Jonathan Sterne’s chapter “The Computer Race Goes to Class” suggests that the gap between races online primarily begins with education. After tracing the history of computers, Stern came to the conclusion that earlier access to the digital world leads to greater success for individuals in the future. After having identified computer literacy as an essential ingredient to success in the 21st century, Stern acknowledges the lack of computers in certain school that exists in certain areas of the US, areas of a particular race. It is no lie that richer schools provide their students with greater access to the Internet and the cyber world. They have more money and can therefore enhance their schools. For these reason public schools are underprivileged districts, lack large quantities of computers and sometimes lack computers altogether. I completely agree that computer literacy requires more than simply access to the digital world. Schools cannot simply place a computer or two on their grounds and expect students to all of a sudden become not only computer literate but to become thriving individuals in the virtual and technological world. Advanced, moreover required, computer literacy can only be achieved when taught and studied. After all, as with all aspects of one’s life, practice makes perfect.
The fact that students of certain races do not have access to computers in large numbers or a computer literacy class directly leads to a digital divide between social classes. Some act or movement clearly needs to be made in order to bridge this gap between classes. With the growing presence of technology in the business sector, the demand for computers and computer literacy in each classroom increases. Simply donating a single or a few computers to disadvantaged schools does not narrow the digital divide as in Apple’s case.
Even though the divide is still quite large, I am still proud that House of Representatives and Senate have made strong and substantial efforts to tighten it. It is important that classrooms do not inherit computers just because that model will not sell to consumers. Hewlett Packard’s efforts to no only provide computers to classrooms but also to train teachers is wonderful. All of these efforts demonstrate to me that the gap is not going unnoticed by those who have the power to change it.
I found the end of Sterne’s chapter on the computer race particularly interesting. He states that the politics of race mold the Internet and digital world but not just because of the divide in access but also because of what is present in the digital world once individuals receive access. Politics of race mold the character of the Internet just as much the Internet shapes the politics of race. By this, I believe Sterne means that even though the digital divide is partially due to racial politics, racial politics also affect the academic journals, blogs and information that can be found online.
The fact that students of certain races do not have access to computers in large numbers or a computer literacy class directly leads to a digital divide between social classes. Some act or movement clearly needs to be made in order to bridge this gap between classes. With the growing presence of technology in the business sector, the demand for computers and computer literacy in each classroom increases. Simply donating a single or a few computers to disadvantaged schools does not narrow the digital divide as in Apple’s case.
Even though the divide is still quite large, I am still proud that House of Representatives and Senate have made strong and substantial efforts to tighten it. It is important that classrooms do not inherit computers just because that model will not sell to consumers. Hewlett Packard’s efforts to no only provide computers to classrooms but also to train teachers is wonderful. All of these efforts demonstrate to me that the gap is not going unnoticed by those who have the power to change it.
I found the end of Sterne’s chapter on the computer race particularly interesting. He states that the politics of race mold the Internet and digital world but not just because of the divide in access but also because of what is present in the digital world once individuals receive access. Politics of race mold the character of the Internet just as much the Internet shapes the politics of race. By this, I believe Sterne means that even though the digital divide is partially due to racial politics, racial politics also affect the academic journals, blogs and information that can be found online.