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Re-theorizing the “digital divide”: Identifying dimensions of social exclusion in contemporary media technologies
No full textThe digital divide is the disparancy in access to information, in the ability to communicate, and in the capacity to make information and communication serve full participation in the information society. Indeed, the conversation about the digital divide has developed over the last decade from a focus on connectivity and access to information and communication technologies, to a conversation that encompasses the ability to use them and to the utility that usage provides (Wei et al., 2011). However, this conversation, while transitioning from technology to the skills of the people that use them and to the fruits of their use is limited in its ability to take into account the social role of information and communication technologies (ICTs). \ud
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One successful attempt in conceptualizing the social impact of the differences in access to and utilization of digital communication technologies, was developed by van Dijk (2005) whose sequential model for analyzing the divide states that: \ud
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1. Categorical inequalities in society produce an unequal distribution of resources; \ud
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2. An unequal distribution of resources causes unequal access to digital technologies; \ud
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3. Unequal access to digital technologies also depends on the characteristics of these technologies; \ud
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4. Unequal access to digital technologies brings about unequal participation in society; \ud
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5. Unequal participation in society reinforces categorical inequalities and unequal distributions of resources.” (p. 15) \ud
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As van Dijk’s model demonstrates, the divide’s impact is the exclusion of individuals from participation. Still left to be defined are the “categorical inequalities,” the “resources,” the “characteristics of digital technologies,” and the different levels of “access” that result in differentiated levels of participation, as these change over time due to the evolving nature of technology and the dynamics of society. And most importantly, the meaning of “participation” in contemporary society needs to be determined as it is differentiated levels of participation that are the result of the divide and the engine of the ever-growing disparities. \ud
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Our argument is structured in the following manner: We first claim that contemporary digital media differ from the previous generation of ICTs along four dimensions: They offer an abundance of information resources and communication channels when compared to the relative paucity of both in the past; they offer mobility as opposed to the stationary nature of their predecessors; they are interactive in that they provide users with the capability to design their own media environments in contrast to the dictated environs of previous architectures; and, they allow users to communicate utilizing multi forms of mediation, unlike the uniformity of sound or word that limited users in the past. \ud
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We then submit that involvement in the information society calls for egalitarian access to all four dimensions of the user experience that make contemporary media different from their predecessors and that the ability to experience all four affects the levels in which humans partake in the shaping of society. The model being cyclical, we then discuss how lower levels of participation contribute to the enhancement of social inequalities. Finally, we discuss why participation is needed in order to achieve full membership in the information society and what political philosophy should govern policy solutions targeting the re-inclusion of those digitally excluded
"Nothing is ever truly new”: The persisting digital exclusion in Israel, 2002-2013
No full textMost “digital divide” studies focus on a point in time in which the study was conducted and on a particular “divide” issue studied. Such studies often analyze demographics of the populations or the ICT-usage skills they have or lack. In order to contribute to a better understanding of the divide, and in particular of its dynamics, this study examines changes over time of both ICT possession and patterns of use in Israel. Based on data derived from annual surveys conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics, we paint a picture of the trends in ICT possession and patterns of use, between 2002-2013 (the latest date for which data is available).\ud
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Our basic assumption is that the term “digital divide” is limited, as it focuses policymakers on the disparity in ownership, skills to use, or utilization to fully exploit ICTs. However, there is a social price paid by those on the lower end of the divide, which is currently absent from the policy-making discourse. We use therefore the term “digital exclusion” and refer by that to the exclusion from participation in the civic, political, cultural and economic spheres, which are the foundation of membership in the contemporary information and communication society. Such lowered participation levels are caused by disparity in access and usage.\ud
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In order to demonstrate the analytical force of “digital exclusion”, the analysis takes into account the unique contours and cleavages within Israeli society and describes differences in ICT possession and use along population groups (Jewish/Palestinian), income, Jewish ethnicity (Europe/America – Asia/Africa origin), immigrant-Israel born, level of religiosity (within the Jewish community), and gender. ICT usage was checked with regards to: use for work, use for economic activities (online purchases), use for civic activities (e-government services), and use for social networking. \ud
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Indeed, while the study focuses on Israel, some of these differences and gaps exist in many other nations, and both the data and the analysis can contribute to an international comparative conversation on digital exclusion patterns. The results of this longitudinal analysis demonstrate how digital exclusion is either maintained or even grows along certain aspects of participation.\ud
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In each analysis, one of the determinants is controlled for, in order to identify effect. Initial results indicate that similarly to other countries, income is a major contributor to digital exclusion. Certain digital exclusion differences such as gender disappear, when income parity is present. However, such an effect is not visible when it comes to the gap between Jews and Palestinians, immigrants and Israel-born, and Europe/America and Asia/Africa descent. Additional insight is provided by the fact that across income levels, ICT use among 3rd generation Israelis is higher than among immigrants, and eradicates the effect of geographical roots (Europe/America vs. Asia/Africa). \ud
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One unique element of the study is the differences based on level of self-proclaimed religiosity within the Jewish population. Indeed, the choice of ultra-orthodox Jews not to own or use ICTs raises a whole set of issues with regard to participation in the information society as a matter of choice
The effect of the transformation in digital media on the digital divide
No full textThe conversation about the digital divide has developed over the last decade from a focus on connectivity and access to information and communication technologies, to a conversation that encompasses the ability to use them and to the utility that usage provides (Wei et al., 2011). However, the understanding of the divide has not developed in policy circles to describe disparity in access to information, in the ability to communicate, or in the capacity to make information and communication serve full participation in the information society.\ud
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In fact, much of the literature focusing on the “digital divide,” developed either from viewing the “divide” as an access issue or from attributing it to “online skills” (e.g., Hargittai 2002). Policies that have emanated from this limited view focused on either providing physical access to ICTs, through subsidies or through the enactment of community computer centers , or on providing the less connected with “online skills,” mostly uniform skills tied to basic uses of computer and Internet applications: mail and Microsoft’s “Office” applications..
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Jacob\u27s Voice, Esau\u27s Hands : Transparency as a First Amendment Right in an Age of Deceit and Impersonation
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