The new digital divide: the confluence of broadband penetration,sustainable development,technology adoption and community participation |
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Authors: | Alvaro Armenta Arturo Serrano Mayer Cabrera Roberto Conte |
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Affiliation: | 1. Facultad de Ingeniería , Universidad Autónoma de Baja California , Mexicali , México aarmenta@cicese.mx;3. Dirección de Impulso a la Innovación y Desarrollo, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada , Ensenada , México;4. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo Educativo. Universidad Autónoma de Baja California , Ensenada , México;5. Departamento de Electrónica y Telecomunicaciones, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada , Ensenada , México |
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Abstract: | There have been significant efforts during the last years to define indicators to estimate the digital divide among nations, regions and social groups. The first attempts considered are mainly parameters of technical nature related with access to computers and Internet connectivity. Though these technical parameters gave an initial indication of the magnitude of the digital divide, they did not provide a complete picture of its dimension and context. In this paper, we propose that grass roots participation and integrating socioeconomic development with human values and taking advantage of the advent of emerging mobile wireless and efficient broadband technologies play a significant role in redefining the nature of the digital divide. The understanding of the new paradigm of broadband penetration, sustainable development, technology adoption and community participation is fundamental to develop national plans and agendas for digital inclusion, particularly in rural and underserved populations contexts. |
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Keywords: | digital divide sustainable development digital inclusion technology adoption |
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