digital divide the case of developing countries - iisit.org.pdfVIP

Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology Volume 6, 2009 Digital Divide: The Case of Developing Countries Michelle W. L. Fong Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia Michelle.Fong@.au Abstract This research paper assesses the impact of ICTs (which includes the Internet, mobile phone, pager, personal computer, and telephone) on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita in develop- ing countries in 2005. It found a significant relationship between GNI per capita (in PPP interna- tional dollar) and adoption of each ICT (mobile phone, personal computer, and telephone) but not for Internet technology adoption. In addition, it identifies factors that developing countries need to consider in the adoption and application of ICTs for economic development. Keywords : Economic growth, economic development, Internet, mobile phone, personal com- puter, telephone, and challenges. Introduction When information technology became popular in applications (for automation) in the 1970s, dis- cussions and debates on the impact of this technology were centered on ‘information gaps’ be- tween developed and developing countries under the concern that world populations may soon be divided into groups of inequality – ‘information elite’ and ‘information ignorant’. However, rapid developments in ICTs (information and communication technologies) soon highlighted the greater complexities associated with this technological disparity. It came to light that technologi- cal disparity can occur within a single developed country, rather than between developed and de- veloping countries. In addition, this disparity is not necessarily confined to computer or Internet use but may involve accessi