摘要：In today¡¯s world of snappy catchphrases, the complexity of a phenomenon is often hidden
behind the simplicity of the terminology. Take, for instance, the concept of the digital divide.
In short, the term means that there is a gap between those people who have effective access to
digital technologies (and all the benefits that brings) and those who do not (Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development [OECD], 2001; Selhofer & H¨¹sing, 2002). While
the definition seems simple enough, in fact, there are numerous reasons for the technology
gap among people in the world. Typical reasons for the digital divide include material access
(i.e., no access to a computer, lack of access to specific software programs or related
technologies), usability or usage access (i.e., lack of qualified instruction or environmental
issues that limit access, such as an erratic electrical power supply or an underdeveloped
Internet infrastructure), or mental access (i.e., a lack of digital experience resulting from
disinterest or computer anxiety; Van Dijk & Hacker, 2003). Because the digital divide is such
a complex phenomenon, it needs a complex approach to bridging this gap. A multilayered
approach to address this multifaceted problem has been proposed by both individuals and
organizations (Arunachalam, 2003; Oyebode, 2002; Papin-Ramcharan & Dawe, 2006).
