ETHICAL
INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGIES
FOR DEVELOPMENT
SOLUTIONS
EUP1501
PORTFOLIO
, Portfolio section A: Chapter 1. Understanding development: The role of International
Development Frameworks and Organizations.
New list prioritising the various digital divide factors that I would like to address in the context of my
county, South Africa, explaining my view on the best way to narrow the digital divide.
1. Education – Less educated or non-working users face challenges of having the ability to
connect to the internet but not enough knowledge to use what information ICT’s and
internet technologies provide for them. Bridging this gap would require that information
ICT’s and internet technologies be introduced to rural and public schools as studies show
that students who went to these schools struggle with navigating through internet
technologies when they get to tertiary levels. This then acts as a disadvantage to them
because they get academically affected due to non-exposure of internet technologies from a
young age.
2. Gender – The digital gender divide has been proven to have narrowed in recent years
however, women continue to be at a disadvantage. Women are still not given equal
opportunities to men on learning how to use technical devices and internet access. There is
a great need for women to be empowered through ICTs and for them to be included in the
digital society. This can be done by ensuring that women also have equal access to ICT skills
training programmes and that gendered social norms are addressed to promote women
inclusivity.
3. Affordability – South Africa is highly affected by service providers who charge highly
unaffordable prices to ICT infrastructure and information systems. Most people in South
Africa do not afford data due to it being expensive. The high rate of unemployment in south
Africa largely contributes to the affordability factor. This gap can be narrowed by
government providing tariff subsidies to citizens to encourage them to purchase digital
tools. Financing can also be offered to assist lower income earners afford new technology.
4. Access – Inequality to access to and the use of medium will require a lot more time to be
narrowed. Technology is not introduced to society all at once and most libraries and schools
in some communities do not have ICT infrastructure or internet access. Efforts for access
being narrowed can be done through analysing the gaps that exist between
underdeveloped, developed and developing areas and making means to provide easy access
in homes, offices, schools, public spaces, libraries, internet cafes and others; in both rural
and urban areas.
5. Infrastructure – The reason why large areas do not have existing infrastructure is due to
geographical obstacles, poverty, income and education. People in poor communities and
rural areas do not have access to ICT infrastructure needed for learning new skills or
connecting to the internet. Bridging this digital divide gap can be achieved by providing
adequate infrastructure and services in the poorest areas of developed countries.
The above-mentioned digital divide factors are incorporated with the discussions from my peers that
took place in my group. None of the students replied to my list however, I arrived at my final list by
checking the number of authors and making an observation of all the different digital divide factors
they listed. I then did a count of how many factors were prioritised and I also made an observation
of all the replies on the group which gave me an indication of the factors most students felt were a
priority in the context of South Africa. Out of 60 students/authors, 42 students listed education and
21 replies were provided with regards to the education factor, hence my list placed the education
factor at the top of the list. I then included all the factors in particular order that a majority of
students discussed in their list and that included gender, affordability, access and infrastructure.
INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGIES
FOR DEVELOPMENT
SOLUTIONS
EUP1501
PORTFOLIO
, Portfolio section A: Chapter 1. Understanding development: The role of International
Development Frameworks and Organizations.
New list prioritising the various digital divide factors that I would like to address in the context of my
county, South Africa, explaining my view on the best way to narrow the digital divide.
1. Education – Less educated or non-working users face challenges of having the ability to
connect to the internet but not enough knowledge to use what information ICT’s and
internet technologies provide for them. Bridging this gap would require that information
ICT’s and internet technologies be introduced to rural and public schools as studies show
that students who went to these schools struggle with navigating through internet
technologies when they get to tertiary levels. This then acts as a disadvantage to them
because they get academically affected due to non-exposure of internet technologies from a
young age.
2. Gender – The digital gender divide has been proven to have narrowed in recent years
however, women continue to be at a disadvantage. Women are still not given equal
opportunities to men on learning how to use technical devices and internet access. There is
a great need for women to be empowered through ICTs and for them to be included in the
digital society. This can be done by ensuring that women also have equal access to ICT skills
training programmes and that gendered social norms are addressed to promote women
inclusivity.
3. Affordability – South Africa is highly affected by service providers who charge highly
unaffordable prices to ICT infrastructure and information systems. Most people in South
Africa do not afford data due to it being expensive. The high rate of unemployment in south
Africa largely contributes to the affordability factor. This gap can be narrowed by
government providing tariff subsidies to citizens to encourage them to purchase digital
tools. Financing can also be offered to assist lower income earners afford new technology.
4. Access – Inequality to access to and the use of medium will require a lot more time to be
narrowed. Technology is not introduced to society all at once and most libraries and schools
in some communities do not have ICT infrastructure or internet access. Efforts for access
being narrowed can be done through analysing the gaps that exist between
underdeveloped, developed and developing areas and making means to provide easy access
in homes, offices, schools, public spaces, libraries, internet cafes and others; in both rural
and urban areas.
5. Infrastructure – The reason why large areas do not have existing infrastructure is due to
geographical obstacles, poverty, income and education. People in poor communities and
rural areas do not have access to ICT infrastructure needed for learning new skills or
connecting to the internet. Bridging this digital divide gap can be achieved by providing
adequate infrastructure and services in the poorest areas of developed countries.
The above-mentioned digital divide factors are incorporated with the discussions from my peers that
took place in my group. None of the students replied to my list however, I arrived at my final list by
checking the number of authors and making an observation of all the different digital divide factors
they listed. I then did a count of how many factors were prioritised and I also made an observation
of all the replies on the group which gave me an indication of the factors most students felt were a
priority in the context of South Africa. Out of 60 students/authors, 42 students listed education and
21 replies were provided with regards to the education factor, hence my list placed the education
factor at the top of the list. I then included all the factors in particular order that a majority of
students discussed in their list and that included gender, affordability, access and infrastructure.
