Summary

For most people of the 21st century, the internet has become broadband, due to the slowness of dial-up. Most broadband users generally lack awareness of the amount of non-users. This lack of awareness causes problems because it prevents people from coming up with a collaborative solution. Some rural areas do not possess the signal strength needed to have broadband while other areas lack broadband because of the cost of the infrastructure. This divide has become a serious problem for developing countries, and remains a problem with a large part of the lower income communities and rural areas in the United States. Broadband has become more available, but is still too expensive, or rather unattainable, for some.

Because technology keeps changing and the cost of avoiding being left behind in the Digital Divide has become unbearable, broadband technologies need to start meeting the needs of more individuals. The divide between dial-up and broadband effects not only individuals, but whole communities. Dial-up connections work too slowly for taking online classes, therefore they inhibit people from pursuing educational opportunities. Similarly, dial-up connections inhibit internet banking and e-commerce. Virtually any form of business online cannot be attainable. Communities that lack broadband connectivity lose jobs and population. Ohio business are losing out because they cannot buy and sell with their customers on the internet.

Designers create web pages for broadband users. Big files will either fail to download or will take too long on a dial-up connection. In addition, many users on dial-up do not have the patience to wait for files to download. The expectation of affordability for technology that continues to grow daily has becomes a huge debt builder and problem that stems the continuation of the divide. Because technology keeps changing, people cannot continue trying and succeeding in affording all the new changes that need to be made. As technological advancement increases, those who were behind in the past aren't even traveling on the connecting streets to the information highway. As dial-up connections become obsolete, the technologically advancing world leaves those without broadband access behind, furthering the divisions within the Digital Divide.

The internet has become more than just a widespread entertainment medium. The recent boom in robust multimedia data streaming creates the need for wider bandwidth. Dial-up connection speeds limit access to the utility, becoming a thing of the past. Bandwidth-hungry and multimedia applications push broadband, especially in homes, into the obligatory. Entertainment may be the primary use for some, but those who do not have access still fall behind. Average internet functions such as sending pictures, checking news and sports updates are impossible for homes that lack broadband. Many poor, rural, and ethnic groups cannot obtain this level of access that many of us have taken for granted and use every day.

Many schools struggle to catch up with state higher technology standards leading to a large population of students who have never touched a computer before. A huge problem exists considering that universities today expect students to have some experience in computer technologies. Trimble Middle School, a short drive from Ohio University, struggles to meet state standards and is the poorest school district in the state of Ohio. Trimble Middle School suffers from several problems with the digital divide: parents can't access the Internet at home. A mere 24% of adults in rural Ohio have access to broadband at home. Also, telecommunication companies resist providing DSL to many rural areas since there is a lack of profit. Finally, Trimble Middle School cannot afford to let go of core academic programs to make way for a computer program, putting their students at a disadvantage. There are two keys to bridging the digital divide for Athens county: Access and People. Businesses need to provide Internet access to the area despite the lack of profit and local people scared of technology need motivation toward learning how to use computers.

Stage Summaries

Group 1

"Digital Divide in Southeast Ohio"
Internet inactivity, considered a rarity to many residents, nonetheless remains a reality. Yet, the Internet spoken of, only corresponds to Broadband, which only 24% of residents possess. Although Broadband has become more available, affordability remains low. The internet of the early 21st century is meant to be for broadband users. Those who use dial-up will become part of the Digital Divide and began to separate.

People that use broadband generally aren't aware of how many people across the country aren't able to use such a service. Some areas are too rural to pick up signals, others can't even afford it. It has become a serious problem for developing countries, and also is a problem with a huge part of the lower income members of communities in our own areas. The expectation of affordability for technology that continues to grow daily has becomes a huge debt builder and problem that stems the continuation of the divide. Because technology keeps changing, people are less apt to continue trying and succeeding to afford all the new changes that need to be made.

