The adoption of modern technologies like satellite radio, high-definition television, and Blu-ray players hasn’t been as important as the adoption of the computers and the internet.  Television and radio are fairly one-sided mediums; they’re just means of delivering information, there’s no exchange, no dialog involved.  The internet, on the other hand, is a means of exchanging information, there’s a conversation.

With the introduction of Web 2.0 (the concepts of social networking) and ideas such as wikis (Wikipedia for example), the internet has become not just a place to gather and (arguably, most importantly) to exchange information, but a place to interact socially as well.

Unfortunately, there’s a great many people that’s being left out of this conversation that’s taking place in the 21st Century.  Say what you will, but the Digital Divide is not a Third World problem, it’s a problem that’s taking place here in Canada.  I see it on a daily basis here in my lab, both in the work I do, and in the supervising I do for the public lab.

The reason I have a job at all is because this gap between the technological Haves and Have-nots exists.  What we have here is a divide between those who know what technology is out there and how to best utilize it to their advantage to better their own lives and the lives of their community members, and those who are befuddled by it.  I see it when people come in to the public lab that I supervise to do their resumes and do job searches or open email accounts.  Yes, you read that correctly, open email accounts – because they’ve never had one before.

For some, ctrl+alt+delete is a foreign concept to them.  When I go to explain things such as “click on Start” they’re immediately lost.  I have to start at the very basics of even starting the computer.  I’ve had people come in and try to turn on the computer by hitting the power button on the monitor not realizing that it was not a part of the computer.   ‘Input and output devices’ are words not in their vocabulary.

So why would some people in this day and age have such a difficult time with what you and I take for granted?  Simply put, they haven’t had the same opportunities nor access to technology we have.  While I’ve spent the majority of my life living on my reserve, I was blessed with a comfortable life and a father who provided amply for us.  I was also able to provide for myself once I had my daughter, and at a later age, took to computers once I discovered them.  I taught myself whatever I could, and gladly took advice and knowledge whenever it was given.  I appreciate every opportunity.

One of those opportunities came in the form of the Community Access Program (CAP), a government funded paid youth internship that works to narrow the digital divide by not only providing public access to high speed internet and computers to those who would otherwise not have access, but also provide basic training as well.

Providing Canadians with affordable public access to the Internet and the skills they need to use it effectively! – from the CAP YI website

I guess you could say I began my career in computers thanks to CAP since they first hired me back in December of 2004 and because of that job, I was able to self-train myself on many aspects of computers.  After that, I was hired on by my band as a junior technician and given more on-the-job training.  After that, I went off to Keewatin to take their distance IT Essentials training.

Which has led me to where I am today as an instructor with the Keewatin Academy of Information Technology (KAIT).  I love my job here!  Keewatin is also partially government funded, as in we have a paid youth internship as well, training youth to become IT and Network specialists through distance training.

Our IT Training courses partner with CISCO‘s Networking Academy to deliver quality Information Technology (IT) training in IT Essentials: PC Hardware & Software and CCNA 1: Home & Small Business Networking to individuals aspiring to become computer technicians or begin their journey into an IT-related career. These are industry-leading courses that prepare students for industry-level certifications in the CompTIA A+ and CISCO CCNA certification exams. – from the KAIT website

But if it weren’t for the Digital Divide, these programs wouldn’t exist and I’d be out of a job.  Honestly, I’m waiting for that day.  I’d gladly work for a for-profit organization.  In the mean time, I’m also happy to bring this type of education to my people, so that they can enjoy the same type of experiences I’ve had with technology.  I want my children to live in a world with the same types of opportunities as everyone else, and not have to worry about relying on government aide to bridge any sort of gap that exists between them and the mainstream just because of their geographical or genetic background.

They deserve so much more than that.  All our children do.

LINKS:

Wikipedia Article on Digital Divide

The Digital Divide in Canada

Community Access Program (Industry Canada)

Community Access Program (SK)

Keewatin Academy of IT