e-learning 2.0

Here is a link to Jacob Neilsen’s comments about the digital divide.

In it he puts forward three types of divide:

Economic - which he maintains is no longer an issue as the developed countries will be able to afford computers for all their citizens within the next five years and poor developing countries will need at least twenty years before their citizens can afford computers. Of course there are initiatives like the 100 dollar laptop scheme that might help with this.

Usability - he maintains that for many computers are simply too difficult to use and that this much more of an issue than access.

Empowerment - even if people can access and can use computers many of them do not feel empowered to use them effectively and take part in on-line communities. He quotes the 90:9:1 rule.

Although I can’t say that I agree with all of his comments I do think he has a point worth considering.