Group 2

The difference in connection between a dial-up service and a broadband connection has created a new division within the digital divide.
Having a dial-up connection prevents you from doing things you might otherwise do with a broadband connection. If you were to try and take a course like Distance Education you could not do so on a dial-up connection- people are denied an educational opportunity. If you want to do internet banking or eccommerce, using a dial-up connection is pointless. Virtually any form of business online can not be achieved.
Communities that lack broadband connectivity will fall behind. Many are losing population and jobs. Ohio business are losing out because they can not buy and sell with their customers on the internet.
Web pages are designed for broadband users. Big files will either fail to download or will take to long on a dial-up connection. Plus, no one has the patience to wait for things to download anymore. Dial-up connections are not only slow, but unreliable, and becoming obsolete in today's technological society.
The difference between broadband and dial-up connections has created a new division within the digital divide, separated by different levels of internet access.

Group 3

The internet has become more than just a widespread entertainment medium. The recent boom in robust multimedia data streaming creates the need for wider bandwidth. Dial-up connection speeds limit access to the utility, becoming a thing of the past. Bandwidth-hungry and multimedia applications push broadband, especially in homes, into the obligatory. Entertainment may be the primary use for some, but those who do not have access still fall behind. Many poor, and ethnic groups can't access this level of access that many of have taken for granted and use every day.

Trimble, the poorest school district in the state of Ohio, has fallen behind in regards to technology. The goal of catching up the school became higher technological education standards. Classes such as keyboarding and web design became mandatory. The school’s faculty hopes students graduate with skills that allow them to compete in college in regards to technology. Students stand a better chance in college when coming from an already technologically literate background. Information technology remains outside the mandated academic standards at the Ohio middle school level.

Group 4

• Many schools struggle to catch up with state higher technology standards leading to a large population of students who have never touched a computer before. State standards established third-grade as an introduction to keyboarding and sixth grade as an introduction to web design. Trimble Middle School, a short drive from Ohio University, struggles in the poorest school district in Ohio. There are three problems for Athens county: parents can't access the Internet at home, companies not willing to provide DSL to an area due to a lack of profit, and Trimble Middle School cannot afford to let go of more important programs to make way for a computer program.

• Disregard for computer courses as a core-curriculum participant in academia leads to lack of testing on a state level, which makes the grade on a school's budget report card. Prior to the implementation of Trimble's technology program, many of the students from Athens county struggled to transition to the college-level. Most major universities held an expectation for technological knowledge missing from students of Athens county.

• There are two keys to bridging the digital divide for Trimble Middle school: Access and People. Businesses need to provide Internet access to the area and people who are afraid of technology need to be motivated to learn how to use computers.

Raw Notes

Group 1

0:00 - ? on Video pt. 1

Although it is rare to find someone who cannot access to the internet, at the same time, there are students in public schools (K-12) still that haven't had any experience with computers on a personal level (i.e. at home).

The internet was created so that everyone can have access to the internet. Today, most people assume access to the internet is through Broadband servers.

Internet and cell phone service are expected to exist and work everywhere.

About only 24% of rural adults (assuming in the United States) have broadband access at home. 38% don't have access at all, suggesting the other 38% has limited access through different speeds/connections.

Broadband has become more available over the past few years; but, the Digital Divide still exists because of the affordability.

This assumption that broadband internet access is readily available to everyone is false since places like Ohio, especially rural areas are not within the connection lines in the same aspect as large cities or suburban areas outside of large metropolitan areas.

People in the general public sometimes don't realize that everyone doesn't have broadband. For rural areas and small towns, it's more difficult get it, and a lot of it has to do with affordability.

The internet of the early 21st century is meant to be for broadband users. Files that are available on many sites are too large to be compatible with dial-up connections. Website designers also work assuming broadband is readily available.

To do most of the projects that we are capable of doing through the Internet, you need broadband because dial-up would take far too long. A lot of it is just a time issue.

There also is a lack of broadband generally over our country that people don't realize is there. Areas that are too rural to pick up signals, or just for the sheer fact of affordability.

Where this is a problem in developing countries, it is also a problem for a huge part of the lower income members of communities in our own areas.

Group 2

• If one were to try and take a course like Distance Education they could not do so on a dial-up connection so that means those people are denied an educational opportunity.
• If you want to do internet banking or eccommerce, using a dial-up connection is pointless.
• Without a broadband connection, any form of business online can not be achieved.
• Communities that lack broadband connectivity will fall behind. Many are losing population and jobs.
• Ohio business are losing out because they can not buy and sell with their customers on the internet.
• Web pages are designed for broadband users.
• Big files will either fail to download or will take to long on a dial-up connection.
• It has become a time issue for people because no one has the patience to wait for things anymore.
• Dial-up connections are not only slow, but unreliable, and becoming obsolete in today's technological society.
• Those without broadband internet connection could be left behind in a technologically advancing culture.
• The difference in connection between a dial-up service and a broadband connection has created a new division within the digital divide.
• It is not only about having internet access or not, but the quality of that access and how it can allow one to use the internet to its full advantage.

