According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness (2010), in 2007 there were 671,859 homeless people in the United States alone. And, this statistic does not reflect the impact of home foreclosures due to the recent economic recession. Even in a country where many consider access to technology ubiquitous, if one has no home, technology is often beyond his or her reach. The World Wide Web necessarily takes a back seat to those without safe and secure shelter. Technology is not one of the basic tools needed for survival. Or, is it rapidly becoming just that?
Thornburg (2009) believes access to technology a local reality, not a global one. I would take his thoughts one step further and pose that access actually has a much narrower window; that our local reality is actually an individual one. I would suggest that access to technology remains, unfortunately, an individual privilege based on socioeconomic status, culture, level of education, and even gender in some societies. Therefore, schools, public libraries, and community centers must provide opportunities for people to gain online access to housing information, education, career information, and social contacts. If communities, through a strong tax base and advocacy programs, provide high speed Internet access in the schools and public arenas then it will surely help narrow the digital divide. If, however, schools and communities neglect to provide computer-related services, then the residents will surely fall further behind the digital curve, and the socioeconomic curve, too. The bridge crossing the digital divide will continue to be a tenuous one.
Soloway (n.d.) suggested that smartphones might help level the technology playing field. The affordability, portability, and prevalence of smartphones make this technology a key ingredient in making the world flatter. One needs not have a permanent residence to own and use a smartphone. The pervasive presence of cellular towers, and 3G coverage in many communities, allows equal access to technology-related services. In addition, I would suggest that the open sourcing of Web sites would further flatten the playing field. It will break down barriers to resources and knowledge. Free and public use of information and materials will help those without means to communicate and create on par with those who do.
Yet, access is not enough. As educators and leaders in the field, we must teach, train, encourage, advertise, and facilitate users throughout the process. We should be aware of emerging technologies and willing to adopt those that suit our needs. We must make technology easy and efficient to use in order to lessen the intimidation factor. What is transparent and second nature to digital natives remains foreign, fearful, and magical to those with little to no computer skills. It is incumbent upon those with the means and skills to share their knowledge with others.
