COMMENT
Written at the IoD in London, edited on the London-Ipswich train and dispatched to silicon.com a day later from a coffee shop in Woodbridge, Suffolk which provided free wi-fi and great coffee
Seminal experiences seem to have come thick and fast in my life with some good and some not so good. This past week saw three in quick succession: one at a public lecture, one in a meeting with those of a politically correct bent and one in my local supermarket. And all three concerned the availability of IT.
Experience One came about during the Q&A session at the end of a public lecture by a visiting American IT manager. His presentation had been enlightening in terms of painting a picture of where we had come from, where we were and where we are going with IT and mobile working across numerous academic, technology, commercial and social fields.
So here comes the first question - and it was a cracker! "My wife hates computers and IT and won't have a PC in our home. What are you going to do for her?"
I felt myself squirming with embarrassment. What must our visitor have thought? 'Only in the UK', I suspect. And I have to confess, the words - 'let her die' (metaphorically you understand) - just popped into my head.
Experience Two was in the middle of a meeting with a group who clearly had a strong social conscience. Well it didn't take long to get to the $64,000 question: what about the digital divide? The 'have PCs' and the 'have no PCs'? Those with broadband and those without? My immediate reaction was - what divide? I see no divide! In the first world, everyone can get access to a PC if they need or want to. Surely any divide is now a self-inflicted injury!
Experience Three was really unexpected. There on the shelves of my local supermarket were lines of boxed-up PCs with LCD screens, plus printers and scanners, for £295. And right along the shelf were laptops at just £335. These weren't poor quality either. They were top of the line, a well-known international brand, with very respectable specifications - machines more than adequate for school, home and most small businesses.
I know people who don't own a car. I know people who don't own a television set. I know people that never fly on aircraft. I even know people who don't own a mobile phone. It's not that they couldn't - they have the money but they have made a choice. They don't want these things in their life. And guess what, most are people who don't have computers and/or broadband either. For one reason or another they have opted out of specific technologies and activities.
Postcards from the bleeding edge…
Read the latest missive from tech guru and silicon.com columnist, Peter Cochrane, as he blogs from around the world.
Years ago, when PCs cost over £2,000, a digital divide through sheer cost was obviously a very real problem. Even at £1,000 it could be a justifiable claim. But not when a PC costs less than most flat panel TVs, washing machines and dishwashers. We are now well into the era of commodity (or even who cares?) computing.
The UK now has PCs and games machines in well over 90 per cent of homes and broadband access recently passed 50 per cent. So those who have opted out are in a growing and insignificant minority. Should we worry about them? I think that time is long past! You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.
Throughout the UK PCs are everywhere and freely available. Public libraries and a lot of cafés have machines for casual use at a very low cost or free. Schools, community centres and church halls run regular IT starter courses for the uninitiated of any age. And every community has volunteers ready, willing and able to help anyone struggling with the technology. So there really is no excuse for not opting in, and opting out must therefore be a determined decision. People just don't want to join in, so why waste time money and facilities, or even a moment's thought, on them?
I think the next big breakthroughs are going to be really significant. We will stop the silly practice of installing TCs (Teachers Computers) in schools, colleges and universities and engage in the obvious - encouraging the students to bring their own laptop, and just providing them with free and easy raw connectivity. It will change the name of the game forever - a PC really is personal!
So what of those suffering a self-inflicted digital divide? They will just slowly fade away, increasingly insignificant year-on-year. And perhaps soon, we will stop wasting taxes on a lost cause.
Comments
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1. anonymous
What is the point of having someone who so clearly fails to comprehend an issue comment on it?
Did this author really just substitute "most people I know" for those people without consistent and frequent access to computing technology?
Hard up to meet that publication deadline? Yeesh.
2. Paul Clark
I think you've missed the point about what drives the digital divide. You're right it is not longer primarily about cost; it's about fear, and people not yet understanding that PC's/Internet are relevant to them. The whole tone smacks rather of "let them eat cake"...
