>Wow Nettrice that center sounds great.
> I'm from the Boston
>area so I might have
>to check that out when
>I get back home.

Thanks! Sure, come check us out. We'll be in the Mall of Roxbury (formerly Washington Park Mall), 306 MLK Blvd. Soon we'll have a site up and info will be online. The grand opening is on February 7, 2001 with the Mayor doing the dedication.

>I wrote a paper on
>it last year and the
>term is most often used
>to describe the different rates
>of access between communities, not
>a bias against using the
>technology by the underrepresented groups.

An excerpt from a recent press release:
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/010115/02022052/html

"New research addressing the digital divide issue was sponsored by FleetBoston Financial Foundation and conducted by UMass. A survey questioned 1,600 residents of low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods in the Northeast, 752 with incomes under $40K to examine both the rate of computer and Internet penetration in inner cities and to identify obstacles to greater digital inclusion. The sites included Boston, Harlem, Brooklyn, Newark, and Hartford. The findings suggest that while income marks the digital dividing line, computer access alone will not bridge the technology gap, and that comfort in learning how to navigate the Internet is also a major factor."

> But the differential is due primarily
>to lack of infrastructure and
>access in the home, and
>this is accentuated by lack
>of access at secondary locations
>like schools, libraries and the
>workplace for those underserved groups.

Also, from the press release"

"The challenge is to offer broad-based solutions which address access, training and content that can make the real difference."

"80 percent of those surveyed who are not familiar with the Internet said they would be eager or likely to participate in computer and Internet training if given a free computer and free Internet access. Four out of 10 said they would prefer training in a small group with their top choice in a community center."

> Programs like yours are
>precisely what's needed to close
>the gap though and I'm
>really glad you're bringing something
>like this to the Boston
>area. I assume you're
>familiar with Plugged In of
>East Palo Alto, CA which
>is sort of the pioneer
>of community technology access centers.

I definately know about Plugged In but the first community technology center or ctc was established in Harlem, NY. Playing to Win was opened in 1990 or 1991. I was not aware of it until later. Playing to Win II (now Somerville Community Computing Center) was opened a couple of years later and from this came Playing to Win Network (now CTCNet) with over 400 member centers.

I think my first point was meant to address the illusion that poor people are unmotivated or incapable to learn technology. Poor people and people of color have always struggled to cross divides to get opportunities. This so-called digital divide is really nothing new.


"Know thyself"

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you". So we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
-- Hebrews 13:5,6

"There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path"
--Morpheus in "The Matrix"

"It's our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"- Dumbledore to Harry Potter "Chamber of Secrets"

"Know thyself"

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you". So we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
-- Hebrews 13:5,6

"There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path"
--Morpheus in "The Matrix"

"It's our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"- Dumbledore to Harry Potter "Chamber of Secrets"