[Air-l] digital divide in use - more suggestions?

[Opgenhaffen Michaël]

[Crossposted to DDN + AOIR, sorry for that!]
 
Hello everybody,
 
I'm doing research within the erea of internet and the digital divide (like many of you, i suppose ;-) )
Most of the literature treats the internet as one uniform medium. In reality, the internet exists of different applications like websites, usenet, listserv, blogs, email, IM, ...
 
I was wondering if there exists some research about the consequences of this difference in use and it's relationship to the digital divide-theory. Most of the time, the digital divide is constraint to the difference in internet access, but the future will bring us perhaps only a difference in internet use (some only use general websites, while others use all different applications). 
 
The term 'digital divide in use' is somewhat what i'm looking for, but not exctly i guess. Also the term digital literacy is quite helpful ... 
 
Anyone more suggestions about literature? Or your opinion about this subject? 
 
Thanks in advance!
 
Michaël
 
 
 
 
 
-----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- 
Van: Deborah Elizabeth Finn [mailto:deborah.elizabeth.finn at gmail.com] 
Verzonden: za 4/06/2005 22:47 
Aan: The Digital Divide Network discussion group 
CC: 
Onderwerp: [DDN] Bragging Rights in Boston



	(A version of this item is also available through my blog at
	<http://blog.deborah.elizabeth.finn.com/blog/_archives/2005/6/2/903714.html>;
	the blog version provides live links to more information about some of
	the people and organizations mentioned here.)
	
	
	Dear Colleagues,     
	
	On Wednesday evening, the Boston 501 Tech Club had a record turnout of
	over 70 nonprofit techies!  It was the largest gathering ever in the
	history of the regional 501 Tech Clubs.
	
	Here are a few factors that go into an event like this one:
	
	-  We had a dedicated team of planners:  Merove Heifetz of Earthwatch
	Institute (the outgoing convener of the Boston club), Beth Sousa of
	Families First (the incoming convener), Kathleen Sherwin of Tech
	Foundation, and yours truly.
	
	-  The planners met several weeks in advance, to get acquainted in
	person, to brainstorm about desired outcomes, and to plan for the
	transition to a new convener.  We then stayed in touch by email and
	conference call.
	
	-  TechFoundation generously underwrote the cost of the venue, food,
	and drinks. Furthermore, Kathleen Sherwin, ably assisted by Colleen
	Higgins (also of TechFoundation), deployed her superlative skills as
	an event manager.
	
	-  TechFoundation also generously underwrote my time as a consultant
	to bring various pieces of the puzzle together, and to do outreach to
	individuals and groups who may not have previously known about the
	Boston 501 Tech Club or considered attending one of its events.
	
	-  The event was held outdoors at a time of year when most people
	crave a little fresh air and sunshire, and it didn't rain.
	
	-  The venue was easily accessible by public transportation.  (Parking
	was also available, which definitely counts for something in Harvard
	Square.)
	
	I'd summarize the most important take-aways in this way:
	
	-  If you feed them, they will come.  This costs money.
	
	-  Events of this sort are labor intensive.  Volunteers who have other
	full-time jobs can't be expected to do all the work.  Hiring
	professionals costs money.
	
	-  It's important for potential attendees to receive personal
	invitations (or to  hear about the event) from people they know.
	
	However, it's also important not to overlook what we as the planners
	could take for granted:  our region can boast of a first-rate talent
	pool of current and aspiring nonprofit techies.  We have an abundance
	of philanthropic spirit, utopian vision, and technological genius here
	in Massachusetts.  Rich in human capital, we desperately need the
	financial and institutional resources to bring it all together to
	serve the nonprofit sector.  This new partnership between the Boston
	501 Tech Club and TechFoundation may bring help to bring us to the
	tipping point.
	
	Go, team!
	
	Best regards from Deborah
	
	P.S.  Full disclosure of financial relationship:  I used to serve as
	TechFoundation's national nonprofit liaison officer and director of
	its Boston TechConnect program, and am currently working with TF on a
	consulting basis.
	
	
	Deborah Elizabeth Finn
	Boston, Massachusetts, USA
	deborah_elizabeth_finn at post.harvard.edu
	http://blog.deborah.elizabeth.finn.com/blog
	http://public.xdi.org/=deborah.elizabeth.finn
	
	_______________________________________________
	DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list
	DIGITALDIVIDE at mailman.edc.org
	http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
	To unsubscribe, send a message to digitaldivide-request at mailman.edc.org with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.