Question

1. Even though 44 percent of African Americans and Latinos own a smartphone while only 30 percent of White, non-Hispanics do, many people contend that this isn’t really closing the great digital divide because African Americans and Latinos use their smartphones more for entertainment than empowerment. Build an argument to support or refute the previous statement.

1. When accessing the Internet, what can you do on a desktop or laptop computer that you can’t do on a smartphone? If smartphones have fewer Internet capabilities (than desktop and laptop computers), can you necessarily link an increase in smartphone ownership within a U.S.-based economically-disadvantaged group of people to closing the great digital divide? Why or why not?

1. How does an increase in smartphone ownership in a third-world geographic region like Africa close the digital divide for countries in that region? Further, if you owned a U.S. business and wanted to start doing business in Africa, what would be an essential part of your marketing strategy?

1. If you look at smartphone ownership by household income, you’ll notice a fairly sizable dip for the category of $50,000-$75,000. To what do you attribute this? Justify your answer?

1. Finally, will greater access to the Internet cause a closing of the great digital divide? You can answer Yes, No, or Some. Whatever the case, build an argument for your answer.

Answer 1

1. The statement is true with regards that not all African Americans or Latinos are using the smartphone to their full potential. Most use it for entertainment. For example, as I have witness most users use smartphones to post/check social media entries, music, watching YouTube videos, as well as to take pictures. I do believe in the near future minority groups will utilize smartphones for other purposes other than entertainment. As far as closing the great digital divide, it is not really considering closing when smartphones are only being use for entertainment reasons. We also, have to take into consideration not all minority groups that own a smartphone have the need to us the device for other than entertainment reasons. For example, if working a simple minimal wage job the smartphone looses the capability to function as a personal assistant, as well as corporate e-mail function. I personal think most minority groups own smartphones because it is what is trending and they do not want to feel left behind so they opt to purchase such device even though it will not be use to the device’s full potential.

2. I personally cannot do homework on my smartphone, not because it is impossible but because it is just not convenient. Also, if users are into scripting or computer programming it is almost impossible to do it on a smartphone. I don not believe economically-disadvantaged groups are buying smartphones because they cannot afford a laptop. It is because most of the online work they need to access is digital entertainment media that can easy be acquired using a smartphone. Owning high tech gadgets does not necessarily mean the great digital divide will be closed. Users need to understand such technology and learn to use it to its full potential.

3. The increase ownership of smartphones in a third-world geographic region helps close the digital divide as users are able to connect to the rest of the world. With the use of smartphones users can connect with family/co-workers living virtually anywhere in the country. This in turn helps diversify our culture as we interact with users from all over the world. If I started a business in Africa I would have to have my employees video teleconference back to the U.S. at least every other week to discuss marketing targets/expectations. I would also absolutely require my marketing team to have a corporate e-mail as well as a smartphone link to the corporate e-mail so I can contact employees. This would be the most essential piece technology, as the time difference would make it impossible for us to have a phone conversation.

4. This all depends on the size of the household. If the household is comprised of only three to four members, chances are the household owns a smartphone. As the household size increases the number of smartphone users decrease due to priorities as to where to allocate income. A household of ten members would be too expensive to justify the ownership of a smartphone. Even a household of five members would be an expensive bill to pay monthly. For a family of five it would cost about $400 a month for all member to have a smartphone. In my opinion households with four members or more are better off buying tablets or laptops not requiring monthly fees to maintain service.

5. Greater access to the Internet will somewhat help the closing of the great digital divide. I’m sure more than half of the Internet traffic is generated by either digital entertainment or online shopping, which will not close the digital divide. The Internet definitely gives users access to a multitude of services, but sadly most of the services are not fully used to the full potential. The Internet is a tool available to us to help make our lives easier. Depending on how we utilize the Internet determines if it helps close the digital divide.