You did accidentally hit on the solution, though: You aggregated PC's and games machines into one statistic of 90%, as if they were the same thing; they aren't. A standard PC (or Mac!) is an over-complex, difficult to manage, unreliable monster; a games machine, cellphone or TV set-top-box is a true consumer device - simple interface, not much management and highly reliable.
To bridge the digital divide we need to find ways of bringing the kind of interactive power we 'technophiles' are used to on the PC to consumer devices, packaged in a way which is familiar and easily managed.
3. Taran Rampersad
There are people, around the world, who do not have access to computers. I realize you probably don't know about them since you only deal with people who have computers, but I must assure you that they exist.
There are people around the world who do not have internet access. They may have computers. They do exist. And they have been spared your noting that they do not exist, which is probably a good thing.
There are people around the world who do not have broadband.
As of right now, the global internet penetration is at 16.7%. This means that 83.3% of the world could not read what you wrote in your blog.
BUT...
They exist. So there is a digital divide.
Thanks for letting me clear that up for you.
4. John Sutton
Unfortunately, too many people have other priorities (cigarettes, drink, drugs, betting, whatever) to have the spare cash or even organisational ability to get their kids laptops to take to school.
And, would you want your child walking through some of our choicer estates carrying a laptop?
Nice idea, but the taxpayer is definitely going to have to step in to support the disenfranchised.
5. Simon
I think it is a bit rich to equate "having ad-hoc access at the Library" to being a fully functioning member of the internet.
Peter needs to get out into the sticks a bit more, and find out what the reality of 99% coverage* (or whatever the current figure is) actually means in practice - there are a LOT of people who still cannot get anything better than a poor quality (not even 56k) dialup at home.
* Coverage which is conveniently stated in terms of 99% of exchanges enabled or some such that conveniently hides the fact that, just like mobiles which are similarly misrepresented, there are large areas where broadband is not available.
6. anonymous
It's difficult to believe that anybody could be that blinkered. What an IT centric-view!
People may be able to get access to a fast Internet connection but does the capability to access mean that they understand what that means or what it can give them? IT is now easy to use WHEN IT WORKS, but how often doesn't it work? How many of us have had to help friends and family with wireless network problems, software installations gone wrong, etc, etc.
I thought we, as an industry, were getting the idea that if people don't understand IT that's our fault, not theirs. Should we give them a second thought, of course we should!
7. Richard
Must be true: This was my comment to Silicon.com on 30th August 2006! (My Fee please!)
Some further points:
1. School children already carry too much: Too much of value; too much too easily forgotten; far more than we had to carry.
This makes children even less likely to walk or cycle to school; more likely to demand the "school run" or school bus.
With the low price of memory, especially rugged Flash memory, why can't children just carry their data and personal setting rather than a whole heavy, expensive PC?
2. Last week, while awaiting service - any service - in the noisy "shed" of a major PC retail chain, the salesmen were giving highly questionable information about their Hardware & Software: No wonder novices are so confused and so repelled.
Also, all "Vista Ready" PCs were blowing hot exhaust air, even while idling:
Anyone worried about "Global Warming"?
3. My nicest PC was my ARM/RiscOS powered Acorn Archimedes. (Other people will say Amiga or Atari etc.)
Its hardware and lovely software... worked! No training, no constant fiddling, no maintenance... just worked!
Why are modern PCs so complicated, troublesome and in such frequent need of expensive upgrades?
(Sorry Peter, this applies even to Apple Macs.)
8. Angus Stewart
What an elitist, out of touch, ignorant, ill-conceived, patronising, stupid and offensive article. Peter Cochrane has shown himself to be just like all the other 'high flying' business executives in this country - living in a cosseted dream-world of equality where those who have-not are simply not trying hard enough. His offensive politics shine through this like a fascistic beacon. Reply to this if you dare Mr Cochrane.
