ABSTRACT
In every country, certain groups of people have access to the best information and technology. People known as “the haves,” possess powerful computers, fast telephone and Internet service, as well as technical training and financial resources. Another group of people, known as “the have-nots,” lack access to new or good computers and reliable telephone and Internet services. This disparity in access to technology, information, training, and financial resources between these two groups of people is called the digital divide. There has always been a gap in communities where some people can make effective use of information technology and others who cannot. Now, more than ever, unequal access to technology excludes many people from reaping the fruits of the twenty-first century. We use the term “digital divide” to refer to the gap between those who can use new information and communication tools effectively, to improve their lives and those who cannot or lack access.
