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<font size=3>Judy,<br><br>
I don't want to launch a debate here. Well, maybe that
wouldn't be so bad... So, here's my take.<br><br>
It's a good release, but I for one would really like to see the
field move away from the term "Digital Divide" for lots of
reasons.<br>
-- too much focus on 'haves' and 'have-nots' starts to sound
paternalistic<br>
-- assumes that the primary 'gap' is around access and we really need to
focus more on 'effective use'<br>
-- implies</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3> that you must
bring people over the divide to technology not bring tech to the
people<br>
</font>-- we need to realize that there are many divides and the digital
one is intertwined with the others (poverty, literacy, education,
language, knowledge, confidence, etc.)<br><br>
I think there has been discussion about this in the past on the AfCN list
and elsewhere. Steve Cisler among others has written about
this.<br><br>
So, could I suggest 'Creating NC's Digital Opportunities' --or is
it too late?<br><br>
--terry<br><br>
<br>
At 10:23 AM 2/10/2004 -0500, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Do you see any problems with this
news release? -- Judy<br><br>
FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 12, 2004<br><br>
Contact:<br>
Judy Hallman<br>
919-933-3931<br>
E-mail: hallman@rtpnet.org<br>
Conference Web site:
<a href="http://www.rtpnet.org/conf" eudora="autourl">www.rtpnet.org/conf</a><br><br>
Conference on Bridging NC's Digital Divide<br><br>
Chapel Hill, NC - Effective use of Information Technology is necessary
to<br>
succeed, particularly in today's challenging economy. There is a
gap<br>
between those people and communities who can make effective use of<br>
information technology and those who cannot.<br><br>
RTPnet's 5th Annual Conference, March 19, 2004, at the William and
Ida<br>
Friday Center in Chapel Hill, will focus on the wide variety of
programs<br>
aimed at bridging North Carolina's Digital/Human Divide. Individuals
and<br>
representatives of nonprofit and social services groups that
provide<br>
access to computers and training are encouraged to attend, as well
as<br>
educators, librarians, computer specialists, and representatives of<br>
grant-making foundations, who want to learn how they can contribute
to<br>
this effort. This event provides an opportunity to build a personal<br>
network of people and organizations active in using computers and
Internet<br>
technology to build a better, stronger community in North Carolina
and<br>
beyond.<br><br>
For the first time, RTPnet Community Technology Awards will be
presented<br>
at the conference. These awards recognize and honor individuals,<br>
organizations, institutions, and businesses that have made
significant<br>
contributions to North Carolina communities in the area of information
and<br>
computer technology. Nominations for the 2004 RTPnet Community
Technology<br>
Awards will be accepted through February 23, 2004.<br><br>
Conference highlights include:<br>
- Online Fundraising Strategies<br>
- Learning Technologies<br>
- What Role for Wireless?<br>
- Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools: Lessons Learned<br>
- WinstonNet: Building a Community-Based Technology
Infrastructure<br>
- Meeting Needs for
Recycling<x-tab> </x-tab>`<x-tab> </x-tab>``<br>
- Future for NC Information Infrastructure Networks<br>
- Tech LinkUp: Linking technology needs and resources to
support<br>
nonprofit organizations<br>
- Drawing for Door Prizes (including an IBM ThinkPad R30
Laptop,<br>
Model 2656-20U)<br>
- Community Technology Awards Reception<br><br>
RTPnet is a community network for the Triangle area
(<a href="http://www.rtpnet.org/" eudora="autourl">www.rtpnet.org</a>).
For<br>
conference information visit
<a href="http://www.rtpnet.org/conf/" eudora="autourl">www.rtpnet.org/conf/</a>
or e-mail<br>
info@rtpnet.org. For awards information and a link to the nomination form,<br>
visit <a href="http://www.rtpnet.org/awards/" eudora="autourl">www.rtpnet.org/awards/</a>.<br><br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
rtpnet-tact mailing list<br>
rtpnet-tact@rtpnet.org<br>
<a href="http://www.rtpnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rtpnet-tact" eudora="autourl">http://www.rtpnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rtpnet-tact</a> </blockquote>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
Terry Grunwald<br>
Making the Net Work<br>
Raleigh NC <br>
Voice: 919-846-8899 <br>
Fax: 919-846-2244<br>
terry@makingthenetwork.org<br>
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