A conceptual map of the World Wide Web, not just in the digital sense
The digital divide, the gap between those who have access to digital and information technology and those who do not, is a daunting quandary, Professor Griffy-Brown said. "Access and participation are essential parts of what Pierre Lévy calls our collective intelligence. And he links this to the prosperity of every nation, or even every firm, because it depends largely on their ability to navigate this knowledge space that is being created."
There is an interesting article here which explores the new responsibilities faced by corporations (and individuals) operating in the online world.
In the broadest sense digital social responsibility means that digital technology "should be used in a way in which the dignity, self-esteem and capacity of each person are enhanced." In their use of these tools, members of society are not consumers but participants in a community. The guiding philosophy of Internet firms and those who govern should be "avoiding exploitation, avoiding the creation of dependencies, enhancing the role of openness and transparency, and allowing people to essentially shape their own future."
Avoid exploitation, avoid creating dependencies and most importantly be transparent. Could the key to closing the digital gap lie in digital social responsibility? Most certainly that is part of it. But as the map above illustrates, Digital Divide is almost a chicken and the egg kind of thing, it is both a cause and effect of so many things.
This map is very much a work in progress and it is eye-opening to visualise the complexities of Digital Divide.
Next job: turn this into a Venn Diagram, perhaps like this one.
Food for thought
