For my final paper I plan to discuss how mobile phones are bridging the digital divide. I will argue how the wide spreading use of mobile phones which now have internet access is closing the gap in the digital divide. I will provide information showing how mobile phones are now more widely used than computers. I also want to look into how many phones are very cheap now which is allowing even lower income families to have access to an internet-ready phone since income is one of the greatest factors in the digital divide.
I came onto this topic because I enjoyed reading Adriana de Souza e Silva's article on mobile phones changing the world around us. I would like to work this article into my argument so I might look into how the evolution of mobile phones into mobile computers allows for people to bridge the digital divide even if they don't have a phone, because so many other people they interact with are connected to the internet at all times. I find how powerful cell phones have become with the introduction of smart phones is extremely interesting so that's why I chose this topic ultimately.
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Ok, this is a good start. For the next version of this, work on fleshing it out a little to talk about sources -- if Silva is going to be your focal piece of support (and I think it should be, because it is rich, foundational, and you already know it), look for a few more supplemental bits of support and also remember that you will need to work naysayers into your argument as well. This will become more clear to you when you figure out a specific case or two or three you will be using to argue that mobile phones are closing a gap (it doesn't have to be internet access -- it can be SMS access, as that's how most of the Iran Elections stuff was broadcast...via SMS gateway to the internet at large, for example). Also remember not to let the info you will provide in report format take over your argument. Expand on all this for blog #9 (with sources) and you should be good to go.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that the internet ready phones are bridging the digital divide. They may be cheap, but the access for the mobile web isn't. People that have a web enable phone probably have broadband too. Those that don't have internet at home, won't have a phone that get's it or can't pay for it. I know people with web phones and they all have broadband. I know a lot of people with dial-up and do not use web on their phones. I also know people with web enabled phones that won't pay for it because of the high cost.
ReplyDeleteThese support your idea:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/mobile-internet-use-shrinks-digital-divide/
http://www.w3.org/2008/MW4D/
These, not so much:
http://www.digitalcommunitiesblogs.com/dcp/2010/03/digital-divide-growing.php
http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/30/bridging-the-digital-divide-takes-more-than-just-access/