This Thanksgiving holiday, I ordered my groceries for pick up from Safeway. However, the parking lots were less busy than they usually are during this time of the year. I was fortunate enough to own a laptop and a cellphone to skip the lines at the stores by ordering ahead of time. I may not be into all of what technology has today, but to know that many out there may not own a laptop or a smartphone is very discouraging.
"Now, this number grows when you realize that the people who do have infrastructure access can't afford things like laptops or phones. And the number grows even greater when you realize that those who can afford, a portion of them can only afford the models that are of low quality because that's what they can afford under their financial restrictions." (Linglala, 2022) Is anyone purchasing these items that cost as much as their rent comprehending that you can buy one similar for half the price? Unaffordability will only continue to spread digital divides and alienations globally as those less fortunate will continue to climb the forever-extending ladder.
Furthermore, "The rapid uptake of new technologies is occurring among most groups of Americans, regardless of income, education, race or ethnicity, location, age, or gender, suggesting that digital inclusion is a realizable goal. Groups that have traditionally been digital "have-nots" are now making dramatic gains." (Wolske, 2020) Although the new inclusions ideas of the rapid uptake of technology show that improvements are underway, the internet and Wi-Fi at my house could be faster but loses connection out of nowhere. The internet company says that we are near a dead zone location, and there is nothing they can do about it—the lack of accessibility for those living in a world of infrastructure will not help even with new technology.
Citation
Linglala, A. (2022, April 5). The Digital Divide | Arjun Linglala | TEDxChelmsfordHS - YouTube [Video file]. TEDx Talks. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZe4AoZ2Pv8
Wolske, M. (2020, October 7). A Person-Centered Guide to Demystifying Technology: Working. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://doi.org/10.21900/wd.7
Hey Amy, great post. It's interesting to see how much technology has changed, even with buying groceries. I know lots of people who rely on picking up ready-to-go groceries. On the other hand, I also know lots of people who wouldn't know how to use a phone/order groceries online. As you said this number grows because people can't afford a fancy phone or laptop. We have a long ways to go before everyone, can get set up with the internet. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, I like your post. I agree some of the technology we use has a broad spectrum of price ranges. Unfortunately, I am also noticing that since technology is still improving, some of our devices have a very short lifespan before they become outdated. This I think makes it especially harder for those who don't even have a starter device to get started with access.
ReplyDeleteI like your post. It's very useful to see how technology is changed.
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