Monday, November 15, 2010
Libraries & The Digital Divide.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in partnership with a number of national civic groups, today released a new report that finds public libraries have helped close the digital divide by providing free, public access to computers and the Internet, particularly for people without access at home or work. Yet despite widespread awareness of and support for library-based public access computing, libraries face significant challenges in sustaining and improving this service.
Poor Swedes to go online for free
Sweden's social services should pay for personal computers and internet subscriptions for those who cannot afford it, according to a proposal.
Access to the internet is as important as housing, is one of the findings of a justice department working group.
The initiative's aim would be to reduce the digital-divide in Sweden by helping immigrants, the poor, women and the elderly enter the online age.
Access to the internet is as important as housing, is one of the findings of a justice department working group.
The initiative's aim would be to reduce the digital-divide in Sweden by helping immigrants, the poor, women and the elderly enter the online age.
Indian ‘Simputer’ to bridge digital divide
Published Monday 29th March 2004 12:27 GMT
In a nation where only nine in 1,000 people own a computer, a long-awaited device has finally been launched to bring the poor into the information age.
The so-called Simputer, a device which has been discussed and hyped for three years, was finally launched last week in India with a price tag of slightly less than INR10,000 (€187). The Simputer is a bare-bones handheld computer that is designed to allow poorer Indians to access the Web, email and other basic computer functions
In a nation where only nine in 1,000 people own a computer, a long-awaited device has finally been launched to bring the poor into the information age.
The so-called Simputer, a device which has been discussed and hyped for three years, was finally launched last week in India with a price tag of slightly less than INR10,000 (€187). The Simputer is a bare-bones handheld computer that is designed to allow poorer Indians to access the Web, email and other basic computer functions
Report: Public libraries narrow the digital divide
SEATTLE (AP) - Build libraries and they will come -- and surf.
Public libraries have helped narrow the digital divide by providing free access to computers and the Internet, according to a report released Wednesday at the Public Library Association 10th National Conference, which ends Saturday.
More than 95 percent of the nation's public libraries now offer Internet access to the public, with 14 million people using them regularly to get online, said the report by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Families earning less than $15,000 a year are two to three times more likely to rely on libraries than those earning more than $75,000.
``Cuts in library budgets won't turn off the Internet for wealthy or middle-class families,''
William H. Gates Sr., co-chairman of the foundation, said in a news release. ``It will turn off the Internet for people who have nowhere else to turn.''
Public libraries have helped narrow the digital divide by providing free access to computers and the Internet, according to a report released Wednesday at the Public Library Association 10th National Conference, which ends Saturday.
More than 95 percent of the nation's public libraries now offer Internet access to the public, with 14 million people using them regularly to get online, said the report by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Families earning less than $15,000 a year are two to three times more likely to rely on libraries than those earning more than $75,000.
``Cuts in library budgets won't turn off the Internet for wealthy or middle-class families,''
William H. Gates Sr., co-chairman of the foundation, said in a news release. ``It will turn off the Internet for people who have nowhere else to turn.''
Company's project helping to bridge the digital divide
By Reginald Fields
Sun Staff
Originally published June 30, 2004
After today's blackboard lesson teaching words that rhyme, the young children at The Door community center in East Baltimore will spend a few moments each playing educational games on computers.
"They do stuff that is fun but they don't realize they are actually learning because they are having so much fun," said Jim Woods, a minister who is chief operating officer of the faith-based program. "It's good for us because we have successfully tied learning to technology."
That's exactly what the folks at Hewlett-Packard Co., the California-based computer maker that provided The Door with 15 computers, want to hear.
Sun Staff
Originally published June 30, 2004
After today's blackboard lesson teaching words that rhyme, the young children at The Door community center in East Baltimore will spend a few moments each playing educational games on computers.
"They do stuff that is fun but they don't realize they are actually learning because they are having so much fun," said Jim Woods, a minister who is chief operating officer of the faith-based program. "It's good for us because we have successfully tied learning to technology."
That's exactly what the folks at Hewlett-Packard Co., the California-based computer maker that provided The Door with 15 computers, want to hear.
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