Assistive Technologies and the Digital Divide

Discussions regarding the digital divide initially centered on challenges in access to technology due to finances. The term “digital divide” was coined by Larry Irving Jr., former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Telecommunication and Communication, to describe “the gap in access to information resources and services between those with the means to purchase the computer hardware and software necessary to connect to the Internet and low-income families and communities that cannot afford network access” (Reitz). Since then, the discussions have expanded scope to include other challenges to access such as geographic challenges to physical access and infrastructure, challenges related to various socio-demographics, challenges based on culture, challenges due to political activities and governmental policies, and challenges in information and technology literacy.

A set of challenges to access not discussed to the same degree in these conversations on the digital divide include physical and mental disabilities and impairments. The following video by Iowa State University students highlights this aspect of the digital divide and provides examples of assistive technologies that have been developed to address certain disabilities and impairments: https://youtu.be/oqg_t5v0OW8 (LaVille).

It is important to note that the previous video is over seven years old and the technologies discussed have advanced since then. 

Equality in access to technology is the goal of bridging the digital divide, sometimes referred to as “digital inequality.” In Libraries in the Information Age, Fourie and Loe state that those who work to bridge the digital divide “believe it would also improve literacy, further job skills, inform citizen-voters, promote social advancement, and improve health,” (p. 265) as well as promote economic growth and equality. With more and more activities in our lives being aided by and carried out over the Internet, it is understandable where Fourie and Loe’s sentiments come from. 

The public library has long been considered “the people’s university” and bridging the digital gap is now part of that; According to Fourie and Loe, “school and public libraries are at the forefront of providing free access to the Internet”(p. 268). 

In the interest of improving access for those with physical and mental disabilities and impairments, many libraries have implemented assistive technologies such as “large print books, closed captioned video recordings, Braille signage, voice amplification devices, screen magnification and screen reading software, [and] voice recognition software” (Reitz).

That being said, many of these technologies have yet to be perfected. The following video depicts the challenges a high school student, with visual impairments and difficulty using his fingers, faces when browsing the Internet with assistive technologies: https://youtu.be/ppFqymFThJw (momalboe). 

If we hope to bridge the digital divide in our libraries, it is imperative that further development of assistive technologies be promoted and that libraries are prepared to implement them.

References

Fourie, D. K., & Loe, N. E. (2016). Libraries in the Information Age: An Introduction and Career Exploration (3^rd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC.

LaVille, J. [jalv6] (Producer). (2010, December 13). Kinected: Internet Access and the Physically Disabled [Videos file]. Retrieved April 24, 2018, from http://youtu.be/oqg_t5v0OW8

Momalboe. (2010, October 09). how would you? A glimpse at disability and the digital divide. Retrieved April 24, 2018, from https://youtu.be/ppFqymFThJw

Reitz, J. M. (2014). Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science. Retrieved April 24, 2018, from https://www.abc-clio.com/ODLIS/odlis_a.aspx