The Digital Divide.

The Digital Divide: The gap between people who have acces to digital technology and those who have no or very limited access, also the oppertunities which come from access to ICT. It includes having actual access to ICT and having skills needed to participate .


Global digital divide: This is more or less like the original 'digital divide' however, it is based on a geographical division between developed and developing countries. The global divide includes economic, educational and social aspects of technology.
The following are some factors of global divide:

• Economic prosperity - Most people in undeveloped and developing countries would not feel the need to use or introduce ICT as basic survival is the main concern.  Many developeding countries cannot afford to introduce ICT into their countries, many developed countries to not even have electricity. Also, money cannot be spent on education to learn the skill needed to used ICT properly.
• Technological infrastructure - Most developing and undeveloped countries do not have the right equipment and cannot afford to get it. If there is not a good internet supply it is not easy to use the digital technology. Many countries do not even have electricity for basic technology, for example, a Africa Renewal states "in no African country outside of  Egypt and South Africa  does more than 20% of the population have direct access to electricity".

- “In the twenty-first century, the capacity to communicate will almost certainly be a key human right. Eliminating the distinction between the information-rich and information-poor is also critical to eliminating economic and other inequalities between North and South, and to improve the life of all humanity.” -Nelson Mandela

Local digital divide: This again is more or less like the original "digital divide" however, this is based on a more local area such as the UK. It is the gap between people with having access and knowledge of how to use technology.
Factors:

• Occupation: Peoples's jobs in the UK are usually based around learning and understanding ICT for example, secretaries need a basic understanding of recent technology, builders however, need no real understanding of technology as it is not a necessity in the job.   
• Age: Many of the younger generations were brought up around technology, for example, ICT lessons at schools meant that every child attending school had a basic knowledge of ICT. Elderly people however are new to the advance of technology and are scared to use it.
• Expense: Some people in the UK cannot afford to constantly replace technology which has advanced. This makes some people lack the knowledge and know how of using newer technology.

Narrowing down the divide: Some of the things that could eventually narrow down the divide.

• Teach people how to use technology. For example, DakNet uses local transport to carry mobile local access points. This gives local people the chance to be able to be taught how to use basic technology without having to travel or pay for lessons.
• Allow people to have access to ICT. Having local IT station or IT kiosk in a central point of an undeveloped village would allow villagers to be able to experience how to use basic technology.
• Wireless internet. Wireless internet allows people to connect to the internet without having to pay for line installment. Villagers could research about new crops, or new legislations that apply to them. Children could use the internet to research for school to improve education, even adults could improve education to hopefully find a stable job.
• One Laptop per Child Association, Inc. The OLPC-XO1 is a cheap laptop intended to be given to children in developing countries to allow them to personally use ICT. It also allows them access to education via the internet.
• World Information Societ Day:  Is meant to raise awareness of changes brought to the society because of the internet and new technologies. It is also aiming to reduce the digital divide.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_divide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_digital_divide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_divide#Overcoming_the_digital_divide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Information_Society_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child