Does the digital divide matter? Factors and conditions that promote ICT literacy

Individuals’ computer skills have long been noteworthy for both education and the labor market. Although the support provided through curricula in schools develops these skills to a certain extent, digital divide still exists for individuals with different socio-demographic characteristics. The concept of digital divide, used to define individuals who do not have equal access to digital technologies, has started to be seen as a determining factor for digital competencies with its expanding scope. The current study aims to take a perspective to investigate the effect of socio-demographic variables, which may cause digital divide, on students' ICT literacy. With this study, it is sought to explain the effect of current inequalities regarding digital access on students' ICT skills. To this end, the socio-demographic characteristics of the students in the sample of Korea and Chile from the participating countries of the International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) were examined in the context of ICT literacy. The characteristics of the models created were compared for both countries. While parents’ level of education variable stands out for the Chilean model, the internet connection variable is remarkable for the Korean model. It is anticipated that the findings of the research will contribute to understanding the dynamics of the digital divide and its possible consequences, and can be a source for preventive policy steps to be developed.     

Behind the growth of FinTech in South Korea: Digital divide in the use of digital financial services

Advancements in financial technology, known as “FinTech,” will help both businesses and consumers of financial services. South Korea has a well-established FinTech infrastructure and resources, and has already incorporated digital financial services into daily life. However, the benefit of the proliferation of FinTech might be disproportionate in reaching diverse groups. The goal of this study is to examine how digital financial services are used in South Korea with an emphasis on disparities in the use of digital financial services. This study used the 2019 Digital Divide Survey conducted in South Korea to conduct OLS regression analysis, and create the Concentration Index (CI), which estimates the disparities that are systematically related to income level. Next, decomposition analysis on the CI was conducted to determine what factors help explain the disparity in the use of digital financial services. The analysis confirmed that there are considerable differences in the usage by income level. The multivariate results reveal that one’s device proficiency and active involvement in utilizing the internet for basic activities played significant roles in explaining the level of digital financial services usage. Poorer individuals' attitudes toward new technologies, such as a lack of interest in participating in learning and confidence in obtaining new digital skills, may prevent them from using digital financial services. This study is one of few studies to use the CI technique to examine the digital divide in digital financial services, and provide insights for educators, businesses, and policymakers.     

Digital access,choice and agency in remote Sarawak

Internet use and access to digital devices continues to increase even in remote regions around the world, but users do not participate equally or engage in the same practices online. This leads to inequalities in the outcomes different groups of users can generate as a result of their online practices. Drawing from recent literature on digital divides and using a theoretical framework focused on user choice and agency, we present data from a study of internet and device use in remote villages in Sarawak, a state of Malaysia on the island of Borneo. These villages lack most basic infrastructure such as paved roads or grid electricity, but some have mobile phone and mobile internet access installed under Malaysia’s Universal Service Provision. We discuss qualitative and quantitative data collected between 2015 and 2017 to point to the opportunities as well as obstacles users in remote communities encounter in their engagements with digital devices and the internet. We argue that while remote areas seem to lag behind urban areas in terms of users’ internet skills and practices, people choose to engage with these technologies in ways that are appropriate to their needs and to the local low-bandwidth environment. To enable these communities to tap into additional potential benefits of internet use, however, faster and more reliable access is a prerequisite.     

Exploring the Determinants of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy: Digital Divide,Computational Thinking,Cognitive Absorption

To effectively utilize artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies such as ChatGPT and realize their novel ethical issues, individuals must have a variety of knowledge and skills about AI. Such knowledge and skills have led to the emergence of AI literacy. Despite the importance of AI literacy in everyday life, little is known about its determinants. To better understand the determinants of AI literacy, we attempted to build a research model relying on previous research and different theoretical frameworks. The model incorporated digital divide, cognitive absorption, and computational thinking. As a major finding from the current study, computational thinking was found to be a significant determinant of AI literacy, which facilitate using, recognizing, and evaluating AI-based technologies. Moreover, we found out that individuals with physical access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) are more expected to use and recognize AI. Also, motivation and skills in using ICTs enable individuals to better evaluate the outcomes of AI-based technologies. The findings also showed that convenient access to ICTs contributes to a deep involvement with AI-based technologies in the use. Further, individuals with higher motivation and skills to use AI technologies are likely to have a pleasant experience after using these technologies.     

