How the Digital Divide can shrink…

The digital divide can be explained as the division of technology and the internet across the population. Many factors influence this from economics and beyond to social issues and simple geographical location. I believe the main culprit behind the digital divide is the simple economic aspect, people simply do not have the money to purchase the hardware necessary to access the internet and bridge this digital divide. There is hope though. Several very cheap, very user friendly UMPC’s (ultra mobile personal computers) are being released. The Everex Cloudbook and the Asus EeePC both clock with actual retail prices under $450. These laptops are simply amazing for the price. They come with a new Linux interface that is designed for optimum mobility as far as the user interface is concerned. Capable of WiFi and wireless 3G internet, these machines are extremely versatile and flexible. They have the latest technology that makes wireless internet as well as wired internet easy to set up and efficient to use. Not only are these changing the game as far as price is concerned, they are blurring the line between home maintenance and manufacturer repairs. These OLPC’s being used in third world countries, such as Nigeria, are being fixed and modified by the children who are using them.

“…designed the systems to be easily fixable, including extra screws embedded in the computers themselves, and allowing for quick changes of the LCD backlight and other components. The in-house repairs cut down on shipping, promote reuse, and increase kids’ understanding of ownership and responsibility, thus furthering the OLPC mission, and making everyone generally want to hug.”

These PC’s are changing the way the world can access the internet or new technology. Cheap, efficient, user friendly. These factors are the main contributors to the success of these products. Hopefully the price of all computers can drop to these sort of prices.