Although
the Internet has made access to information potentially accessible to
more people, emerging technologies have also created a digital divide
between economic classes in our society (Laureate, 2009).
Emerging technologies have created a digital divide between economic
classes in our society (Laureate, 2009). This same sentiment is
expressed in the sentence, “The future has arrived; it just wasn't
distributed equally” (Gibson, W n.d.; Kennedy, 01, 12, 2012).
So
how can we, as educational leaders, help narrow that divide? Well,
the answer is that we need to help make technologies more accessible
to everyone while providing an income for those that work in the
technology industry. Dr. Elliot Soloway (2009) suggests that profits
are now going to be made by disruptors in the industry who understand
that the money to be made will be through providing services for the
consumer, no longer by providing purchasable items (such as bits of
software) (Laureate, 2009).
Metcalf's
Law is the law that the power of the network increases by the number
of people involved squared. As technology leaders, then, it stand to
reason, we want to keep as many people involved in the Internet as
possible. The value of our network is found in its global reach. One
way that access is becoming more available to more people is that
Smart phone sales are growing globally. Right now Smart phones are
the future of technology. The Smart phone provides opportunities for
the average person in ways that have the potential to narrow the
technology gap. (Laureate, 2009).
Another
way that the growing divide could continue to be widened if we, as
technology leaders, allow it to is that the Internet may no longer
remain neutral. What this means is, the FCC may cave to pressure to
allow for companies to pay for faster Internet services, making the
Internet less neutral. Right now almost anyone can access the
Internet for a small monthly fee, and no one is given priority for
faster service. If the FCC passes what the FCC calls, in a strange
Orwellian double-speak term, new “net neutrality” rules there is
a possibility that the rich corporations will have access to an
Internet fast-lane, while the rest of us normal folk will be left out
(Selyukh, 2014). This has the potential weaken the positive global
effect that our current Internet has had in making information more
equally accessible to all, in a way that is more more prevalent than
ever before.
The
disruptors, the technology leaders, the inventors, and the innovation
champions are already looking for ways to counteract any form of
censorship or special rights for certain groups that could occur
through FCC regulations and financial strong-holds on the Internet.
There is now an “Outernet” in the works that would allow for free
access to all of humanity through WiFi from space, despite attempts
to close down the openness we now enjoy on the Internet (Outernet,
n.d.. @ https://www.outernet.is/).
We can, and should -as technology leaders-, develop U.S. and global
policies to protect this, and we can encourage all citizens to
exercise their voice and speak up for their right to access to
information.
References
Laureate
Education, Inc. (2009). Emerging and future technology: Diversity
and globalism. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Outernet
(n.d.) @ https://www.outernet.is/
Kennedy,
P. (01/13/2012) William Gibson's future is Now. The New York Times. @
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/books/review/distrust-that-particular-flavor-by-william-gibson-book-review.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Selyukh,
A. (May 15, 2014). Amid protests, U.S. FCC proposes new 'net
neutrality' rules. Reuters, WA @
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/15/us-usa-internet-neutrality-idUSBREA4C0SF20140515
Wired.
(2014-05-02 18:45 UTC). Outernet: A space-based alternative Internet
designed to evade censorship. Interactivity will be limited (no
uploads). @ http://hiw.me/WIRED/status/462301794304282626
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