Revision as of 09:34, 8 December 2006 edit 212.219.112.250 (talk) →Digital divide in the context of e-democracy		Revision as of 07:53, 15 July 2007 edit 203.125.122.2 (talk) →Population growth rate
Line 1: [[Image:Bangladesh-demography.png\|thumb\|300px\|right\|Total population of Bangladesh, 1961-2003, in thousands. Source: [[FAO]]]] The '''digital divide''' is the gap between those with regular, effective access to [[Digital\|digital technologies]] and those without. In other words, those who are able to use technology to their own benefit and those who are not. [[Bangladesh]] is [[Ethnic group\|ethnically]] homogeneous. Indeed its name derives from the [[Bengali]] ethnic and linguistic group which comprises 98% of the population. Bengalis, who are also present in large number in the [[West Bengal]] province of [[India]] are one of the most populous ethnic groups in the world. Variations in Bengali culture and language do exist of course. There are many dialects of Bengali spoken throughout the country. The dialect spoken by those in [[Sylhet]] is particularly distinctive. The most significant minorities are the [[Urdu]] speaking [[Biharis]] around [[Dhaka]], [[Rangpur]] and elsewhere and various tribal groups such as the [[Chakma]] concentrated in the [[Chittagong Hill Tracts]]. The Biharis emigrated from the Indian province of [[Bihar]] during the 1947 [[partition of India]]. In the 1971 independence struggle they supported West Pakistan, and those that remained became [[Stranded Pakistanis\|refugees]]. [[Refugees International]] has called them a neglected and stateless people as they are denied citizenship and much of the 300,000 of them live in refugee camps, many being born there.<ref>[http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/publication/detail/7828/ Refugees of Nowhere: The Stateless Biharis of Bangladesh], Refugees International, 2006-02-15</ref> ~~==Background==~~ The divide is related to [[social inclusion]] and [[Equal opportunity\|equality of opportunity]]. It is seen as a social/political problem and has become increasingly relevant as the [[Developed country\|industrialized nations]] have become more dependent on digital technologies in their democratic and economic processes. Larry Irving, a former [[United States]] Assistant [[United States Secretary of Commerce\|Secretary of Commerce]] and technology adviser to the [[Bill Clinton\|Clinton Administration]], made the term digital divide popular in a series of reports in the mid 1990's. The digital divide results from the [[socio-economic]] differences between communities that in turn affects their access to digital information mainly but not exclusively through the Internet. Broadly speaking, the difference is not necessarily determined by the size or depth of the user group. Any digital media that different segments of society can use, can become the subject of a digital divide. The [[religions]] practiced in the region have changed significantly through history. At various times in the distance past, [[Buddhism]] and [[Hinduism]] were each the dominant religions. The [[Partition of India\|1947 partition]] of Bengal along religious lines augmented the existing [[Sunni]] [[Muslim]] majority in the region. The most recent estimate of religious makeup from the 2001 census reported that the population was 89.58% Muslim, 9.34% Hindu, 0.62% Buddhist, 0.31% Christian and 0.15% Animist. [http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/census/bang_atg.pdf] .<ref name="bbs">[http://www.bbs.gov.bd/ Bangladesh Burueau of Statistics]</ref><ref name="cia_error">The CIA World Factbook's figures are apparently in error because they are incoherent. The 1990-1996 and 2001-2007 editions report 83% Muslim and 16% Hindu, but the 1997-2000 editions (as well as the 2005 Background Note from the US State Department) give Muslim 88.3%, Hindu 10.5%.</ref> About [[Demographics of Islam\|5%]] of the Muslims (and most of the Biharis) are [[Shia]]. ~~==Dimensions of the divide==~~ The digital divide is not a clear single gap that divides a society into two groups. Researchers report that disadvantages can take such forms as lower-performance computers, lower-quality or high-priced connections (i.e. [[narrowband]] or [[dialup]] connections), difficulty in obtaining of the Internet and technological advances in developing economies. Many people can get low cost access in local [[Internet Cafe]]s, but the evidence still suggest that people are much more likely to make regular use of an Internet connection at home than anywhere else.<ref>[http://www.citizensonline.org.uk/statistics 'Statistics' ''CitizensOnline.org.uk'' (2006)]. Retrieved [[27 August]] 2006.