Communication Technology

Electronic Government or E-Government is the application of information and communications technologies (ICT) with the intention or purpose of upgrading and presenting government services to citizens, the public sector, private segment and the non-profit organizations globally. Digital divide is the terminology used to refer to the gap separating the social classes as concerns their knowledge and accessibility to modern technology especially as regards the computer and information technologies the internet inclusive. The digital divide draws a separation line between the wealthy and the poor, developed nations and developing nations and between the blacks and the whites.

The E-Government and the digital divide are essentially interrelated. The article shows that Internet and computer literacy and application are growing much faster among the poor and marginal groups and the digital divide is narrowing rapidly. According to World Bank researchers Kenny and Fink, there is likelihood for poor nations to adopt information technology much faster than developed nations. They argue that the growth rate of information technology in developing countries is much more likely to expand than in the developed nations. To close the digital divide, developing countries’ governments should be actively involved in the efforts of bridging the gap (The Economist (2005). The digital divide in the United States has notably fallen. Fink and Kenny base their analogy on past growth rates of technology accessibility and diminishing accessibility gaps soon after establishment of new technology. The accessibility to the Internet does not contribute to the digital divide. Instead, the digital divide is influenced by the utilization of the Internet and literacy necessary to make use of the Internet. James (2008) in his article is against the notion that digital divide does not exist or is closing up. James argues that a global perspective should be adopted when considering the digital divide and that looking beyond America would be the way out to help others close the digital divide.

The Understanding Digital Inequality article by Keil et al (2008) argues that the general behavioral models user approval for the socio economically underprivileged and socio economically privileged exist and relate to the digital disparity. In their view, the authors of this article feel the digital divide is the gap separating the advantaged and the disadvantaged in terms of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the utilization of information obtained from ICT. Being present in many countries, digital inequality differentiates the developed countries and the underdeveloped countries as concerns ICT.

The government’s move to present access to technology and creation of conditions under which the technology will operate are crucial. To make the project successful, the government must realize the citizen’s user acceptance. Understanding Digital Inequality research is conducted to determine the significance of the citizen’s user acceptance of information technology initiatives offered by the government.

Confidence measures the execution of ICT projects and a person’s behavioral organization and affects ICT application in the society. Low confidence affects more the socio economically disadvantaged than the socio economically advantaged making the less-privileged experience difficulties accessing ICT, hence the digital divide. Technology is more theoretical than practical in most government initiatives. Digital Inclusiveness by Lam and Lee (2006) is an article exploring methods of having efficacy in enabling older adults digital services accessibility. Training provisions on computer services and the introduction of computer centers in the community will guarantee computer access by everyone. Digital government and its effectiveness in public management reform by Asgarkhani (2005) highlights the usefulness of ICT education particularly on tertiary sector. Bélanger and Carter examine the affected and the effects of the digital divide at three levels; the individual level, organizational level and national level.

Internet and community researches show that ICT presents new chances for social interaction, as well as increasing privacy by enclosing people in their closets. Helbig et al (2009) article Understanding the complexity of Electronic government: Implications from the digital divide literature has it that theoretically and empirically, e-government and the digital divide are interrelated. Studies concerning the e-government and the digital divide carry crucial parallels and potential interactions essential in comprehending e-government initiatives and policies in a better perspective subsequently for enhancing efficient digital schemes. James, (2008) in his article Digital divide complacency: misconceptions and dangers discuss the global digital divide. The challenges of redressing the digital divide by Kvasny & Keil (2006) evaluates the works by Atlanta and LaGrange cities in redressing the digital divide. They analyzed how the target populations and service providers responded to the two initiatives, how these responses worked to reproduce the digital divide, and the teaching for future digital divide programs.