The digital divide and the theory of optimal slack

Abstract

The digital divide and exclusion from the knowledge society have become important subjects of government policy.This article compares online communities located in two UK housing estates. Both have relatively high levels of computer literacy but also significant numbers of novices and non-users. It is argued that one estate is achieving a higher level of inclusion because it combines teamwork with optimal levels of organizational slack. Further, this article discusses the optimal conditions for creating an information and communication technology (ICT) learning community and hence contribute to the debate on how best to overcome the digital divide.The possible implications of the findings are explored in terms of policy initiatives.

Information and Communication Technologies as Agricultural Extension Tools: A Survey among Farmers in West Macedonia, Greece

“…In general, within such debates, one strand*the proponents of ICTs, takes an optimistic view and highlights the positive (potential) effects of ICTs to create new economic, social and political opportunities, while another strand takes a pessimistic view stressing that the existing socio-economic inequalities do not allow for such prospects (Gigler, 2004;McElhiney, 2005;Newholm et al, 2008).…”

Total Institutions and Reinvented Identities

“…The 'digital divide' threatens to limit identity play to the relatively affluent middle classes who are able to afford home computers (Katz & Apsden 1997;Newholm et al 2008), while power differentials from the offline world may extend into online social relationships (Miller & Slater 2000;Castells 2000), for example in the gendered use of language (Herring et al 1992). Even friendship bonds can be arranged hierarchically in social networking sites (Dalsgaard 2008), with peer surveillance between community members threatening the democratic ideal: 'much communication on the internet is not horizontal -in part because networks are not by default horizontal or devoid of differential rank' (Dalsgaard 2008: 10).…”

What is the “Digital Divide” and why is it Important?

“…So, for example, the Consumer Panel appointed by the UK Offi ce of Communications (Ofcom) commissioned a study for which: "the overarching objective of the research was to provide insight into the journeys individuals take towards digital participation, including what facilitates that journey and the barriers that they encounter" (Essential 2010). There are many more or less celebratory reports of projects aimed at showing how those barriers might be overcome on the road to achieving the goal of universal participation (Broadbent & Papdopoulos 2013;Newholm et al 2008).…”