Empirical study of a sequence of access to Internet use in Ecuador

Ecuador is a country that represents the efforts that a few countries in the Latin American and the Caribbean region are making on infrastructures, regulations and policies that are favorable towards the use of the Internet. However, although the digital divide in its most basic form (physical access and use) is closing with respect to developed countries, a new, more complex digital divide is moving forward, and is related to the socio-economic advantages of the Internet. This study, which used a random sample stratified by provinces and which comprised 3754 respondents representing the secondary school students in Ecuador, had as objectives: (a) to verify the relationship and sequence among the different levels to access the Internet found on secondary school students; and (b) to verify to what degree the student’s family status influenced the different levels of Internet access. Through the empirical analysis of a structural model, the results showed a sequence between the relationships found among the different levels of Internet access, as well as the cumulative effect of the technical resources and levels of digital literacy on the academic use of the Internet. Likewise, it was observed that the influence of the student’s family status lost strength as the level of Internet access increased.     

Explaining caste-based digital divide in India

With the increasing importance of information and communication technologies in access to basic services like education and health, the question of digital divide based on caste assumes importance in India where large socioeconomic disparities persist between different caste groups. Studies on caste-based digital inequality are still scanty in India. Using nationally representative survey data, this paper analyzes the first-level digital divide (ownership of computer and access to the Internet) and the second-level digital divide (individuals skills to use computer and the Internet) between the disadvantaged caste groups and Others. Further, this paper identifies the caste-based differences in socioeconomic factors that contribute to the digital divide between these groups using a non-linear decomposition method. The results show that there exists large first-level and second-level digital divide between the disadvantaged caste groups and Others in India. The non-linear decomposition results indicate that caste-based digital divide in India is rooted in historical socioeconomic deprivation of disadvantaged caste groups. More than half of the caste-based digital gap is attributable to differences in educational attainment and income between the disadvantaged caste groups and Others. Findings of this study highlight the urgent need for addressing educational and income inequality between the different caste groups in India in order to bridge the digital divide.     

Digital inequality in the Appalachian Ohio: Understanding how demographics,internet access,and skills can shape vital information use (VIU)

Access to information and resources via the Internet is an increasingly vital dimension of contemporary life. However, there can be several impediments to optimal Internet utilization in the form of access, skills, and motivation. Even when access is available, several digital inequalities arise as citizens often lack the skills and motivations to pursue those vital uses through the Internet to the best of their advantage. Digital inequalities in the hills of the Appalachian area of Ohio are often manifested in terms of social, cultural and geographic divides. Not only do the hills block wireless signals and make cables expensive to install, but regional poverty also drives away telecom investment. We conducted a survey of Appalachian Ohio to explore digital inequity issues and the determinants of online participation for things that matter. Through a number of analyses, we explore how Internet access and digital skills impact online contribution to the community in terms of services and resources considered to be basic social needs: health, employment, education, and social media. These social needs, what we have called Vital Internet Use (VIU) can determine citizens’ political and civic participation, societal contribution, and overall benefit to their communities. Centered on the concepts of digital access, Internet skills, and benefit outcomes, we extend knowledge in this domain and propose a comprehensive framework of VIU.     

Determinants of Internet skills,uses and outcomes. A systematic review of the second- and third-level digital divide

Recently, several digital divide scholars suggested that a shift is needed from a focus on binary Internet access (first-level digital divide) and Internet skills and use (second-level digital divide) to a third-level digital divide in which the tangible outcomes of Internet use are highlighted. A plethora of studies have been conducted to identify determinants of digital divides. Unfortunately, there is a lack of consistency in the terminology used. Moreover, terms are often not theoretically grounded. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review of digital divide determinants. The results show that the third-level digital divide was underexposed. The primary focus is on Internet use. More importantly, the identified determinants show that digital divide research is largely limited to sociodemographic and socioeconomic determinants.     

Determinants of social gratifications obtained by older adults moderated by public supports for Internet access in Spain

As the standard of living constantly improves, and as life expectancy increases in developed countries, the number of adults who want to have a gratifying life increases as well. Furthermore, although the Internet offers a world of potentially rewarding experiences, there is much heterogeneity among older people with respect to those who are able to benefit from its use. To reduce this gap, public access and digital literacy programs have been implemented. The aim of the study was to find out the extent to which these programs moderate the effects of age and socioeconomic status on social access to and use of the Internet in a sample of older users in Spain. Through quota sampling of retired users over 54 years of age in Spain (N = 560), who were regular users of public supports for Internet access, a structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis was conducted. The data showed a staggered association of access indicators (physical access, digital skills and social e-activities) on the social gratifications obtained, as well as the moderating role of institutional supports. This study provides empirical evidence of the ability of public supports to moderate the effect of socioeconomics inequalities on access and social exploitation of the Internet by older people. The findings point to the need to strengthen digital literacy actions, especially in supports that are more sensitive to the effect of age and socio-economic status.     

