Study Analyzes Efforts To Bring Technology to Distressed Areas
By Ronald Roach
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.
A Penn State researcher says the lack of community-based programs and resources to equip and sustain underserved populations with significant information technology skills can override the effect of basic efforts to bring information technology to distressed communities.
According to Dr. Lynette Kvasny’s study, “The Challenges of Redressing the Digital Divide: A Tale of Two Cities,” basic information technology literacy conveys only a marginal impact on the ability of underserved groups to take advantage of the economic opportunities commonly associated with IT expertise. Among her findings are that most disadvantaged social groups generally are exposed to technology training for the shortest length of time and face difficulties in sustaining their use of technology beyond the initial classroom training. The result: IT program participants receive limited benefits from their new technology skills and sometimes end up frustrated or turned off by technology.