</ref> Today the discussion is moving from the technologies themselves to skills and literacy. Training people in computer skills entails teaching them to read and write first and then how to search and use information effectively but regular practice and the access to practice will still be a limiting factor. As in neighboring India, more than half of the population lives in [[agrarian]] rural villages. But urbanization is proceeding rapidly and the capitol [[Dhaka]] is one of the fastest growing and largest cities in the world. Other major urban centers include [[Chittagong]] and [[Khulna]]. Another key dimension of the Digital Divide is the [[global digital divide]], reflecting existing economic divisions in the world. This global digital divide widens the gap in economic divisions around the world. Countries with a wide availability of internet access can advance the economics of that country on a local and global scale. In today's society, jobs and education are directly related to the internet. In countries where the internet and other technologies are not accessible, education is suffering, and uneducated people cannot compete in our global economy. This leads to poor countries suffering greater economic downfall and richer countries advancing their education and economy. The digital divide is a term used to refer to the gap between people who have access to the internet (The information haves) and those that do not (The information have nots). It can also refer to the skills people have – the divide between people who are at ease using technology to access and analyse information and those who are not. <ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&srt=npan&col=aohdq&geo=-29 \| publisher = World Gazetteer \| title = Bangladesh: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population \| accessdate = 2006-07-28 }}</ref> The least densely populated areas are in the [[Sundarbans]] jungle and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bangladesh had one of the highest rates of population growth in the world in the 1960's and 1970's. Since then however it has seen a marked reduction in its total [[fertility rate]], from 6.2 thirty years ago to 3.2 (2003 UNDP figures). ~~==Related Issues==~~ ~~Other issues include the following:~~ [[gender issues]] [[disability\|disability issues]] role of [[language]] cultural inequality regarding the content available on the World Wide Web the role of educators in reducing the digital divide in the classroom ==Demographic data from the CIA World Factbook== ~~The [[United Nations]] is aiming to raise awareness of the divide by way of the [[World Information Society Day]] which takes place yearly on [[May 17]].~~ [[Image:Bangladesh population pyramid 2005.png\|thumb\|300px\|[[Population pyramid]] of Bangladesh]] ===Population=== :150,448,339 (July 2007 est.) :124,355,263 (2001 Census) ~~==National interest and social benefit==~~ ~~There are a variety of arguments about why closing the digital divide is important. The major arguments are as follows:~~ ===Age structure=== # '''Economic equality''': Some think that access to the Internet is a basic component of civil life that some developed countries aim to guarantee for their citizens. Telephone service is often considered important for the reasons of security. Health, criminal, and other types of emergencies may indeed be handled better if the person in trouble has access to a telephone. Also important seems to be the fact that much vital information for education, career, civic life, safety, etc. is increasingly provided via the Internet, especially on the web. Even social welfare services are sometimes administered and offered electronically. :0-14 years: 32.9% (male 24,957,997/female 23,533,894) # '''Social mobility''': If computers and computer networks play an increasingly important role in continued learning and career advancement, then education should integrate technology in a meaningful way to better prepare students. Without such offerings, the existing digital divide disfavors children of lower socio-economic status, particularly in light of research showing that schools serving these students in the USA usually utilize technology for remediation and skills drilling due to poor performance on standardized tests rather than for more imaginative and educationally demanding applications. :15-64 years: 63.6% (male 47,862,774/female 45,917,674) # '''Social equality''': As education integrate technology, Societies such as in the developing world should also integrate technology to improve the girl-child life. This will reduce the gender inequalities. Access to information through internet and other communication tools will improve her life chances and enable her to compete globally with her Contemporaries even in the comfort of her rural settings. :65 years and over: 3.5% (male 2,731,578/female 2,361,435) (2006 est.) # '''Democracy''': Use of the Internet has implications for democracy. This varies from simple abilities to search and access government information to more ambitious visions of increased public participation in elections and decision making processes. Direct participation (Athenian democracy) is sometimes referred to in this context as a model. # '''Economic growth''': The development of information infrastructure and active use of it is inextricably linked to economic growth. Information