Disentangling facial recognition payment service usage behavior: A trust perspective

Facial recognition payment (FRP) technology has been used as an innovative digital approach to payment services. This study develops a model to investigate how user trust—including trust in FRP service providers and FRP—affects users’ continuance intentions toward FRP services. We also propose that trust in FRP itself is affected by perceived vulnerability, perceived security, and perceived response efficacy from a privacy and security perspective. Our research model was empirically tested via a partial-least-squares analysis with survey data collected from 217 FRP users in China. The results show that trust in both FRP service providers and FRP itself positively affects users’ continuance intentions, and trust in service providers affects trust in FRP. Perceived security and response efficacy positively affect trust in FRP. This research contributes to the literature on FRP and trust, offering practical implications for FRP service providers on how to manage individual users’ FRP-related privacy concerns while enhancing user trust in FRP, which facilitates continuous FRP use.     

How variation in internet access,digital skills,and media use are related to rural student outcomes: GPA,SAT, and educational aspirations

Some have pointed to divides in the availability of fixed home broadband Internet access as a contributor to rural students’ lower levels of educational attainment. Based on standardized exams (SAT Suite) and a survey of rural Michigan students in grades 8–11, we find that rural students with broadband home Internet access are more interested in school and leave homework incomplete less often. However, the relationship to classroom grades (GPA) is relatively trivial. Yet, we find that students who are not dependent on a cell phone for Internet access and those with higher digital skills, especially social media skills, rank considerably higher on the SAT. Rural students with broadband Internet access are able to participate in a more diverse array of online media activities, which supports building digital skills. Any negative relationship between time spent on social media, video games, other digital media and educational outcomes is outweighed by the benefit to digital skills. However, aspects of rural culture; including the emphasis on activities such as sports, as a path to postsecondary schooling and upward, social mobility; may be stunting the positive relationship between access, digital skills, and educational aspirations. Whereas extra-curricular sports have no direct relationship to SAT performance, students who spend more time on sports receive higher grades and have higher educational aspirations than those with more digital skills. We discuss the implications for rural students’ access to human capital and how the unequal relationship between digital skills and performance in the classroom and on the SAT may perpetuate inequalities.     

Does country culture influence consumers' perceptions toward mobile banking? A comparison between Egypt and the United States

This study provides insights into the potential impact of country culture on consumers’ perceptions toward usage of new innovative technological services. Focusing on mobile banking (m-banking), this work compares responses from three distinct consumer segments, including– 1) consumers living in Egypt, 2) consumers from Egypt who are living in the U.S. and 3) U.S. consumers. The study utilizes constructs from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) including, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, along with perceived risk, trust and social influence to examine the differences between these three distinct consumer segments’ usage intentions toward mobile banking. The hypothesized model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results indicate that country culture (both primary and secondary) can, to some degree, influence consumers’ perceptions and intentions toward mobile banking. Implications and future research suggestions are provided.     

The digital switchover as an information society initiative: The role of public policy in promoting access to digital ICTs

The switchover to digital communications was launched as a major information society policy initiative across Europe, and was expected to be a key contributor to the spreading of internet access across all households. More than a decade after its introduction, and as the digital switchover is well-underway, digital television (DTV) is not delivering the promise of interactivity for all. Drawing on the principle of universal access as a politically determined and technologically bound concept, this article assesses the role of public policy in expanding and promoting the diffusion of new media technologies. More specifically, it reviews policy developments in the UK in order to examine the making of DTV as a universally available technology for broadcast transmissions; the lack of a commitment to support access to interactive services; and implications for end-users.     

Digital capacity and employment outcomes: Microdata evidence from pre- and post-COVID-19 Europe

This paper examines the relationship between employment outcomes and broadband Internet access, education and digital skills using the pre- and post-COVID-19 survey waves of the Eurostat Community Statistics on Information Society from 2017, 2019, and 2021 in 27 European countries. Joint estimates of individuals’ employment status and skills employ external controls based on Eurostat and COVID-19 European Regional Tracker NUTS1-level regional statistics and Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker information on governments’ containment and economic support measures. Broadband access, digital skills and educational attainment combine to raise employment outcomes, but COVID-19 has changed these relationships in distinct ways. It has increased employment benefits from formal education and roughly tripled the labor market advantages from having household members with tertiary education. The pandemic has increased the employment value of having at least some digital skills, while the relative benefits of more advanced digital skills shrank.     

