Investigation of a refugee population reveals the influence of additional factors. Despite obtaining computers and fast internet access, certain communities still experience the effects of the digital divide, according to recent findings. A study of the Bhutanese refugee community in Columbus re
The digital divide refers to the unequal distribution of technology and access to the internet between different communities, particularly between those with access to modern technology and those without. This divide can lead to unequal opportunities for education, employment, and communication, further exacerbating existing inequalities.Despite obtaining computers and fast internet access, certain communities still experience the effects of the digital divide, according to recent findings.
“We found that there are social, cultural, and environmental reasons that may prevent some communities from getting all the value they could out of internet access.”International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthFor the study, researchers worked closely with members of the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio, a nonprofit organization helping resettled Bhutanese refugees in the Columbus area.
More than 9 out of 10 of those surveyed said access to digital technology was important, very important, or extremely important to them.“For just about everyone we interviewed, the internet was how you connected to your family, through apps like Facebook or WhatsApp,” Cohen said. “For many, that was nearly the only thing they used the internet for.”
A common issue was that many refugees – especially the older and less educated – were just not comfortable online, the study found. Language was another issue. While there was a local program to translate some important resources from English to Nepali, the most common language spoken by Bhutanese refugees, many respondents remarked that the translations were “mostly gibberish” and nearly impossible to understand, Cohen said.“People had access to the internet, and this information was available to them, but they couldn’t use it. That is not a technological issue, but it is part of the digital divide,” he said.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Digital mapping technology doubles Japan's island count | Digital TrendsFor decades, Japan thought it had around 7,000 islands, but a new survey involving digitalmapping has revealed it actually has double that.
Read more »
Why now is the perfect time for the OnePlus Pad | Digital TrendsOnePlus's first tablets come after tablets are officially old news — but the timing might be better than it appears to be at first sight.
Read more »
Here's why Bing Chat conversation lengths are now limited | Digital TrendsBing Chat has only been live for about a week, and already Microsoft is limiting its usage to avoid unsettling conversations and keep the AI helpful.
Read more »
In a divorce, who gets to keep the financial adviser?One more valuable for couples to divide in a breakup.
Read more »
Russian-Ukraine war, one year in, has supercharged the partisan divide on energy in WashingtonRussia’s war against Ukraine may have united most Republicans and Democrats in opposition to Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Eastern Europe, but it’s driven American lawmakers further apart than ever on one particularly partisan policy arena: energy.
Read more »
Marvel's Ant-Man: Quantumania Audience Score Shows Divide With CriticsAnt-Man and the Wasp Quantumania's verified audience score shows a divide with critics on Rotten Tomatoes:
Read more »