Bridging the Digital Divide: Sociocultural Constructionism and an Asset-Based Approach to Community Technology and Community Building

Introduction Most efforts to engage urban residents with technology have addressed these populations as monolithic entities. Programs targeted at "low-income" and "inner-city" communities reflect this. Not surprisingly, "lowincome" and "inner-city" communities constitute an extremely diverse setting that can include African-Americans, Hispanics, Whites, and others, whereas each individual possesses their own interests and needs. Research indicates that there are marked differences in computer access and use across socioeconomic and racial groups (NTIA, 1994, 1997 & 1999; Nielsen Media Research, 1997; Novak & Hoffman, 1998). While these studies provide a clear picture of the gap in computer access and use, they do not explain what can be done to address it.

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