Hip hop culture has global acceptance and any corporation worth its stock option understands that “globality” drives complexity and complexity makes dollars and cents.
Will Wireless Technology Bridge the Digital Divide?
By Olayinka Arowolo, MBA
ATLANTA (January 21, 2006) -- The term "digital divide" describes the perceived growing gap between those who have access to and the skills to use technological devices and those who, for socio-economic and/or geographical reasons, have limited or no access. This definition is derived from ever evolving economic factors that cause the separation of those with means and those without. Wireless technology as seen and observed in common everyday devices are generally used in mobile IT equipment. It encompasses cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDA's), and wireless networking via lap top computers. As technology becomes cheaper, more efficient, and more competitive, the technological divide will loose its definition and basis in the global market space.
How? The technological divide in black America was and to some extent still is a major roadblock with regards to technological education, development and advancement in the black community primarily due to a lack of access. With regards to cellular phone technology, the expansion of wireless systems in black economies of scale is bridging the gap and proving extremely profitable for cellular corporations with aggressive technological investment agendas in black America.
Confused? The cell phone industry is a resounding example of this fact. Not only is this industry a driving force in bridging the technological divide via its products, it re-invests millions annually back into black music, culture and trends using these as a basis of key marketing and technological choices. Still confused? Well, the ring tone business is a 4 billion dollar a year business with a resounding 78% of downloaded tones being black hip hop music. It is thus in this industries best interest to invest in a culture and community that is key in driving revenue. .
The “gap” in terms of digital technologies - is closing very quickly unfortunately not because of PC penetration, but because of mobile phone technologies. Computer integration is a more superior and necessary educational indispensable life tool and its complete acceptance and integration in the black community would be more valuable. The divide still exists on an economic basis for the rollout of expensive infrastructures that PCs require. Communities that can’t afford or maintain these infrastructures have a chance to now completely eradicate the divide as wireless devices evolve and gain relevance.
A paradigm shift from PCs to laptops will develop as cell phones did with regards to hard line phones. A revolutionary roll out of laptops as seen in the case of cell phone technologies will follow allowing people with less means more access and ability to incorporate computer technology into their everyday lives. The corporations and service providers in charge of wireless access will incorporate laptop accessibility into their marketing agendas to drive their subscription sales; and as competition bottlenecks in major markets they are bound to go black trumping their way into minority markets. Poorer communities will take on a different scene as every other person will own a laptop as opposed to just cell phones.
Olayinka Arowolo is president of Atlanta-based Aroviz Online and Associates, LLC. Aroviz is a provider of video mail and audition automation software platforms.
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