TEDxSanMigueldeAllende - Aleph Molinari - Bridging the Digital Divide

Summary

The digital divide refers to the gap between those with and without access to information technology. It affects job prospects, communication, and education. Despite 7 billion people globally, only 2 billion are digitally included. The speaker proposes a community-based model, Ria, to increase computer access, reduce costs, and create digital citizens through education and technology integration, emphasizing the need for sustainable, human-centered solutions.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The digital divide is a significant gap between those who have access to information technologies and those who do not.
• 💻 The divide is caused by three main factors: affordability, lack of knowledge on how to use technology, and unawareness of the benefits of technology.
• 🌍 Globally, about 30% of the world's population is digitally included, leaving 70% without access to computers or the Internet.
• 📈 Internet connectivity is heavily concentrated in North America and Europe, highlighting a stark digital divide for the rest of the world.
• 🏢 The digital divide excludes a large portion of the world from the digital revolution, impacting their ability to compete in future labor markets.
• 🌱 Internet should be considered a basic social necessity and a right, not a luxury, for its essential role in modern society.
• 💡 Initiatives like One Laptop Per Child have limitations, including the potential to add financial burdens to families and environmental concerns.
• 🌟 A more sustainable model is proposed through the Learning and Innovation Network (Ria), which focuses on community centers to increase computer usage and reduce costs.
• 🏠 The Ria model emphasizes creating welcoming spaces, establishing human interconnections, providing relevant content, and offering training to both users and facilitators.
• 🔄 The process involves a virtuous cycle of providing content, training, analyzing user patterns, and improving content to meet diverse user needs.
• 🌱 Technology alone won't solve the world's problems; it's human energy and initiative that can leverage technology to create positive change.

Q & A

What is the digital divide?

The digital divide refers to the gap between individuals and communities that have access to information technologies and those that don't. It manifests as a new form of illiteracy, affecting those who cannot afford, do not know how to use, or are unaware of the benefits of technology.

Why does the digital divide exist?

The digital divide exists due to three main reasons: affordability, lack of knowledge on how to use technology, and unawareness of the benefits that technology can provide.

What percentage of the world's population is digitally included?

Approximately 30% of the world's population, which is around 2 billion people, are digitally included.

How many people in the world do not have access to a computer or the Internet?

Around 70% of the world's population, which is close to 5 billion people, do not have access to a computer or the Internet.

What is the significance of the map by Chris Harrison mentioned in the script?

The map by Chris Harrison illustrates the concentration of internet connections, primarily in North America and Europe, while the rest of the world remains in the dark shadow of the digital divide.

Why should the Internet be considered a right rather than a luxury?

The Internet should be considered a right because it is a basic social necessity of the 21st century that enables connection, empowerment, social participation, and serves as a tool for change.

What are the challenges with the One Laptop Per Child model?

The One Laptop Per Child model faces challenges such as transferring costs like internet connection, electricity, maintenance, software, and updates to the families, which can be a burden, especially in adverse conditions.

What is the Ria model and how does it differ from One Laptop Per Child?

The Ria model, or Learning and Innovation Network, is a network of community centers that provide education through technology. It differs from One Laptop Per Child by increasing the number of users per computer to dilute infrastructure costs and by ensuring educational use of technology.

How many users has the Ria model reached in less than 2 years?

The Ria model has reached 140,000 users in less than 2 years, with 34,000 of them having graduated from the courses.

What are the four basic elements considered when using education through technology according to the script?

The four basic elements are: creating spaces, establishing connections, providing content, and conducting training.

How does the Ria model ensure that technology is used effectively for education?

The Ria model ensures effective use of technology for education by creating a learning route that teaches computer, internet, and office software usage, creating digital citizens within 72 hours, and providing ongoing training and content improvement based on user patterns.