Lecture# 10 (Part 2) Smartphones and the great Digital Divide

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 then empowerment. Build an argument to support the previous statement.

Although the facts given that 44 percent of African Americans and Latinos own a smartphone while only 30 percent of white, non-Hispanics do, the statistical figure shown that it is very close. However when comes to using a smart phone, the smartphone function is only use for entertainment , it shows that no smartphone involvement in terms of access, use of knowledge of information and communication technologies. Hence, it is true that  it does not closing the great digital divide.

Question 2:

When accessing the Internet, what can you do on a desktop or laptop computer that you can’t do on a smart phone? If smartphone have fever 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?

A desktop or laptop can access all the contents in the web with complicated interface whereas a smartphone can only access to a limited websites depending on the smartphone performance. The Web master need to design another simpler interface for smartphone users to access their weebsites.

To certain extend, increasing in smartphone ownership within a U.S. based economically disadvantaged group of people will link to closing the great digital divide. This is because by having a smartphone, the people can easily access to the internet and will be able to obtain necessary information and hence closing the digital divide.  Although smartphone has its limited functions compare to desktop and laptop, it will definitely help in closing the digital divide. 

Question 3:

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

The increase in smartphone ownership in a third-world geographic region like Africa will close the digital divide for countries in that region by having access to the latest information and technology through access to the internet. 

If I owned a U.S. business and wanted to start doing business in Africa, i will advertise my business and products through the internet especially through social media which involved smartphone users. My marketing strategy will be focus on advertising using internet and social media which the cost involved will be lower compared to conventional advertising cost.

Question 4:

If you look at smartphone ownership by household income, you’ll notice a fairly sizable dip for the category of $ 50,000.00 - $ 75,000. To what do you attribute this? Justify your answer?

Based on the household income category $50,000.00 and $75,000.00, this involved family who has a stably income and the age of category are close to those who just started to have their kids and children. This will directly tell us that the income will be spend more for their children education, maintenance, health, medical or buying a house or property and other investment purposes. Therefore , the smartphone owner of this category will slightly lower compare to other categories.

Question 5:

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

Yes. greater access to the internet will cause a closing of the great digital divide. As discussed above, a greater access to the internet will give a chances for the users access to the information and technology and hence reduce the inequality in terms of access to the necessary key information.