E-Inclusion and the Digital Divide

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) increasingly permeate all aspects of social, economic, and educational life. This trend, noticeable throughout the world, is most pronounced in the developed nations. As new technologies have spread, so have concerns about access to those resources by the less privileged. Those concerns have found expression under the “digital divide” rubric, a perspective stressing the importance both of access to ICTs and of preparation—and the worldviews necessary to make effective use of them.

A related perspective, “E-inclusion,” has started to gain ground. In contrast to the discussion of the digital divide, which focuses on lack of access, the E-inclusion framework directs attention toward concrete steps that can make it easier for marginalized groups to participate in, see their own cultures and ...