The electronic divide

The digital divide seems to tear the division of social classes even farther apart. Those who can afford computer and other technological perks have so much more access to an endless amount of information that those without access to technology could never try to keep up. The digital divide is becoming more and more evident through the advance of technology and the realization of how big of a role it plays of the life of a person living in the 21st century.

Education: The divide is apparent is apparent in many school throughout the U.S. Most privileged and privatized schools are lucky enough to have computer labs, full equipped with brand new computers. The very privileged and private school i work at has multiple computer labs all filled with brand new Mac computers. This is contrasted with lower income public schools that cant afford these resources. I think the lack of computers do affect a child's learning because computers offer more interactive learning; children will may be more interested in the material and therefore get more excited about learning and even learn more. Children that aren't exposed to the Internet and technology won't benefit from the abundance of knowledge on the web and wont be able to learn more topics that interest them.

Government: I think a very apparent example of the digital divide is when FEMA told victims of hurricane Katrina to access their website in order to receive their benefits. This show a lack of understanding and sympathizing of the part of the U.S. It goes to show that the digital divide has grown so large from the upper ranks of the government to the low-income southern homes of the south that government officials cant even relate to the diversity of its citizens. It is ignorant to assume that those homes would have Internet access in their, let alone Internet access after a major hurricane. Modern day government has become so dependent upon technology they are becoming unable to function without it.
Work: The odds of getting a job or exponentially increased with access to the Internet. The job oppertunities a person can have access to through websites like Monsterjobs.com and bayareajobs.com can change someones life and expose them to oppertunities they wouldn't normally receive or normally wouldn't be exposed to. The odds of getting any job are increased with the use of the internet because it is much easier and time efficent to apply online and can therefore apply to many more jobs. Even if you do try the old fashioned way of handing out your resume or going into places to fill out applications, many of those places will just tell you to apply online. The age of technology has raised the standards for job placement and has made the work world so much more competitive.
Entertainment: The media has probably blossomed and benefited the most through the age of technology. Without access to a computer or the internet, you miss out on all sorts downloadable media, the latest trends or bands, the newest movies coming out, latest gossip digitization of most major media outlets. The teenage culture has almost become completely dependent on technology and the internet and anyone who isn't exposed to this sort of media may feel out of touch with their peers.
Health:
The advance in medicine is mostly dependent upon the advance of technology. With newer technologies we are able to fight so many illnesses and invent extremely complex and expensive machines to analyze and remedy anyones body. Hospitals that don't have access to these machines or the funds to purchase them is directly reflected upon the health of the community.