Flipbook essay: Digital Media and Access to Information

1. Digital Media and Access to Information:
The good, bad and unjust outcomes of the digital information revolution
CC0 Photo Retrieved from KaboomPicsBy Daniel Bartolini

2. “Phones are no longer just for making
calls. TV sets no longer pull in content
just from antennas, satellites or cables.
The media world has changed.”
(Krashinsky Robertson, 2014)
CC0 Photo Retrieved from KaboomPics

3. “Our ancient ancestors built the towering Library of
Alexandria to gather all of the world’s knowledge, but
today, smartphones turn every palm into a knowledge
palace.” – (Zane, 2015)
CC0 Photo Retrieved from KaboomPics

4. People now have access to more
information online than they have
ever had before…
But, is this a good thing?
Are the benefits of the digital
information revolution radiating
equally to all corners of society?
CC0 Photo Retrieved from KaboomPics

5. Not necessarily….
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Photo Divided Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Ignatios Apostolidis

6. “Canada has a digital divide, a
demographic that isn’t fully
connected to the online world.” –
(Chapin, 2013)
CC BY 2.0 Photo Disconnect Retreivedvia Flickr Courtesy of Scott Swigart

7. “The digital divide is a spectrum. Rather than
haves and have-nots, it’s made up of people
suffering from varying degrees of disconnection.”
– (Chapin, 2013)
CC BY-NC 2.0 Photo Disconnected Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Kenny Stoltz

8. The Elderly
CC BY 2.0 Photo Elderly Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Moyan Brenn

9. “Gadgets that can ease the burdens
of aging are slowly beginning to
appear in older adult’s homes and
communities. They are designed to
respond to vital needs, including
caregiving, transportation and living
more safely at home” (Gustke, 2015)
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Photo Keeping Up with the Times Retrievedvia Flickr Courtesy of Mister G.C.

10. “These technologies can be a powerful and potential tool to help
older adults become more physically, mentally, and socially active.
Numerous studies have explored the potential role of technology to
help motivate older adults to adopt a healthy lifestyle” (Kim, 2014)
CC0 Photo Retrieved via KaboomPics

11. Unfortunately, only small percentages of older adults have been using new technology to improve their quality of life.
CC BY 2.0 Photo Couch Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of PhotoAtelier

12. “In 2010, only 31% of American older adults used a high speed
internet connection compared with 75% of adults aged 30-49 and
63% of adults aged 50-64 years” - (Smith, 2010)
CC BY-ND 2.0 Picture 70’s Typing Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Sarah Scicluna

13. Two studies reported that
older adults were much less
willing to use technology in
comparison with younger
adults. (Smith, 2010; Alder &
SeniorNet, 2006)
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Photo Cut Off Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Ozan Hatipoglu

14. “Notably, older adults aged 65 and over were found to be less
likely to use the internet or a computer in the future due to
lack of interest or understanding” (Kim, 2014)
CC BY-NC 2.0 Photo Technology Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Eltpics

15. But elderly adults are not the only ones limited in their access to online information…
CC BY-NC 2.0 Photo Tech Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Eltpics

16. The Poor & Uneducated
CC BY 2.0 Photo Slums Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Honza Soukup

17. Statistics Canada reported
that only 62 per cent of the
poorest quarter of Canadian
households are connected to
the Internet at home,
compared to 95 per cent of
the wealthiest quarter –
(McGee, Kielburger& Kielburger, 2013)
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Photo Digital Divide Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Oliver Lavery

18. “People with family incomes between $41,000
and $65,000 were more than twice as likely to use
the Internet as those in the lowest-income group;
people in families with incomes between $65,000
and $100,000 were nearly three times more likely
to go online; and people in families whose
incomes topped $100,000 were five times more
likely” – (Harris, 2013).
CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Photo Fence Retrievedon Flickr Courtesy of Michael

19. “Among Canadians 16-54, researchers found
a stronger relationship between education
and online activities, while for Canadians 55
and older, income was a more important
predictor of Internet proficiency” –
(Harris, 2013)
CC BY-NC 2.0 Photo Educate Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of {Flixelpix} David

