Bridging the Digital Divide: Community Technology and Community Building

Bridging the Digital Divide:Bridging the Digital Divide:Community Technology and Community Technology and

Community BuildingCommunity Building

April 20, 2001April 20, 2001Society of Black Graduate andSociety of Black Graduate and

Professional StudentsProfessional Students

Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. CandidateRandal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. CandidateEpistemology and Learning GroupEpistemology and Learning Group

MIT Media LaboratoryMIT Media Laboratory

AgendaAgenda

I.I. The Digital DivideThe Digital DivideII.II. Community TechnologyCommunity Technology

- Computer Clubhouse Project- Computer Clubhouse Project

- Camfield Estates-MIT Project- Camfield Estates-MIT Project

III.III. Observations and ConclusionsObservations and Conclusions

AgendaAgenda

I.I.The Digital DivideThe Digital DivideII.II. Community TechnologyCommunity Technology

- Computer Clubhouse Project- Computer Clubhouse Project

- Camfield Estates-MIT Project- Camfield Estates-MIT Project

III.III. Observations and ConclusionsObservations and Conclusions

“The ‘digital divide’ between certain groups of Americans has increased between 1994 and 2000 so that there is now an even greater disparity in penetration levels among some groups.”

Falling Through the Net III,NTIA

The Digital DivideThe Digital Divide

“There is a widening gap, for example, between those at upper and lower income levels.”

Falling Through the Net III,NTIA

The Digital DivideThe Digital Divide

“Additionally, even though all racial groups now own more computers than they did in 1994, Blacks and Hispanics now lag even further behind Whites in their levels of PC-ownership and on-line access.”

Falling Through the Net III,NTIA

The Digital DivideThe Digital Divide

Computer Penetration Rates by Race

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

1984 1989 1994 1997 1998

Year

Percent of U.S. Households

WhiteBlackHispanicOther

Δ = 21.5%-pts

Δ = 23.4%-pts

Δ = 16.8%-pts

Source: U.S. Δepartm ent of Com m erce

Internet Penetration Rates by Race

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

1994 1998

Year

Percent of U.S. Households (E-Mail Use)

WhiteBlackHispanicOther

Δ = 2.7%-pts

Δ = 13.8%-pts

Source: U.S. Δepartm ent of Com m erce

Computer Penetration Ratesby Income by Race (1997)

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

Under $15,000 $15,000-$34,999 $35,000-$74,999 $75,000+

Income

Percent of U.S. Households

WhiteBlackHispanicOther

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

(1999)

THE DIGITAL DIVIDETHE DIGITAL DIVIDE

“The gap between thosewho benefit from new technologies

and those who do not.”

AgendaAgenda

I.I. The Digital DivideThe Digital DivideII.II. Community TechnologyCommunity Technology

- Computer Clubhouse Project- Computer Clubhouse Project

- Camfield Estates-MIT Project- Camfield Estates-MIT Project

III.III. Observations and ConclusionsObservations and Conclusions

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY

“Using the technology tosupport and meet the

goals of a community.”

- Beamish (1999)

THREE MODELS OFTHREE MODELS OFCOMMUNITY COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY

CommunityContent

CommunityNetworks

CommunityComputing

Centers

Community Technology Community Technology CentersCenters

Plugged In, East Palo Alto, CAPlugged In, East Palo Alto, CA Playing-2-Win, Harlem, NYPlaying-2-Win, Harlem, NY Computer Clubhouse, Boston, MAComputer Clubhouse, Boston, MA Austin Learning Academy, Austin, TX Austin Learning Academy, Austin, TX New Beginnings Learning Center, New Beginnings Learning Center,

Pittsburgh, PAPittsburgh, PA West Side Community Computing West Side Community Computing

Center, Cleveland, OHCenter, Cleveland, OH

Community NetworksCommunity Networks Seattle Community Network, Seattle Community Network,

Seattle, WASeattle, WA Big Sky Telegraph, Dillon, MontanaBig Sky Telegraph, Dillon, Montana National Capital Free-Net, Ottawa, National Capital Free-Net, Ottawa,

OntarioOntario Buffalo Free-Net, Buffalo, NYBuffalo Free-Net, Buffalo, NY PrairieNet, Urbana-Champaign, ILPrairieNet, Urbana-Champaign, IL

Community ContentCommunity Content Charlotte’s WebCharlotte’s Web

– http://www.charweb.orghttp://www.charweb.org Brooklyn Public LibraryBrooklyn Public Library

– http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.orghttp://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org City of SeattleCity of Seattle

– http://www.cityofseattle.comhttp://www.cityofseattle.com Neighborhood Knowledge Los AngelesNeighborhood Knowledge Los Angeles

– http://knla.ucla.eduhttp://knla.ucla.edu

CommunityContent

CommunityNetworks

CommunityComputing

Centers

MODELSMODELS

ACCESSTRAININGCONTENT

Education

Employment

Health Care

EconomicDevelopment

Entrepreneurship

Service Delivery

OUTCOMESOUTCOMES

Bridging the Digital DivideBridging the Digital Divide

AgendaAgenda

I.I. The Digital DivideThe Digital DivideII.II. Community TechnologyCommunity Technology

