We haven’t yet gotten to discussing the ways that our increasing reliance on technology has created hurdles for those members of society that can’t afford the latest or the right technology. A case in point is the new enrollment system in New York City for kindergarden. If you are a parent and you want to sign up your kid to begin kindergarden in fall 2014, you now must do so online (previously, you could fill out paper forms). While there are obvious advantages in efficiency by moving to an electronic enrollment system, there are serious disadvantages for those who don’t have a computer and internet connection or who haven’t been able to learn how to use such technologies.
In the news website, DNA Info, there’s a story today about this new online-only enrollment process and how it is having unintended consequences for those on the wrong side of the digital divide. Can you think of other parts of civic life, especially vital ones like schooling, where the digital divide might be playing out?
The short answer is yes, I can definitely think of other facets of civic life where the digital divide might be happening. But I think the 1st thing to acknowledge is that we’re IN this delicate transitional era where everybody is gradually moving towards digital devices and/or lifestyles. And in this era, there will undoubtedly be institutions that underestimate the importance of helping the public transition super smoothly. Having said that, this Kindergarten Connect system seems like it is definitely one of them. I would also say that it’s happening with movie theaters, supermarkets, and any other public place that is now putting an emphasis on deals and promotions through apps. Banks are now also offering promotional benefits for paperless bills, which obviously can only be done establishing an online account and being well-versed in operating that kind of technology. So it’s an issue that I believe needs to be handled with extreme care and consideration, because it’s obviously not fair if certain people are left in the dark.