Group 3

But why broadband at home? 5:12 time on first clip
Isn't the Internet Just for Entertainment Anyway?

• A number of years ago there might have been an argument that internet was just an entertainment medium - and today that might still be true, but it's become such a widespread entertainment medium.
• Many of the children and teenagers of the world use the internet as an entertainment source rather than academic purposes.
• There may be a certain sector of society - maybe poor, maybe racial or ethnic groups - who can't access this service that many of us have taken for granted and use everyday.
• There are, however, many places that now offer public internet for free or sometimes a small fee.
  • libraries
  • some cyber cafes
  • public universities
• Without broadband, you can't download some files.
• Widespread integral component of modern life.
• Information, news, sharing info, file downloads, pictures, medical info,
  • Dial up is outdated
  • Broadband is in, especially at home
  • Internet is not just an entertainment medium anymore
  • Resource for important information: without broadband certain downloads are not possible

• internet considered widespread entertainment medium
• big part of people's everyday life
• poorer or different ethnic backgrounds might not have broadband
• even if being used for enetretainment, would be holding them back
• people rely on it everyday
• used for information: news
• cannot download certain types of files successfully without broadband
• taken for granted: sending pictures, finding sports scores, medical information

Part 3: Education start of second clip
Some Ohio schools (the poorest) are still catching up

• Trimble is the poorest school district in the state, but its goal is to catch up with higher technology standards (such as keyboarding and web design).
• They want their students to be able to compete in college by using technology.
  • Middle school technology programs: Poor schools:
  • Digital Divide for kids is most impacting at the parent level
    • if a parent/guardian is unable to access or use the internet, it has substantial effect on the children
  • It’s still not an academic requirement for middle school levels

Group 4

Trimble's program is only a few years old 1:00 time on second clip
And the digital divide is still a challenge

• Schools trying to catch up with higher technology standards (3rd grade keyboarding & 6th grade web design)
• Many students never used a computer
• Problem: Parents can't access internet at home
• Problem: Companies say they can't provide DSL to area because not a lot of profit for them
• Problem: Small school with not a lot of money, can't afford to let go of more important programs (like math, science, reading, writing)
• No access at home puts students and parents at a disadvantage. Even if students are exposed to technology parents don't have the ability to assist the children.
• Computer class not considered an academic requirement, so the program becomes easily disregarded
• State tech standards exist and are not tested at this time, which means it doesn't go on a report making it easier to cut the program from a school's existing curriculum.
• Eventually technology could be a standard in state testing.
• Students will have to catch up with technology in order to use technology successfully in college
• Before Trimble started its program, students transitioning into the college level were expected to have some tech background: a lot of students from Athens county area (a short drive from Ohio University) lacked the skills and were probably scared away from the major universities from lack of technological experience.
• Professors expect students to have experience with technology
• Bridge Digital Divide for Trimble Middle School: Access and People
• Digital Divide not really about the technology, about the people
• People: two sides-People who have the power to bring access to areas, and people who need to be motivated to learn
• Businesses need to provide access, even if there is not as much profit for them if they put access points in cities
• People who are afraid of technology need to be motivated to learn how to use computers
• The key in bridging the digital divide is on both sides of the people

• Only 24% of rural adults have home broadband access.

• 38% Do not have access at all.

• There is a lack of understanding of the severity of the digital divide. David Matusoff -- Whiteboard Brodband Consultants -- "people aren't aware of it".

• Dr. Lawrence Wood an Ohio University Professor states "out of 100 students only 4 or 5 that have ANY idea." "I don't think it's something people have thought a whole lot about."

• Affordability is a huge factor according to Dr. Wood. David Matusoff claims "Communitites who don't have access to broadband don't have access to the 21st century." Dial-up doesn't not support many of the applications used today.

• There are endevours on the interent that are virtually impossible without a broadband connection.