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In today's digital age, access to computers and the internet is increasingly crucial for obtaining information, education, and employment opportunities. However, a significant digital divide persists, particularly among individuals from low-income communities who often lack training in using ICTs (Information and Communications Technology) and understanding their potential for personal growth. This disparity results in limited access to essential services, diminished
economic opportunities, and social exclusion.
The objective of this project is to design a service that encourages users to harness the internet for personal development by offering incentives. This service aims to bridge the digital divide and empower individuals to access vital resources and opportunities for a better future.
Insights | Existing initiatives
Numerous efforts have been made worldwide to provide access to computers and the internet. One of the most common approaches is through public libraries, where many offer free access to computers and the internet. These facilities typically have designated computer stations with time limits, and some even provide training and support for digital
literacy. Government initiatives, such as Common Service Centers (CSCs), have been a collaborative effort between the government and village entrepreneurs. The National Digital Library of India (NDLI) is another initiative that provides access to reading resources. Additionally, there have been privately funded initiatives, like Google's Railwire, which have made the internet more accessible in public spaces.
Insights | Smartphone Penetration in India
The adoption rate of smartphones has been continuously increasing since 2015 when there were 220 million users, and in 2021, the number of users reached 500 million. Smartphones have become the primary means of accessing the internet for most people. However, during the pandemic and post-pandemic period, the adoption rate has reduced due to factors such as people losing jobs and the chip shortage increasing the prices of all electronics. Besides affordability, the adoption of smartphones is also hindered by language barriers, as most of the internet is still in English. If the target audience is a person who doesn’t have access to any of the Information communication technologies smartphone or computer, then the chances of them adopting to a smartphone are much higher than a computer/laptop, as onboarding of a smartphone is much easier, they are affordable and easy to maintain and offer more functionality.
Applications Reducing Divide
WhatsApp significantly reduces the digital divide by offering easy access, multilingual support by allowing user to record a audio message than typing. As a communication platform, it catered to personal needs and it has enabled small business owners to increase their reach. UPI has transformed money transfers, becoming a widely adopted method for daily transactions. Its convenience has led some to forgo cash entirely, prompting small B2C businesses to embrace UPI to stay competitive in an increasingly cashless market.
Insights | Contributors to Digital Divide
Geography and inadequate infrastructure contribute significantly to the digital divide, making it challenging to provide internet access, particularly in rural areas. Government efforts like Common Service Centers (CSCs) involve collaboration between the public and private sectors, but are often limited to urban populations. BharatNet, another joint effort, aims to bring fiber-based connectivity to the gram panchayat level, further bridging the gap.
Affordability has been an issue in past but currently access has been on the rise, but the recent
chip shortage has slowed down the smartphone market's consistent growth. As smartphone penetration
in India is projected to reach 90% of households, access to ICTs is becoming increasingly
widespread.
Lack of training and onboarding presents a significant barrier to fully utilizing technology. Many metaphors used in applications are irrelevant to the Indian context, which makes onboarding more difficult for new users. Ensuring effective training and onboarding can help user overcome these barriers and make better use of digital technology for personal growth and development.
Lack of Motivation has been a crucial factor, While using ICTs for personal entertainment is common and easily accessible, it's essential to motivate and educate users about the vast array of opportunities and resources available for personal growth and development.
Research conclusion
Presently, government efforts are primarily focused on expanding internet access through initiatives like BharatNet. As smartphones gain widespread acceptance and most households have access to these devices, the more pressing challenge lies in training and motivating users to utilize them for personal growth.
The major factors contributing to the digital divide include inadequate training and a lack of understanding of how technology can be effectively used. Merely providing access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is insufficient; proper guidance on leveraging ICTs for personal development must be emphasized.
Additionally, language and cultural barriers hinder adoption, as the semiotics used in technology may not resonate with the Indian audience. Overcoming these obstacles is crucial for fostering greater digital inclusivity.
