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Title:

How The Other 1/2 Lives - Touring The Digital Divide

Your vote:
Yes No
Organizer:
Jessamyn West, Tunbridge Public Library
Description:
People who have been online since there was an online have no idea about the day-to-day realities of people just learning about computers. Two librarians, one rural and one urban, will talk about the challenges they face teaching basic technology skills and doing usability testing with brand new technology users.
Questions
Answered:
  1. What's it like learning to use a computer in 2009?
  2. How can I teach novice users basic computer skills?
  3. What are non-profit organizations doing to bridge the digital divide?
  4. How bad is the digital divide?
  5. How many people still don't have computers or broadband access?
  6. Why should I care about people who don't know how to use technology?
  7. What impediments exist for newer technology learners?
  8. What are libraries doing to teach basic technology skills?
  9. Who are the other players involved in basic technology instruction?
  10. What are the unique issues affecting the digitial divide in both urban and rural settings?
Level:
Beginner
Category:
Accessibility / Web Standards, Digital Divide, Non-Profits, Social Issues
Type:
Dual
Event:
Interactive 2010
jessamyn west
on 17/8/09
Every time I come to SXSW I see people sort of hand-waving about the digital divide without seemingly understanding what people who have never seen a browser before might be thinking about their user experience. I work with rural libraries to help them make websites that make sense and teach basic technology. Librarians from NYPL face similar but different challenges with urban users who often have cell phones but no computers.

This presentation will be a punchy, fact-based look at what the real challenges are facing people on the other side of the digital divide now that we're past the "people don't have computers" stage and into the "people have no connectivity" stage and facing the "people don't know what to do with the internet once they've got it" stage.

Presenters include me and (with luck) Jenny Engstrom tech-instructor power hitter from NYPL. Join us!
Keidra Chaney
on 17/8/09
great idea. would love to see more librarian representation at SXSW
Brian Herzog
on 18/8/09
this is a good idea - I spent twenty minutes helping a 65+ year old woman sign up for a gmail account - only to find at the end they required a cell phone too, which she didn't have. Taking technology, or an inherent understanding of technology, for granted, is dangerous.
Bill Simmon
on 19/8/09
This panel dovetails nicely with the community media panel I'm proposing (that Jessamyn might also be on if we get in). Libraries and community media & tech centers are really the only places directly engaged with bridging digital divide. Age is often cited as a factor, but economics and broadband access are even bigger barriers.

We're already at a place culturally where a lack of access to online media inhibits the fundamental democratic participation of citizens.

"Digital divide" is a phrase that's been bandied about for a long time but it's actually a more serious problem now than ever before.
Courtney Bennett
on 20/8/09
Bravo Jessamyn. So few people have any idea what a beginner computer user acts and looks like. Helping with Safelink phone applications, e-mail, resumes, job applications and online research has become a difficult part of librarianship, and I really don't think these patrons have anywhere else to learn.
Juanita Benedicto
on 20/8/09
Excellent. I love this. It speaks to my own struggle of teaching Mexican nuns in their 60's and 70's how to set up an email account and do other simple things like open/modify/save a Word document. Repeat repeat repeat. Patience Patience Patience. I hope your proposal gets in. It's important and very much needed.
Anjuan Simmons
on 20/8/09
Interesting. I voted for you. I have a similar idea in the form of a panel (http://bit.ly/Anjuan2). If I'm selected, I'll reach out to you as a panel member.
Hollis Helmeci
on 21/8/09
I think this panel is needed--there are so many people who need asistance, and one-on-one tech teaching is often treated as a secondary or even tertiary function. I wish I could send all my employees to hear this!
Joe A
on 22/8/09
Terrific idea. As some current national debates show, access to information on the web, and making sure everyone has the tools and skills to access facts, is hugely important to our movement forward as a society.
Barbara Gersh
on 22/8/09
The digital divide is real, and growing larger as more and more everyday activities require online skills. Public libraries are on the front lines, providing Internet access and instruction for all. Jessamyn is an entertaining speaker with deep, hands-on experience in this area.
Latoya Peterson
on 23/8/09
wonderful topic!
Jay Cuthrell
on 26/8/09
Let me know if you need any broadband data for rural areas or demonstrated adoption/demand curves for advanced data services.
April Davis
on 1/9/09
Great idea. I voted yes.

Please check out my presentation and the links below.

Thanks ... April

=====

http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/3326

http://blog-aroundharlem.com/2009/09/01/help-put-harlem-on-the-world-stage-digitally-vote-for-us-to-attend-sxsw/
Faith Dow
on 1/9/09
I like this idea. You're correct that people who are coming from a non-profit or corporation don't know how much the local libraries actually help bring the underclass online as well as other classes that may have more means of getting access.

So many of these topics converge right now.

Please vote for my panel Black Female Bloggers and the Future of Media

http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/319
David Kadavy
on 2/9/09
Wow, this is a great idea! I'm always shocked when I meet people who live on "the other half," though I find myself trying to soak up their every word like a sponge. There are things to be learned from these people.
nicky skye
on 3/9/09
Excellent idea.
Jen Collins
on 3/9/09
Terrific idea!
Scott Hepler
on 3/9/09
OK, this would be an awesome panel. Informative _and_ fun, guaranteed.
Online Games
on 24/10/09
great idea. would love to see more librarian representation at SXSW
Travel Ins
on 14/11/09
The people who have already learned will feel that why the others are not able to come up with the way they have grown up or learned, its the case with every other person who have learned something.
Blu-ray Video Converter
on 21/11/09
What's in the world?
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