Life in the Network

My take on what "access" means is the physical ability of being able to log onto the Internet and use its features. According to "Internet Penetration & Impact" by Mary Madden, about 73% of all adults use the Internet. Only 24% of people truly have no direct or indirect contact with the Internet (Lenhart). The internet is mostly used for things like shopping, personal interests, work, and information about health care (Madden). I think that anyone who has the Internet in their homes or a way to get to a computer that has Internet, has Internet access. I think that the immigrants who go to the libraries to use the Internet also have access even though it's not located in their homes. Since they are able to go someplace that has it and use it for their purposes, I'd say that they have Internet access.

I don't see why all the adults and children should not have access to the Internet. I think that it's a way to communicate as well as educate oneself. The Internet is also a way to get necessary research done and also a way to pursue one's personal interests and hobbies. I definitely think that by not having Internet access, lower-income families are faced with a barrier. The barrier may not seem as large as a life or death situation, but it is a barrier in communication as well as attaining information about certain things. That's not to say that those people are cut off from society and have no way to communicating and getting information about things from different sources, but having the Internet in one's home is definitely easier and more comfortable. Lower-income families that do not have Internet access in their homes probably have to go some place where the Internet is offered, such as the library. According to "The Ever-Shifting Internet Population" by Amanda Lenhart, 41% of people who do not use the internet have a household income of less than $30,000. For those that fall into that category, I think that it would be better for them to use the library's Internet than to go completely without it. I think that in our fast-paced society, the Internet is definitely beneficial.

I think that it's a great idea to have Internet courses in elementary schools. I know that in my elementary school, we had little lectures on how to use the Google search engine and I think that it will make the kids more technologically competent. The Internet is not something that will go away or be replaced by another technology that we know of. So, the best thing to do is to make sure that kids know how to use it properly and how to make sure that a site is credible.

I think that it would be great to have a couple of computers with Internet access in Third World countries' schools. I think that it will motivate the children and let them know that there are great things and better places that they can go to when they succeed in their education. They will be able to learn more about technology and new technological advances and I think that it will let them know that they live in an incredible time of great advancements. However, I don't think that the One Laptop Per Child program should be in place of food and basic necessities aid. I think that it should complement the aid that the Thirld World countries are already receiving. I think that computer companies should just donate some of their computers and other software like computer games. I think that it will include those in poverty with the rest of the world. I don't think that the people in Third World countries should be technologically alienated just because they don't have a lot of money.