Introducing information and communication technologies into marginalised neighbourhoods : an exploration of the digital divide

Evans, KF

Abstract

This research explores the development of discourses of information society and the
claims which have been made as to the transformative capacities of information and
communication technologies (ICT) in particular. It explores the experiences of groups
affiliated to two women's centres in the city of Salford, England. These centres, and
associated groups, are situated within two economically disadvantaged areas which
could be said to be peopled with "the information poor". The research argues that the
enthusiasm with which technology has often been placed before such communities has
been inspired by debates which have largely taken place at a high level of abstraction
and generalisation and have not been grounded and connected to the needs of the
residents of "real world", physically based localities. The importance of locality, of
"situated knowledge", of networks built around trust and shared experience it
suggests, have been largely disregarded and the global, the expert and disembodied
community unconstrained by the limits imposed by place have been perceived as the
most significant relationships in contemporary western societies. This has distorted
perceptions of more traditional and locally-based, face-to-face interaction which has
been considered limiting, insular and in many ways as looking backward rather than
forward. From these perceptions have arisen a terminology which places
responsibility for success or failure on the individual and the community (the digital
underclass) and which suggests that a need for experts and professionals to enlighten
and educate certain groups (the information poor) in order that they can be enabled
and empowered in the new digital age. The research argues that this discourse, and
the assumptions which lie behind it, have infused policy agendas around widening
access to technology and informed many models which aim to introduce these
technologies into such communities. The research concludes that there has been a
disproportionate interest in technology and its powers to transform and a concomitant
disregard of the human potential and abilities which enable technology to work and
the personal and social relationships which will facilitate its use.

Citation

Evans, K. Introducing information and communication technologies into marginalised neighbourhoods : an exploration of the digital divide. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Aug 5, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 5, 2011
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2002