Blog #2: Digital Division by Zero

What is 1 ÷ 10? - If you think you know, think about an email signature I often use

There are 10 kinds of people in this world. Those that understand binary, and those that don't.

(For those that don't, 10 in binary is the number 2)

In simple terms this is an illustration of what the digital divide is. An individual's approach to problem solving is affected by their understanding of technology around them. When two people communicate, if one of them understands newer technologies they will view the problem differently. The one who understands binary would clearly see multiple solutions and may not know how to solve the problem due to insufficient information. The person that doesn't understand binary, would clearly see an immediate solution. Both answers are correct. The digital divide is characterized by this. People who understand and use digital communications technology solve problems in one way, and those that don't understand and use digital mediums use another. Both are correct from their perspective, however, our ideologies tell us that using these new technologies is good and those that don't use them are backwards or disadvantaged. Thus, a so called digital divide is created between those that use technology and those that don't.

Selfe and Selfe argue that the office metaphor used in computer interfaces today further expands the digital divide. They would argue that a new metaphor needs to be used. However I believe that the office metaphor is the most appropriate, and that all others would ultimately cause problems. In Politics of the Interface, Selfe and Selfe state

"The interface does not, for example, represent the world in terms of a kitchen counter top, a mechanic's workbench, or a fast-food restaurant -- each of which would constitute the virtual world in different terms according to the values and orientations of, respectively, women n the home, skilled laborers, or the rapidly increasing numbers of employees in the fast-food industry." (486-487)

In other words, the office metaphor excludes these classes of people because it doesn't represent the world as they see it. On the contrary, I think that the office metaphor is more inclusive then any other. Most homes have an office, and house wives often have a husband that works in an office. Skilled laborers may not spend their time in an office, but the business they work for uses an office and they understand the paradigms of the metaphor. Even in the lowliest fast food restaurant, there is an office. So while Selfe argues that the office metaphors used are "interested versions of reality" (Selfe and Selfe, 486) because all of these classes understand it, the office metaphore allows them to be included.

Any metaphor selected will exclude classes of individuals. What is critical is finding one that will include the greatest number of people. If we were to fashion the interface after, a kitchen for example, while it may appeal to house wives, it may exclude career women who avoid the kitchen at all costs. When first created reading, writting and math were limited to individuals of high rank and money because they used it to manage their wealth. Though the symbol we use today are rooted in their ideologies, we don't attach the world view that they attached to each symbol. Without their work, we would still be passing stories around campfires, but because everyone could understand management of wealth and resources, eventually these symbols spread to even relatively uneducated people.

Bibliography

Selfe, Cynthia L., and Richard J. Selfe. "The Politics of the Interface: Power and It's Exercise in Electronic Contact Zones." College Composition and Communication 45.4 (1994): 480-504. National Council of Teachers of English. Web. .