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Dividends from digital inclusion
The Internet is impacting on many aspects of contemporary life: work, learning, communications and recreation. It is transforming the ways in which citizens and consumers interact and engage with each other, with institutions and organisations and with government.
This has brought increased attention in Australia and overseas to the contribution of information and communications technology (ICT), in particular the Internet, to community development and social capital building, and as a tool for greater social inclusion and cohesion.
The Australian Government's peak policy document on the information economy, Australia's Strategic Framework for the Information Economy 2004–06, sets out four priorities for maintaining Australia's leading position as an information economy and adopter of ICT. They include the need to ensure that all Australians have the capabilities, networks and tools to participate in the benefits of the information economy—that they enjoy ‘digital inclusion'. The strategy aims to ensure that particular groups of Australians are not marginalised—a phenomenon historically referred to as the digital divide.
Successful inclusion and participation in Australia's information economy is imperative, as more participation leads to greater efficiency and productivity growth. If critical mass is achieved then costs fall for both customers and investors, attracting participation and establishing a cycle of investment and demand.
Furthermore, broad-based participation can lead to greater equity, social inclusion, and increased individual capacity and opportunity to achieve economic and social goals.
National and international research indicates that the digital divide is now best understood within a socio economic context. Rethinking the digital divide in terms of digital inclusion and exclusion provides greater scope for policy and projects to focus attention on the social, cultural, economic, educational and material factors that continue to exclude people from participating in society generally—and the information economy specifically.
A more comprehensive approach to the digital divide, one which considers different degrees of access to information technology—rather than a simple division between information ‘haves' and ‘have-nots'—is more likely to be effective in minimising digital exclusion.
The human and social systems that support the use of technology require as much research and planning as they require provision of hardware and support for a range of technical and learning needs.
Current research by the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA) focuses on the role and impact of ICT in building stronger communities and social cohesion, including the contribution to the formation of social capital. It highlights the approaches taken by governments and communities through associated case studies featuring good practices.
The research also examines the use of ICT in the community and non profit sectors to make operations more efficient, to better serve and connect with clients and members, and to work together to improve communities.
Further information can be found at www.dcita.gov.au> Information economy > Community connectivity.