ abilities to form appropriate action plans in combating the digital divide. OECD and

ITU have been hitting on front lines with their extensive research in ICT. This paper seeks to emphasize the quantitative understanding of the digital divide by reviewing the relevant literature and acknowledging the top indicators in the field. Apart from OECD and ITU, there is a general lack of re-

search in determining the ICT indicators. Along with reviewing the relevant literature on latest ICT

indicators, this study has documented twenty-nine significant ICT indicators and highlighted the need for future research into quantitative nature of the digital divide.




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