Saturday, June 9, 2001

Countries Must Bridge the Digital Divide

If a nation wants to participate and prosper in today's global economy, it will first have to bridge its "digital divide." That is, it will need to ensure information and communications technology is available and accessible to all segments of the population. This is a key message of a new IDC/World Times report, which cites Information Society Index (ISI) ratings.

The ISI ranks countries based on their ability to access and absorb information technology and is based on four infrastructure categories: computer, information, Internet, and social. Earlier this year, IDC reported Sweden has earned the highest ISI ranking and the United States fell from the number-two ranking to number four. IDC believes the inability of the United States to bridge the digital divide was a main factor in its ranking slip.

"Because the United States is the largest producer of information technology devices, its fall from second to fourth place in the ISI rankings may seem surprising," said Ludovica Bruno, an analyst with IDC's IT Markets and Strategies research program. "However, the mere existence of many devices isn't enough to contribute to the productivity of a nation unless all of its society knows how to use them. The United States must work on bringing technology to the 'have-nots,' not just the 'haves,' and provide all with the opportunity to prosper in the global economy."

According to IDC, developing an information society is a must for every nation. It's also a process that is never complete. "An information society is never finished. With new technologies come new opportunities," Bruno said. "A nation's success lies in having a well-rounded strategy that enables it to evolve with time and effectively embrace change."