Digital divide is the economical difference of individuals, households, companies and geographical areas while using information- and communication technology opportunities and Internet. It is the gap between the people who have effective access to communication technologies and Internet and those who don't.
In February 2008 GfK Custom Research Baltic made a research in Estonia which reveals that people with lower income don't have access to some e-services although 69% of Estonians have computers at home and they use Internet.
Actually it sounds quite logical. People who have lower income may not be able to buy computers or can't afford regular access to the internet. And due to this some e-services are not 'there' for them 24/7. Of course its not necessary to have these services available all the time and there is always opportunity to go to library or any other public internet service, but even these places may be hard to tap in, specially in the countrysides. While using public internet services the risk that someone can have access to your personal data is much bigger (if one forgets to log himself/herself off from email or bank account..) and going to library one need to make some extra efforts.
For example those students who don't have Internet at home, can't do their homework when ever they want, they have to make plans to go to the library or to friends place and their time is often limited. Students who have internet have vantages in studies.
Although percentages show that we have digital divide in Estonia, it is not so big and I personally can't feel it. I think its because I am not one of them who dont have access to communication technologies. Most people with whom I communicate have Internet access at home and have access to basic communication technologies. We use mobiles, skype, msn and Internet every day.
In Estonia there shouldn't be a problem finding WiFi areas - cafes, restaurants, gas stations and bigger malls. Not only in big cities, but in smaller as well. There is a page called wifi.ee which says that at the moment there is 1174 Wifi broadcast area per 45 000 km2 and there are lists of every county wifi areas separately.
I think while talking about wifi, Estonia is a really good example to any other country!
In February 2008 GfK Custom Research Baltic made a research in Estonia which reveals that people with lower income don't have access to some e-services although 69% of Estonians have computers at home and they use Internet.
Actually it sounds quite logical. People who have lower income may not be able to buy computers or can't afford regular access to the internet. And due to this some e-services are not 'there' for them 24/7. Of course its not necessary to have these services available all the time and there is always opportunity to go to library or any other public internet service, but even these places may be hard to tap in, specially in the countrysides. While using public internet services the risk that someone can have access to your personal data is much bigger (if one forgets to log himself/herself off from email or bank account..) and going to library one need to make some extra efforts.
For example those students who don't have Internet at home, can't do their homework when ever they want, they have to make plans to go to the library or to friends place and their time is often limited. Students who have internet have vantages in studies.
Although percentages show that we have digital divide in Estonia, it is not so big and I personally can't feel it. I think its because I am not one of them who dont have access to communication technologies. Most people with whom I communicate have Internet access at home and have access to basic communication technologies. We use mobiles, skype, msn and Internet every day.
In Estonia there shouldn't be a problem finding WiFi areas - cafes, restaurants, gas stations and bigger malls. Not only in big cities, but in smaller as well. There is a page called wifi.ee which says that at the moment there is 1174 Wifi broadcast area per 45 000 km2 and there are lists of every county wifi areas separately.
I think while talking about wifi, Estonia is a really good example to any other country!
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