Title:	A STUDY OF THE SECOND-LEVEL DIGITAL DIVIDE IN RURAL TAIWAN
Author(s):	Hsien-cheng Wang , Lola C.p. Chen , Ming-chieh Hsu
ISBN:	978-972-8924-93-5
Editors:	Pedro Isaías, Bebo White and Miguel Baptista Nunes
Year:	2009
Edition:	1
Keywords:	Second-Level Digital Divide, First-Level Digital Divide, Digital Skills, Material Access, Beyond Accessibility
Type:	Full Paper
First Page:	28
Last Page:	35
Language:	English
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Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	Over the past two decades, literature on digital divide has largely focused on the important role of First-Level Digital Divide. Meanwhile, digital divide has been narrowly defined as the gap in Internet access between the information rich and the information poor. Such dichotomous classification provides a poor road map for technology use. In fact, studies have indicated that, as the material access divide lessened over the years, the digital divide did not diminish accordingly. This paper intended to look beyond accessibility and explored the difference of digital skills among users. 300 information equipments were provided for users in rural area. Data mining was conducted and digital skills of the users were analyzed. The results of content analysis suggested that the Second-Level Digital Divide in rural Taiwan is not significant. The largest disparity was found in the ability to use e-mail among users. In addition, gender difference in accessing the provided information equipments were suggested for future studies.
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