Another aspect of the UK is the vast divide in wealth. It is a very expensive place to live, most of what we pay for here in dollars is the same price in Sterling and they don't have the disposable income for luxuries as they call it. I have heard that many times, a computer is a luxury and "Why do I need a computer, I have a telly" (a TV). The majority of the population is older and I think that also has much to do with the resistance to change.
A few thoughts.
Alastair Gregor
GrowBusters� GrowBusters Consulting, Inc. PO Box 38 Whistler, BC V0N 1B0 Canada.
Office 1-604-894-1930 Fax 1-604-894-1931 Broadband Digital Voice 1-604-628-8797
From: Andy Carvin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [DDN] UK: Millions to miss out on the net
Date: Wed, 08 Dec 2004 10:42:14 -0500
Hi everyone... UK telecom company BT has just come out with a startling report on the state of the digital divide and the lack of progress being made... I haven't found the actual study yet - does anyone have the URL? -ac
Millions to miss out on the net
Those without access could miss out on key services
By 2025, 40% of the UK's population will still be without internet access at home, says a study.
Around 23 million Britons will miss out on a wide range of essential services such as education and medical information, predicts the report by telecoms giant BT. It compares to 27 million, or 50%, of the UK, who are not currently online. The idea that the digital divide will evaporate with time is "wishful thinking", the report concludes.
The study calls on the government and telecoms industry to come up with new ways to lure those that have been bypassed by the digital revolution. Although the percentage of Britons without home access will have fallen slightly, those that remain digital refuseniks will miss out on more, the report suggests. As more and more everyday tasks move online and offline services become less comprehensive, the divide will become more obvious and more burdensome for those that have not got net access, it predicts.
<snip>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4076717.stm
--
-----------------------------------
Andy Carvin
Program Director
EDC Center for Media & Community
acarvin @ edc . org
http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org
Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com
-----------------------------------
_______________________________________________
DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
_______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