- Computer Clubhouse Project- Computer Clubhouse Project- Camfield Estates-MIT Project- Camfield Estates-MIT Project

III.III. Observations and ConclusionsObservations and Conclusions

The Computer Clubhouse The Computer Clubhouse ProjectProject

An after-school community An after-school community technology center (CTC) where technology center (CTC) where youth become fluent with new youth become fluent with new technological toolstechnological tools

The Computer Clubhouse The Computer Clubhouse ProjectProject

Clubhouse members create…Clubhouse members create…– Animations, robotic constructions, Animations, robotic constructions,

musical creations, simulations, video musical creations, simulations, video games, Web sites, ...games, Web sites, ...

The Computer Clubhouse The Computer Clubhouse ProjectProject

$20M funding from Intel $20M funding from Intel CorporationCorporation– 25 clubhouses nationwide25 clubhouses nationwide– 100 clubhouse anticipated world-wide100 clubhouse anticipated world-wide– http://www.computerclubhouse.orghttp://www.computerclubhouse.org

Computer Clubhouse ProjectComputer Clubhouse Project

VIDEO CLIPVIDEO CLIP

AgendaAgenda

I.I. The Digital DivideThe Digital DivideII.II. Community TechnologyCommunity Technology

- Computer Clubhouse Project- Computer Clubhouse Project

- Camfield Estates-MIT Project- Camfield Estates-MIT ProjectIII.III. Observations and ConclusionsObservations and Conclusions

Camfield Estates-MIT Camfield Estates-MIT ProjectProject

A model for low-income housing A model for low-income housing developments as to how developments as to how individuals, families, and a individuals, families, and a community can use technology to community can use technology to support their interests and needssupport their interests and needs

Project SiteProject Site Camfield Estates, Roxbury, MACamfield Estates, Roxbury, MA Predominantly African-American (75%)Predominantly African-American (75%)

– 32% Hispanic / 68% Non-Hispanic32% Hispanic / 68% Non-Hispanic 102 units (80 occupied) and approximately 102 units (80 occupied) and approximately

250 residents250 residents Participant in HUD’s “Demo-Dispo” Participant in HUD’s “Demo-Dispo”

programprogram Neighborhood Technology Center (NTC) on Neighborhood Technology Center (NTC) on

the premisesthe premises

Camfield Estates Camfield Estates DemographicsDemographics

Race

Camfield Estates Camfield Estates DemographicsDemographics

Ethnicity

Camfield Estates Camfield Estates DemographicsDemographics

Age

Camfield Estates-MITCamfield Estates-MITCreating Community Creating Community

ConnectionsConnectionsProjectProject

VIDEO CLIPVIDEO CLIP

ParticipatioParticipationn

June 2000 September 2000 January 2001

BaselineBaseline0 of 66 people0 of 66 people

Round IRound I::33 of 66 people (50%)33 of 66 people (50%)

Round II:Round II:60 of 80 people (75%)60 of 80 people (75%)

Non-ParticipationNon-Participation Non-Participation in Round 1 (50%)Non-Participation in Round 1 (50%)

– Miscommunication/misunderstandingMiscommunication/misunderstanding– SkepticismSkepticism– Already owned a computerAlready owned a computer

Non-Participation in Round 2 (57%)Non-Participation in Round 2 (57%)– Lack of relevanceLack of relevance– Too many responsibilitiesToo many responsibilities– Health-related Health-related

Creating Community Creating Community Connections (C3) SystemConnections (C3) System Community IntranetCommunity Intranet

– Resident profiles, listservs, bulletin Resident profiles, listservs, bulletin boards, calendar of events, chat rooms, boards, calendar of events, chat rooms, news and announcements, and more.news and announcements, and more.

Community ExtranetCommunity Extranet– Asset-maps (GIS), business database, Asset-maps (GIS), business database,

organization database, customizable web organization database, customizable web portals, security restrictions, and more.portals, security restrictions, and more.

AgendaAgenda

I.I. The Digital DivideThe Digital DivideII.II. Community TechnologyCommunity Technology

- Computer Clubhouse Project- Computer Clubhouse Project

- Camfield Estates-MIT Project- Camfield Estates-MIT Project

III.III. Observations and ConclusionsObservations and Conclusions

Observations and Observations and ConclusionsConclusions

The Digital Divide is about…The Digital Divide is about…– Outcomes instead of accessOutcomes instead of access– Relevance instead of economicsRelevance instead of economics

Socially and culturallySocially and culturally– Active producers instead of passive Active producers instead of passive

consumersconsumers– Community technology Community technology andand

community buildingcommunity building

Bridging the Digital Divide:Bridging the Digital Divide:Community Technology and Community Technology and

Community BuildingCommunity Building

April 20, 2001April 20, 2001Society of Black Graduate andSociety of Black Graduate and

Professional StudentsProfessional Students

Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. CandidateRandal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. CandidateEpistemology and Learning GroupEpistemology and Learning Group

MIT Media LaboratoryMIT Media Laboratory