weekly reflections – Week 4

Week 4 Topic: Participation and the Digital Divide
Write about your infographic and comment on any differences or similarities. Consider the feedback given on your infographic.

 

Weekly reflection…
Data visualisations, like the Infographic below, capture an enormous amount of complex information graphically that is easy to read and absorb in a very short time. (visual.ly, n.d.).  The infographic displays Australian household users of the internet, this gap between the people who do and do not have access to the internet is known as a ‘Digital Divide’.   Clearly shown, are the two factors that influence the gap; age and money.  Statistics researched supported readings from Prensky’s Digital Immigrants, Digital Natives (Prensky, 2001).

Philanthropic Australia is the nation’s largest organization assisting to bridge this gap via means of grants.  Mobile phones, as the most affordable mobile device, bridges this gap even further; in 2013, 41% of ‘global’ households were connected (Friederich, 2013); consider the number of mobile users today, and that percentage would be much higher.

There were differences in peers infographics, some more noticeable than others such as the amount of text, chosen colours and interpretation of the divide.  Feedback was positive for my infographic, pointing out that the information was easy to capture, and the colours would be appealing to the native generation.  Overall, it was another interesting exercise learning new digital applications to publish information.

References

Friederich, H., (June, 2013)., The Digital Divide – too wide? (blog). http://hansfriederich.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/the-digital-divide-too-wide/

Prensky, M., (2001)., Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants.
Retrieved from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf

What is an infographic., (n.d)., Visual.ly., http://visual.ly/what-is-an-infographic

Discussion Board Learning Activity:
Create an INFOGRAPHIC that visually represents the issue of a digital divide.

Discussion board post…

The digital divide in Australia is closing in.

ABS statistics taken in 2013 represent only 17% of households don’t use or have access to the internet.

There are companies trying to bridge the divide even further by providing services to remote areas and assistance in schools across the nation.

References

Household use of information technology, Australia 2012-2013. (8146.0) (Issue Released 11:30am (Canberra time) 25/02/2014). Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/8146.0Contents2012-13?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=8146.0&issue=2012-13&num=&view=

 

resources: Wordle; ABS; EDC101 course notes