Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00443)

At 02:33 PM 8/26/1998 -0600, you wrote:
>Doss wrote:
>
>>America's online: 70.5 million adults
>>
>>More than a third of adults in the USA are online.
>>That means 70.5 million (34.9%) of the 202 million U.S. adults use the
>>Internet, says a survey by Nielsen Media Research and CommerceNet,
>>out Tuesday.
>
>The problem still remains that most people on the Internet are still male,
>have higher incomes, and lean toward conservatism.  The Net is not balanced
>(reflective of the population) by any means yet, as minorites, the elderly,
>and low-income people still lack the tools and means to access the
>Internet.  That remains a serious problem for they are really the ones who
>need information the most.  I have also noticed that the Internet itself is
>becoming much more complicated in the ways to access information - fancier
>programs and, worse, companies and organizations that used to offer free
>information are now charging for it.  In addition, web sites that offer
>information are also requiring that people get the latest up-to-date
>plug-ins in order to access their offerings, plug-ins which require more
>memory and more expensive computers in which to utilize such plug-ins.  My
>own university professors now require documented Internet references when
>writing papers, consequently, I have seen many students - mainly
>lower-income - who must spend more time away from home and in the computer
>lab at school doing their homework - a definite disadvantage for single
>mothers and other people who cannot afford child care.
>
>Yes, the Internet is a fantastic resource, but it still remains elusive and
>intrusive in many people's lives.
>
>Kym

I agree with your observations. Hopefully in the future the situation may
change. BTW, some Universities now require every one of their students to
purchase a computer when they enroll. What they do with those who cannot
afford to purchase, I do not know.

In the University of Texas at Austin, every dorm is wired for 10Mbs
Ethernet and every student is encouraged to get their own computer. Those
who do not have a computer, can use the computers at the University.
However, I am told that during finals when reports and assignments are due,
the waiting time to get on to a computer in these facilities is 4 hours.

mkr