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Background

The proliferation of computing is expanding very quickly, and not all countries, especially developing countries, are able to keep up with the constant changes. The term "digital divide" doesn't necessarily mean that someone does not have computing/technology; it could mean that there is simply a difference in the computing capabilities and technology to which they have access. These differences can refer to, for example, high-quality computers, fast Internet, technical assistance, or telephone services. The difference between all of these is also considered a gap.

The Global Digital Divide is a special case of the digital divide. It is based in part on different rates of technology development. Guillen and Suarez state: "The Internet has developed unevenly throughout the world" [4]; with this being illustrated in the figure below. This discrepency in development has caused some countries to fall behind in technology, education, labor, democracy, and tourism. The concept of the digital divide was originally popularized in regard to the disparity in Internet access between rural and urban areas of the United States of America; the global digital divide mirrors this disparity on an international scale.

The global digital divide also contributes to the inequality of access to goods and services available through technology. Computers and the Internet provide users with improved education, which can lead to higher wages; the people living in nations with limited access are therefore disadvantaged. This global divide is often characterized as falling along what is sometimes called the north-south divide of "northern" wealthier nations and "southern" poorer ones.

Many argue that basic necessities need to be considered before achieving digital inclusion, such as an ample food supply and quality health care. Minimizing the global digital divide requires considering and addressing the following types of access: