Edutopia’s article on the “Digital Divide” jumps out at me as I think of my current situation at the school I teach. For the last two months, I have been teaching a technology-based class without computers with the exception of the teacher’s computer. Needless to say this has been fairly challenging and rather difficult at times. Mary Beth Hertz, the author “A New Understanding of Digital Divide,” notes however that the definition of “digital divide” has changed over the years. Contrary to popular belief, Hertz rationale is it no longer means the haves and have nots. Hertz points out that today it is HOW specific groups (particularly minorities) access the web that is generating a digital divide. I never gave it much thought until reading the article that a significant number of people do solely rely on cell phones to connect to the Internet and check email. So are rapid cell phone innovations really influencing mainly minorities in overlooking the bigger picture of personal computer uses? Why do you suppose the percentages are higher among minorities as it relates to exclusively using a cell phone for Internet access and/or to read email rather than a PC? Do you think future cell phone innovations will eventually lead to the personal computer becoming obsolete? The latter is a discussion I had with my students about a month ago and at least half believed cell phones would not totally replace PCs regardless of new innovations just as cell phones have not totally replaced house phones.
Cell phones for internet access are good in places that don't have the infrastructure for wired internet connections. I can't imagine typing a paper on a cell phone, though, even if you could hook a keyboard up to it. I want a bigger display!
ReplyDeleteI don't think that cell phones are going to replace personal computers in the sense that they will go away. I think that they will become personal computers as well as cell phones. My boys both use their smart phones to do almost everything. One has an I-Phone and the other a Droid. They both use their computers for school/work, but they usually are doing everything on their cell phones except writing papers for school. I wouldn't have believed it myself but I see it through them all the time.
ReplyDeleteJust my 2 cents
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