Gender digital divide in Rwanda: A qualitative analysis of socioeconomic factors

This study aims at exploring how information and communications technology (ICT) is accessed and used by women and men in Rwanda. Specifically, we analyze the factors that contribute to the gender digital divide in Rwanda. In addition, we assess the importance of equal access to ICTs between genders. Rwanda is a particulary interesting case study, since previous studies on gender differences in the usage and accessibility of ICTs have focused on Western countries, while Africa, and Rwanda in particular, have been less covered. The qualitative method of in-depth interviews was used to collect the data. Interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis technique. The findings of this study reveal that a gender digital divide still exists in Rwanda, even though the government puts forth much effort to eradicate this phenomenon. Reasons for barriers for women’s access to ICTs were found in social, economic and cultural factors, such as feelings of lack of self-worth, self-confidence, and proper educations; heavy domestic responsibilities; and computer anxiety. The findings also indicated that equal access to ICTs would be a shortcut to economic growth in Rwanda. This study concludes that Rwandan women need to be better educated in the use of computer technologies. Certain gender-sensitive strategies that guide the use of ICTs in this way also need to be established.     

DNA‐Templated Magnetic Nanoparticle‐Quantum Dot Polymers for Ultrasensitive Capture and Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) enumeration and analysis has emerged as an important platform for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. A great challenge, however, is to efficiently capture low abundant CTCs with high purity from blood samples in a rapid and high‐throughput manner for accurate and sensitive CTC detection. Herein, a new class of DNA‐templated magnetic nanoparticle‐quantum dot (QD)‐aptamer copolymers (MQAPs) is developed for rapid magnetic isolation of CTCs from human blood with high capture efficiency and purity approaching 80%. The phenotype of CTCs is simultaneously profiled with QD photoluminescence (PL) at single cell level. These MQAPs are constructed through hybridization chain reaction to achieve amplified magnetic response, extraordinary binding selectivity for target cells over background cells, and ultra bright ensemble QD PL for single cell detection. MQAPs are free from nonspecific binding that would otherwise compromise the capture purity of target cells. As a result, facile isolation and enumeration of rare CTCs in blood samples could be achieved in 20 min with high sensitivity and accuracy.     

国外电信普遍服务简况及我国电信普遍服务的内容和目标

实行电信普遍服务是世界各国缩小数字差距的主要手段,也是电信管制的重要内容之一。目前在国外,不同国家普遍服务的内容存在着层次上的差别。如美、日、英、法等发达国家,以语音通信为内容的普遍服务已基本实现,更高层次的电信普遍服务已经开始实施。而广大的发展中国家则还停留在普遍服务的初级阶段:普遍接入。我国目前也处于初级阶段,主要是解决偏远地区、贫困地区的电话接入问题,具体讲就是“村村通”工程。从目前来看,一些新技术的出现为最终解决贫困地区普遍接入的问题提供了有利的条件。     

A Study on the Use Intention of Long Term Evolution Mobile Service

The rapid development of ICT is bringing about a digital transformation. The digital transformation affects all areas, and ICT is at the center of many technologies. In particular, the importance of technical services for wireless communications is being increasingly emphasized. Thus, the qualities of technical services for wireless communications have effects not only on the companies who provide services but also on the consumers who receive them. As technologies develop, consumers want to receive more stable and higher quality services. In this regard, this study classified the qualities of LTE service into call quality, speed quality, and user support quality, investigated their influential factors on perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and playfulness, and analyzed their causal relationship with satisfaction and continuous use intention. As a result of analysis, all the hypotheses were accepted; except for the one that call quality will have effects on perceived usefulness (H1-1), except for the one that social influence will have effects on user satisfaction (H7-2), except for the one that customer membership will have effects on perceived usefulness (H8-1), except for the one that social influence will have effects on perceived usefulness (H8-2). The results of this study provided practical guidelines to service providers through the causal relationship analysis of various variables affecting LTE services satisfaction and constant services.     

Africa and the digital divide

The digital divide is a phenomenon linked not only to the topic of access to the Internet, but also to the one of usage and usage benefit. In this paper we take a look at the global digital divide concerning Africa, we analyze the situation with the help of macro-data and by discussing specific examples (Ghana, South Africa). We also address suggestions that have been made for closing the global digital divide and point out that such solutions require more fundamental changes of society and cannot be achieved by technology alone.     

全业务接入光缆建设思路

随着中国移动全业务的发展,接入层所面对的需求也发生了巨大的变化,根据中国移动现网中的实际情况,兼顾现阶段及将来各类业务的需求,对城域网络接入层光缆网络的建设思路进行了分析,希望能对今后的网络建设有所启示。