9. James Edgecombe
The majority of those who have left comments appear to have bees in the respective bonnets that there is a digital divide and that Peter doesn’t understand the way the world works – I would beg to differ. As Mr Cochrane has made clear in many of his articles over the years, IT and the ability to use a computer (of whatever flavour) is an important part of the world we live in; those that refuse to adopt the technology and learn how to benefit from it will lose out in both the work and social arenas. How is this unwillingness to learn any different to those that cannot use “new-fangled” remote controls, are unable to drive a car, use chip & pin to pay for goods etc? We are an intelligent species living in an evolving world, people must accept that and get with the programme. Well done Mr Cochrane, there are some that may not wish to hear what you say but that doesn’t make you wrong; those living in the 1st world (and 2nd and why not 3rd) must lead by example or fall by the wayside.
10. Brian Catt
First if you don't need to do things that can only be done on a computer its often quicker and better to do them in person, by phone or using paper reference works - catalogues, maps, etc..
Maps are a prime example. If you want to know where somewhere is you can get out the large A-Z and find it so much facter than multimap with broadband, also flip pages faster and get a larger scale map to get a bird's eye view of the journey.
I have also found ebay works appallingly if you try to conclude a transaction by email. For anything not simple mail order (Cars, larger goods, etc) it works much better if you forget the keyboard/email and finalise details by phone. Many people can't write clearly enough or even spell but can have a dialogue.
Secondly if you own a PC, the overhead in maintaining its software, getting Bluetooth stack to work , etc can often be just too complex and time consuming in relation the tasks the computer can do better for you as a consumer. BTW I have used compueters since forever, have a Mac and PCs on a LAN at home, and find the IT based services we have are still appaling and not really good enough for prime time. Not just the software and hardware mash that is a PC (Mac is MUCH better) but also the sdesign of applications for PCand especially on the web, designed by utter morons who can't flowchart logically and delvered on servers with inadequate capacity and overcomplex security so many people have forgoten why they started or run out of time before they get to where they want to be. It isn't good enough for prime time for the broad mass of the population.
Peter moves in the circles of the technologically enabled and on the rich side of the rich/poor divide. People I know can't do computing or afford PCs or expensive broadband on benefits and/or minimal pensions. Others are not intellectually capable of fixing this techy bitza DIY technology that is a connected PC system once it breaks, which MS software does pretty soon after purchase. Dismissing people in the lower stratas of society, who are a large demographic, as inconsequential makes the divide worse.
We need technology that is in a consumer package and can be accessed by peripatetic people on low incomes. When computers are closed consumer devices which primarily work with services on the network and are supplied like a smartphone and updated/managed on the network maybe what he says will be true, not until.
11. Adrian Seal
Up until this point I thought that this man knew what he was talking about. It is a long time since I have been so disappointed.
12. Peter Cochrane
James = Thank you for your support on this. Unlike the others you obviously read my words, considered the proposition and commented accordingly. We now seem to live in a knee jerk world where people read what they want to see, don’t think, and just start writing. Peter
13. Peter Cochrane
Angus – what is there to dare?
You seem to like to use a lot of adjectives! Are you sure you are not looking in a mirror?
I actually come from a very poor family, started life digging holes in the road, had to work rather hard to get educated, and now spend my life building businesses that employ a lot of people. I also pay an awful lot of taxes!
And as for cosseted and high flying? Well I’m at 35kft right now heading for another lonely night in a hotel and another 16-hour day tomorrow.
You should give it a try one day!
14. Peter Cochrane
Anonymous, Paul, Taran, John, Simon, Anonymous, Richard, Angus, and no doubt a growing list….
I clearly stated THE FIRST WORLD.
Believe it or not I do visit the Third and work in the Second world and find they whine a lot less than the Brits. They tend to just get their jackets off and get to it, make do and make mend, help each other, but best of all they are self-motivated and they don’t wait for or expect the state to do everything for them.
As for my social network it spans the poorest to the richest in the UK, and other countries. It includes ICT capable and ICT resistant, to absolutely don’t care.
In a lot of the 1st world people need water, food and fuel first followed by mobile phones rather than PCs and the Internet.
For myself, what do I do? Give as much to charity as I can. Donate all my old IT to children and people that are struggling. Present lectures, talks and help almost anyone who needs help, and link people to sources of local/global knowledge and assistance should they need it.