Problem Identified
Merely having access to smartphones does not guarantee their use for personal development. As social media and other entertainment platforms are more readily available, valuable resources such as fintech, edtech, and government initiatives often get
overshadowed or sidelined.
Design Brief
The primary objective of this project is to create a nonprofit service that effectively encourages users to leverage smartphones and the internet to foster personal growth and development.
Target user
The target users for this service would be individuals who have access to smartphone and internet. They may be unaware of or aware but not implementing the available services for their development.
Ideation insights
Registering and applying for government initiatives and programs, along with signing up for educational training is expected from new users getting access to internet.
Forcing the user by making it a compulsion to use internet for personal development is not going to work as many learnings and development can come through indirect sources like social media groups or a YouTube channel. Use of internet is highly diverse with several platforms having grey sides, for example WhatsApp is a common channel used to spread fake news, but at same time it has contributed a lot to development by connecting small businesses to diverse opportunity and conduct their businesses through WhatsApp.
Further internet is a space which is public and using it for entertainment is a personal choice which shouldn’t be discouraged.
Providing a incentive to use internet for personal development is a better direction to take. The incentive can be provided in form of discount on the internet service itself creating a loop where if the internet is used for growth then it can be free or with discount.
Service Design
A government Internet subsidy scheme, designed to incentivize users to engage with educational and government services, could be an effective approach to bridge the digital divide. Users could apply for the
subsidy by using their phone numbers to access initiatives like the Swayam platform, government e-markets, and applying for essential identification documents like Aadhaar and Voter ID.
By integrating APIs among these initiatives and the subsidy scheme, progress tracking can be implemented. Based on the user's engagement with these services, the subsidy could offer a discount on their Internet usage. The government would then compensate the Internet Service Provider (ISP) for the discounted amount, ensuring the user benefits from more affordable access to vital digital resources and services.
This approach could encourage more individuals to utilize digital platforms for personal growth, education, and civic participation, thus reducing the digital divide and fostering digital literacy.
Annexure
Existing Initiatives
https://egovindia.wordpress.com/2006/06/23/community-information-
centre-cic-from-wikipedia-the-free-encyclopedia/
https://www.readermaster.com/tamilnadu-free-laptop-scheme/
https://www.tsfi.org/en/our-missions/bridging-the-digital-divide
https://www.zdnet.com/article/sao-paulo-public-wi-fi-scheme-will-be-40-cheaper/
https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/25/linknycs-free-wifi-
and-phone-kiosks-hit-london-as-linkuk-in-partnership-with-bt/
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index-.php/2021/06/isp-bt-launch-next-gen-uk-wifi-street-hub-kiosks-with-5g-boost.html
Smartphone Penetration in India
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1229799/india-smartphone-
penetrationrate/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20the%20penetration%20rate,India%20was%20around%20149.7%20million
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64293857
https://www.techcircle.in/2022/02/22/internet-demand-in-rural-
areas-to-boost-india-to-1bn-smartphone-users-by-2026
Applications Reducing Divide
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/chutta-nahi-hai-how-upi-is-killing-toffee-business-11665720418470.html
https://pib.gov.in/FeaturesDeatils.aspxNoteId=151163&ModuleId%20=%202
Chapter 17 WhatsApp's Role in Aiding Emerging Business Innovations - Priyanka Jain
https://www.defindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Prelude-
to-the-Digital-Future.pdf
Contributors to Digital Divide
https://www.financialexpress.com/business/blockchain-indiasmartphone-shipments-q1-2022-xiaomi-samsung-apple-2510849/
https://www.defindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Prelude-
to-the-Digital-Future.pdf
(Let’s create digital value systems by Osama Manzar)
(The making of digital India by Abhishek Singh)
(The Creation of a Digital Value System | Amit Bhatia)
Book reffered - Next billion users - Digital life beyond the west by
Payal Arora
Guidance from Prasad Bartakke (CXO & Co-founder YUJDesigns)
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