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There’s a big digital divide between connected, unconnected tech users

Posted by Dennis Sellers May 14, 2008 at 3:10am

Those who think there’s little room for personal computer—and other technology—growth in the U.S. should think again. There seems to be plenty of growth—and plenty of opportunity for Apple.

Roughly one-fifth of all U.S. heads-of-household have never used e-mail, according to National Technology Scan, a forthcoming study from the Parks Associates research firm. This annual phone survey of U.S. households found 20 million households are without Internet access, approximately 18 percent of all U.S. households. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

“Nearly one out of three household heads has never used a computer to create a document,” says John Barrett, director, research, Parks Associates. “These data underscore the significant digital divide between the connected majority and the homes in the unconnected minority that rarely, if ever, use a computer.”

Age and education are factors in this divide. One-half of those who have never used e-mail are over 65, and 56 percent had no schooling beyond high school.

National Technology Scan found just seven percent of the 20 million “disconnected” homes plan to subscribe to an Internet service within the next 12 months. Still, the study reports a steady decline in the number of disconnected households when comparing findings with previous years. National Technology Scan reported at year-end 2006 that 29 percent of all U.S. households (31 million homes) did not have Internet access, citing low perceived value of the Internet.

“Internet connections have slowly increased in U.S. households, but getting the disconnected minority online will continue to be difficult,” Barrett says. “Age and economics are important factors, but the heart of the challenge is deeper. Many people just don’t see a reason to use computers and do not associate technology with the needs and demands of their daily lives.”

Since Apple’s products are easier to use than any other tech firm’s, no company is better poised to make the “non-techies” associate tech with the needs and demands of their daily lives. Let’s hope our favorite tech firm can capitalize on this.

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