As for the western societies – first world again folks - I see people with Cars, Tvs, HiFi, Mobiles etc complaining, whilst there are those retired people who choose to just get on with it and get a PC. BTW – good second hand machines can be got at £100 or less. It seems some are self motivated and others are not, and not just with ICT! If they prefer to spend in their £££ in another way so be it. They have a choice.
BUT let’s not pretend that there is a big deal digital divide. Houses without a PC and/or a games machine are now in the minority, as are those without a phone or mobile.
As for the fear element, it takes a lot less effort to learn to drive a PC than it does to read and write, which by the way is the bigger problem by far. The illiterate in the West far outnumber those who cannot access a PC.
The global internet penetration is 16.7% - yep the same as fixed phone lines! And guess what – no one can fix that one fast. But a few of my friends are trying very hard with new and novel solutions. BUT remember – all technologies start expensive, are purchased by the rich (people and countries) who pay all the R& D costs, and then the price falls so everyone can enjoy. Remember when mobile where £2k?
Taxpayers supporting the purchase of PCs? No idea where that idea came from. People have to buy their own IT.
Getting broadband. There are the communities that are told that it is not available and they go back to sleep. And then there are those communities that get out there and fix it. People have to decide!
A lot of you don’t seem to travel and you call me blinkered…I think you need to get out more and stop believing the politicians, press and politically correct. Go take a look for yourselves. Meet and mix with people across the spectrum – they always surprise you. Investigate!
Hmm – children can’t carry lap-tops? They can if they stop carrying books! There is a safety issue? Seems to work in some countries!
Why do PCs need so much attention? They are an immature and fast developing technology. Cars were the same for the first 80 – 90 years. And young people get on top of these problems real quick. Again – a bit of a non-problem experienced by older people and easily fixed in good communities where the enthusiasts are only too eager to help.
I hope this all helps. Peter
15. Peter Cochrane
Brian Catt – I don’t think it is as serious as you suggest. If your usage is modest rather than absolutely stretching every aspect of the HW and the SW it is possible to get away with a lot less grief. A lot of our experiences are about taking and holding the technology right on the edge of what it can do. Right now I have 18 applications running at the same time, and I often exceed 20. In doing this we tend to make systems brittle. I don’t think Mr & Mrs Retired need do this!
And it will all become consumer stuff one day...either by us perfecting and polishing it or the public just getting used to it!
16. Richard
What's made people so angry?
(Most) people don't expect free TVs, mobiles, iPods or SatNavs; why demand free PCs & Internet etc.?
Are PCs associated too much with (boring) school & (tedious) work? Is that why we wait to be given these items, by teacher or our boss?
My unexpected move into self-employment actually proved a revelation:
For years, I'd been frustrated at the lack of appropriate equipment and at the long tortuous process of applying for new items:
Much time was wasted, many opportunities were lost because we didn't have the right tools at the right time:
Now as my own boss, if I need something in order to do my work better, and my company has sufficient funds, I buy it: The clients gain the immediate benefit.
(At least that was the situation before Gordon Brown's crazy IR35 and other silly business taxes.)
Perhaps others would enjoy this freedom of having no-one else to blame?
Perhaps the UK economy would benefit?
17. Richard Barrington
Spoken like a true ubergeek....
The low takeup in the UK ( and elsewhere ) is because people like you talk about the technology, not the value of being connected. And while the hardware may be cheaper than it was, the additional energy and broadband costs ( plus time spent in FUTZing ) make IT too costly or complex for many. Until IT delivers simplicity, utility and services that hide the crap of computing, the majority of people will optout ( and I don't blame them )
18. Peter Cochrane
Richard = How right you are! It would do a lot of people a lot of good if they were to step outside and run their own company for a while. Thanks for contributing. Peter
19. Peter Cochrane
Richard = The statistics say the majority have opted in - by a long way. So it is the minority have opted out! Ergo they are probably insignificant in the grand scheme of things just like the people without mobile phones or TV sets. For better or worse the mass moves on without them! Peter
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