I certainly didn't coin the term, and no one knows conclusively who
really did. (I personally didn't really start using it regularly until
probably 1998, five years after the term first surfaced in DC, but I'd
have to go back and look at my writings to confirm that.)
It's been credited to Al Gore, Larry Irving, Bill Gates and others, but
the term was around before they started using it regularly (and Larry
has denied coining it in previous discussions on the list). The term was
in use among policymakers in the very early days of the Clinton White
House, particularly at Larry's NTIA at the Department of Commerce.
Bonnie Bracey played a big role in getting educators to start using the
term thanks to her involvement as the only teacher in the federal govt's
NII Advisory Council. (I think I probably heard her first use it around
1995.) Then the press began using it regularly as Gore and Clinton began
incorporating the phrase in their speeches in 1995 and later.
So while no one claims credit for coining it, I tend to attribute the
popularization of the term to policymakers like Irving and Gore, the
mid-90s work of the Benton Foundation, Bonnie, plus journalists like Amy
Harmon and a few others. It was only later that private sector leaders
began embracing the term....
ac
Virtual Scavengers wrote:
I did some research on that a few years ago, I will try to find my
notes. I was interested in learning when the term Digital Divide
replaced the earlier term Technology Gap. I have a theory, which I
never fully researched, that Digital Divide became the more common term
when interest in the problem went beyond educators and attracted the
attention of the business community.. At that point, it seemed to me,
the emphasis went from providing access to technology to providing
connectivity.
I also remember an earlier discussion, several years ago, of the
derivation of the phrase. As I recall, several people credited Andy
with having coined the phrase but he ascribed that to somebody else whom
I don't remember.
John Crooks
The Virtual Scavengers Project
Andy Carvin wrote:
Earlier this year Laura Breeden's team here at EDC did a similar
timeline. I know there was a paper version published, but not sure
about an electronic version. Anyone recall if it was posted to the list?
ac
Katy E. Pearce wrote:
Hi all,
I am constructing a timeline of the digital divide... Major events
that have
contributed in a positive or negative way toward bridging the gap. I
have a
pretty good list right now, but would appreciate any suggestions. Please
send me private e-mail, as to not bombard the list.
Thanks!
Katy Pearce
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--
-----------------------------------
Andy Carvin
Program Director
EDC Center for Media & Community
acarvin @ edc . org
http://www.digitaldivide.net
http://katrina05.blogspot.com
Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com
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