CM Text Access home history medium access discourse resources spc Digitized information and remote computer connectivity bring new political, social, ethical and legal issues to the forefront. While smaller publishing functions are decentralized due to desktop authoring tools, large publishers and indexing companines can sell access to information rather than hardbound print copies of texts. This may seem more efficient and environmentally friendly, but the question of ownership looms heavily. However, the efficiency aspect has been employed by the U.S. government over the past two decades with the digitization of government documents for the public. All this digitized information must be translated by technology, though.
Access then becomes a major issue.
Passing through that curtain requires a monetary investment in hardware, software and bandwidth connectivity. Literacy then becomes more than phonics and a full shelf of books. It becomes training, retraining and motivation past fear of the unknown. The Digital Divide Network is an excellent source for more information about technology, literacy and access in the information age.