20. “Similarly, with education, university graduates performed
nearly five more activities online than those lacking a high
school diploma” – (Harris, 2013)
CC BY-NC 2.0 Photo The Graduates Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Luftphilia

21. “The digital underclass can’t fully participate in a society that
has migrated most essential services online. It is harder, if not
impossible, for them to find work, get an education, access
governent services and maintain basic connections. Yet rather
than invest in solutions, our government has pinned a societal
issue on individuals” – (Chapin, 2013)
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Photo Under Retrieved on Flickr Courtesy of Several Seconds

22. So, what can we do?
CC BY-NC 2.0 Photo Bridge Retrieved via Flickr Courtesy of Mariano Mantel

23. “Borrow the motto ‘No one left behind.’ In addition to
public access, we need freely available, one-on-one
assistance and small group training through government-
funded community technology sites, like public libraries.
The result will be a “learning citizenry” capable of
adaptation to rapid change.”
(McGee, Keilburger & Keilburger, 2013)
Eric Stackhouse, chair of Nova Scotia
Community Access Program:
“School computers and library access aren’t enough –
too many low-income households don’t even have
computers. While the private sector is stepping in with
innovative solutions like refurbished computers and low-
cost Internet plans, there’s room for governments and
community groups to help by determining which
households should be targeted for these programs.”
(McGee, Keilberger & Keilberger, 2013)
Mark Goldberg, telecommunications
consultant in Thornhill, Ont
CC0 Photo Retrieved via KaboomPics

24. “We must bridge the digital divide across geography and
economic means to help families in need and build
stronger, more vibrant communities. Through
partnerships between governments and industry, we can
harness our shared expertise and resources to enable
connectivity for all.”
(McGee, Keilburger & Keilburger, 2013)
“Start early with STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, Math)
curricula, emphasizing digital skills,
literacy and exploration in elementary
and high schools across the board.”
(McGee, Keilburger & Keilburger, 2013)
Anabel Quan-Haase, associate
professor of sociology at the
University of Western Ontario
Jill Schnarr, vice-president of community
affairs at Telus
CC0 Photo Retrieved via KaboomPics

25. Sources:
• Alder, R., and SeniorNet. "Older Americans, broadband and the future of the Net." SeniorNet. 2006.
http://www.seniornet.org/research/SeniorNetNNPaper060606.pdf
• Chapin, Angelina. "Digital Divide: Canada's Poorest Sacrifice Basic Needs To Get Connected." Huffington Post, December 14, 2013.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/11/14/digital-divide-canada-poor_n_4269171.html.
• Gustke, Constance. "Technology, While Not a Fountain of Youth, Can Make Aging Safer." The New York Times, July 24, 2015.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/your-money/technology-while-not-a-fountain-of-youth-can-make-aging-safer.html.
• Harris, Misty. "Digital Divide persists in Canada, both in access and Internet fluency." Financial Post, March 21, 2013. http://business.financialpost.com/fp-
tech-desk/digital-divide-persists-in-canada-both-in-access-and-internet-fluency?__lsa=fe2f-00ef.
• Kim, Kyungo. "Understanding older individuals' emotional responses to new technology associated with healthy lifestyle choice." Journal of Physical Education
and Sport 14, no. 2 (2014): 138-47.
• Krashinsky Robertson, Susan. "Four ways Canadians are consuming media differently." The Globe and Mail, December 04, 2014.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/four-ways-canadians-are-consuming-media-differently/article21949630/.
• McGee, Craig, Craig Keilburger, and Marc Keilburger. "Have your say: How can we help Canadians gain better access to the Internet?" The Globe and Mail,
November 25, 2013. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/giving/have-your-say-how-can-we-help-canadians-gain-better-access-to-the-
internet/article15585113/.
• Smith, Aaron. "Home Broadband 2010." Pewinternet.org. August 11, 2010. http://www.pewinternet.org/2010/08/11/home-broadband-2010/.
• Zane, J. Peder. "In the Age of Information, Specializing to Survive." The New York Times, March 19, 2015.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/education/in-the-age-of-information-specializing-to-survive.html.
CC0 Photo Retrieved via KaboomPics