G5 Artikkeliväitöskirja
Rethinking the digital divide : emerging challenges in new global economy
Tekijät: Mubarak Farooq
Kustantaja: University of Turku
Kustannuspaikka: Turku
Julkaisuvuosi: 2018
ISBN: 978-951-29-7229-6
eISBN: 978-951-29-7230-2
Verkko-osoite: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-7230-2
Rinnakkaistallenteen osoite: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-7230-2
Tiivistelmä
CT and wellbeing are fundamental concerns in information systems science but seem to have an uncertain place in policy and academic groups. Recently, a considerable deal of literature has emerged around the theme of the digital divide; admittedly, weaving an intricate web of hypothetical assumptions about the nature of the problem. In spite of the six decades of critical research that has been conducted on the digital divide, misconceptions about the phenomenon still abound, even within prominent research groups, as witnessed by inconsistent definitions of the term.
While the shrinkage in prices of basic ICT equipment has enabled ICT access to masses, the trend of the digital divide has wandered into another direction: a constellation of divides based on skills, type and quality of ICT tools. Simultaneously, a new form of the digital divide related to elderly people is actively raising its head globally, which has been labelled as the grey digital divide in the literature.
To remedy these limitations, this research assigns itself a mandate to rethink the phenomenon of the digital divide critically and arrive at a solution. The prime narrative constructed throughout the body of this dissertation centres on the solution to the long awaited problem of the digital divide. To understand this multilevel phenomenon, Finland and Pakistan were taken as reference countries to represent ICT situation in one developed and one developing country.
Holistic research design was best suited to address the nature of research questions raised in the research design. The World Bank was a major source of data, in addition to systematic literature review on the digital divide. To bridge further gaps in existent literature, an ongoing literature review which was actively conducted throughout the dissertation writing process continually provided new insights into the topic. Multivariate regression analysis was used to examine large chunks of World Bank data from 191 countries.
Results indicate that the digital divide is a much more complex phenomenon than previously understood. Although developed countries have overpassed developing countries in terms of ICT penetration and infrastructure, there are considerable digital divides in developed regions. Results of empirical investigation clarified the quite confused debate between socio-economic indicators and ICT relationships worldwide.
Based on analysis of findings and literature, a systematic solution to minimize the digital divide in Pakistan has been proposed. It is premature to conclude that the digital divide can ever be fully bridged. It is an enduring phenomenon that will continue in various forms. However, multilevel efforts can be directed to minimise it as much as possible. Role of ICT in healthcare and social welfare should be a key practical agenda worldwide. Future work on this topic must continue globally and procedures to form a universal assessment mechanism for the digital divide should begin in earnest.
CT and wellbeing are fundamental concerns in information systems science but seem to have an uncertain place in policy and academic groups. Recently, a considerable deal of literature has emerged around the theme of the digital divide; admittedly, weaving an intricate web of hypothetical assumptions about the nature of the problem. In spite of the six decades of critical research that has been conducted on the digital divide, misconceptions about the phenomenon still abound, even within prominent research groups, as witnessed by inconsistent definitions of the term.
While the shrinkage in prices of basic ICT equipment has enabled ICT access to masses, the trend of the digital divide has wandered into another direction: a constellation of divides based on skills, type and quality of ICT tools. Simultaneously, a new form of the digital divide related to elderly people is actively raising its head globally, which has been labelled as the grey digital divide in the literature.
To remedy these limitations, this research assigns itself a mandate to rethink the phenomenon of the digital divide critically and arrive at a solution. The prime narrative constructed throughout the body of this dissertation centres on the solution to the long awaited problem of the digital divide. To understand this multilevel phenomenon, Finland and Pakistan were taken as reference countries to represent ICT situation in one developed and one developing country.
Holistic research design was best suited to address the nature of research questions raised in the research design. The World Bank was a major source of data, in addition to systematic literature review on the digital divide. To bridge further gaps in existent literature, an ongoing literature review which was actively conducted throughout the dissertation writing process continually provided new insights into the topic. Multivariate regression analysis was used to examine large chunks of World Bank data from 191 countries.
Results indicate that the digital divide is a much more complex phenomenon than previously understood. Although developed countries have overpassed developing countries in terms of ICT penetration and infrastructure, there are considerable digital divides in developed regions. Results of empirical investigation clarified the quite confused debate between socio-economic indicators and ICT relationships worldwide.
Based on analysis of findings and literature, a systematic solution to minimize the digital divide in Pakistan has been proposed. It is premature to conclude that the digital divide can ever be fully bridged. It is an enduring phenomenon that will continue in various forms. However, multilevel efforts can be directed to minimise it as much as possible. Role of ICT in healthcare and social welfare should be a key practical agenda worldwide. Future work on this topic must continue globally and procedures to form a universal assessment mechanism for the digital divide should begin in earnest.
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