Does it speak to me? Visual aesthetics and the digital divide

Barbatsis, Gretchen; Camacho, Melissa; Jackson, Linda A.

doi:10.1080/1472586042000204834

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This is an example of how the technical design perspective provides a useful theoretical lens to view issues related to the digital divide. In an interesting study utilizing methods from visual studies, Barbatsis et al [2004] note that many minorities find the content, information and services offered on most Web sites irrelevant to their everyday lives. This case study uses interviews and observation to understand how potential users might make use of the Internet as well as why they would choose not to use it.…”

Section: Bridging the Dividementioning

confidence: 99%

The Digital Divide: Current and Future Research Directions

Riggins

Dewan

2005

JAIS

419

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The digital divide refers to the separation between those who have access to digital information and communications technology (ICT) and those who do not. Many believe that universal access to ICT would bring about a global community of interaction, commerce, and learning resulting in higher standards of living and improved social welfare. However, the digital divide threatens this outcome leading many public policy makers to debate the best way to bridge the divide. Much of the research on the digital divide focuses on first order effects regarding who has access to the technology, but some work addresses the second order effects of inequality in the ability to use the technology among those who do have access. In this paper, we examine both first and second order effects of the digital divide at three levels of analysis  the individual level, the organizational level, and the global level. At each level, we survey the existing research noting the theoretical perspective taken in the work, the research methodology employed, and the key results that were obtained. We then suggest a series of research questions at each level of analysis to guide researchers seeking to further examine the digital divide and how it impacts citizens, managers, and economies.

show abstract

Section: Bridging the Dividementioning

confidence: 99%

The Digital Divide: Current and Future Research Directions

Riggins

Dewan

2005

JAIS

419

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Barbatsis, Camcho and Jackson (2004), after conducting extensive in-home observations and in-depth interviews of 90 low-income families from a medium-sized Midwestern community, concluded that the digital divide may not necessarily be a socio-economic issue. The scholars argued that ethnic minorities' unmet culture-based visual and aesthetic preferences can often discourage those communities from internet use.…”

Section: Summary Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

One Size Does Not Fit All: Culture and Perceived Importance of Web Design Features

Gevorgyan

Porter

2008

Journal of Website Promotion

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Using Geert Hofstede's cultural typology, this study examines whether internet users' cultural backgrounds influence how they perceived importance of specific web design features. A survey of American and Chinese college students reveals that the participants of the study prioritized those features of web design that best reflected their native cultural backgrounds. The results of the study indicate that incorporating cultural values into online communication should be an integral part of website promotion efforts.

show abstract

“…Moreover, users need to feel a near-peer experience when using the Web site. That is, users need to feel that the information on the Web site is adequate to their needs and their level of understanding (Barbatsis et al;Dewan & Riggins, 2005). Moreover, users might reject a Web site when its content does not reflect the user's cultural values (Barbatsis et al).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The social digital divide can be reduced by well-designed interfaces (Barbatsis, Camacho, & Jackson, 2004). Interfaces can help users to overcome their digital literacy deficiencies (Barbatsis et al;Shneiderman, 2001).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interfaces can help users to overcome their digital literacy deficiencies (Barbatsis et al;Shneiderman, 2001). An interface must be comprehensible to people with low levels of digital literacy (Barbatsis et al;Proenza et al, 2001;Shneiderman). For instance, in one of the earliest telecenter initiatives in Mexico, an interface was developed to present users with relevant and understandable information according to their needs (Robinson, undated).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Digital literacy: Problems faced by telecenter users in Mexico

Huerta

Sandoval‐Almazán

2007

Information Technology for Development

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article explores the problems that Internet users of marginalized populations face at telecenters (Internet public access sites). Using an exploratory case study method and gathering data from users and telecenter operators, we have explored users' limitations when using the Internet. To interpret the results, this article uses the digital literacy framework developed by Eshet-Alkai (2004). Findings reveal telecenter users are digitally illiterate in three skills: "branching ability" (ability to navigate through a nonlinear environment to find the desired information); "reproduction ability" (ability to analyze and synthesize the information retrieved); and "information ability" (ability to assess the quality of information). Additionally, there are technical barriers, such as Internet access speed, which influence user's behaviors when searching for information. Finally, the lack of knowledge of the English language, which is the predominant languages in the Internet, is a barrier that widens the digital divide. Based on these findings, this research suggests possible solutions to overcome user's problems. C 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

show abstract

Does it speak to me? Visual aesthetics and the digital divide

Cited by 17 publications

References 23 publications

The Digital Divide: Current and Future Research Directions

The Digital Divide: Current and Future Research Directions

One Size Does Not Fit All: Culture and Perceived Importance of Web Design Features

Digital literacy: Problems faced by telecenter users in Mexico

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About