MEASURES OF THE ‘DIGITAL DIVIDE’ BASED ON ICT OWNERSHIP ARE INADEQUATE TO DEPICT THE COMPLEX PATTERNS OF USE AND ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF TECHNOLOGIES.
Two case study areas were examined. In the poorer area, researchers found patterns of hidden users exist (people relying on others - neighbours, family or friends - to either provide access or to use services). Additionally contrasts between poor and wealthy areas were marked less by uneven levels of access to ICTs than by different temporalities of use of ICTs. In poorer areas ICT use tended to be for deliberate and specific purposes, whilst in the wealthier area people tend to refer to ICTs being ‘on’ all the time. The work was carried out by a team led by Mike Crang and professor teve Graham at the University of Durham.
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