by Lenora Reynolds

Created on: March 31, 2008

Looking at the digital divide worldwide it is evident that the gap is not getting wider but smaller instead. Access to electronic equipment reaches more people now then ever before. This includes access to the Internet and everything that supplies. Access to information, shopping, games and research all available at the click of a mouse button.

The main gap seems to be in quality. The speed is limited to dial up in many places. People there are still able to access the Internet although the governments are not keeping pace with faster access. While China is infamous for its censorship, reading the book "China Road" by Rob Gifford (highly recommend) I was amazed at how much technology has advanced in that country.

There are many countries where accessing the Internet is very expensive. Many of these countries have local sites where the public can easily access the Internet. When my husband and I first started going on line we did not have a computer. The public library had computers that were free to use. While not as convenient as going on line at home, it does open up access to a lot of people.

In chat rooms it amazed me at first how easy it was to speak to people from all over the world. I have met people on line from every continent in different game sites. People will ask where everyone is from, and depending on the time, there will be different areas of the world represented.

For less wealthy countries access to the Internet has opened up a world wide market place. Selling goods and services on line has begun to bring financial revenues into countries in a way they never had before. Learning about different people and different cultures also brings friendship and understanding between different people.

In countries like the United States and China the latest gadgets and equipment are high on people's wish list. That doesn't mean that countries still relying on dial up are falling behind. Personally I would rather have dial up than no access at all. Prices are always high in the beginning but then drop later. More countries today have access to electronic equipment then ever before. This will continue with more and more countries catching up to the countries with better equipment.

Learn more about this author, Lenora Reynolds.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.