technologies in general tend to be associated with productivity improvements even though this can be debatable in some circumstances. The exploitation of the latest technologies is widely believed to be a source of competitive advantage and the technology industries themselves provide economic benefits to the usually highly educated populations that support them. The broad goal of developing the information economy involves some form of policies addressing the digital divide in many countries with an increasingly greater portion of the domestic labor force working in information industries. ===Median age=== :Total: 22.2 years :Male: 22.2 years :Female: 22.2 years (2006 est.) ===Population growth rate=== :3.09% (2006 est.) ===Birth rate=== ~~== Overcoming the digital divide by FLOSS software and Open access to knowledge ==~~ :29.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) Many devotees of the [[Open content]], [[FLOSS]] and [[Open access]] movement hope that the outcome of their activities will help or has already helped decrease the digital divide. Projects like [[One Laptop per Child]] aim to reduce the digital divide, yet they would hardly be possible without the existence of open standards and free open source software. ===Death rate=== ~~== External links==~~ :8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) [http://medianet.kent.edu/techreports/TR2006-02-01-UGC-REN-K.pdf REN and Bangladesh] Digital Divide via Divided Higher Education [http://medianet.kent.edu/techreports/TR2006-02-02-UGC-DLC-K.pdf University Libraries in Bangladesh] With and Without Digital Library Access [http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/c/3/topics.asp The Pew Internet & American Life Project] tracks internet usage in the United States. Their 5/28/2006 report found a 40% increase in broadband usage from 2005 to 2006, mostly among 'middle' Americans. [http://www.digitaldivide.net Digital Divide Network] [http://www.ctcnet.org Community Technology Centers' Network] [http://www.alcatel.com/publications/abstract.jhtml?repositoryItem=tcm%3A172-61861635 Bridging the digital divide: An opportunity for growth for the 21st century] Strategy White Paper [http://www.euractiv.com/en/infosociety/bridging-digital-divide-eu-policies/article-132315 EU policies] EurActiv.com [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-11/15/content_3781261.htm EU study reveals big digital divide in Europe] [[Xinhua]]. 2005-11-15. [http://www.itu.int/wsis/ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)] [http://everyschool.org/u/scu/ddivideworld/ A Site on The Digital Divide] [http://www.digaria.com Digaria] Digital Divide Project of Rotary International's International Fellowship of Digital Technology Rotarians [http://torinmonahan.com/papers/ANALOG_DIVIDE.PDF The Analog Divide: Technology Practices in Public Education.] (Research article) [http://www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/mtc/index.asp The Information Society - The way to equitable globalisation and development?] News reports and features by IPS Inter Press Service [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Information_and_Communication_Technologies_for_Poverty_Alleviation/ Information and Communication Technologies for Poverty Alleviation] ==~~See~~=Net ~~also~~migration rate=== :-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) ~~[[Knowledge divide]]~~ ===Sex ratio=== :At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female :Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female :15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female :65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/female :Total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.) ===Infant mortality rate=== :Total: 60.83 deaths/1,000 live births :Male: 61.87 deaths/1,000 live births :Female: 59.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) ===Life expectancy at birth=== :Total population: 62.46 years :Male: 62.47 years :Female: 62.45 years (2006 est.) ===Total fertility rate=== :3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.) ===HIV/AIDS=== :Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.) :People living with HIV/AIDS: 13,000 (2001 est.) :Deaths: 650 (2001 est.) ===Major infectious diseases=== :Degree of risk: high :Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever :Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations :Water contact disease: leptospirosis :Animal contact disease: rabies (2005) ===Nationality=== :Noun: Bangladeshi(s) :Adjective: Bangladeshi ===Ethnic groups=== :Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998) ===Religions=== :Muslim - 89.58%, Hindu - 9.34%, Boudhists - 0.62%, Christian - 0.31% and Animists - 0.15% (2001 Census) [http://www.bbs.gov.bd/dataindex/census/bang_atg.pdf] :Muslim - 88.31%, Hindu 10.52%, Boudhists - 0.58%, Christian - 0.33% and Animist - 0.26% (1991 census) :Muslim - 86.65%, Hindu - 12.13%, Boudhists - 0.62%, Christian - 0.31%, Animist - 0.29% (1981 Census) ===Languages=== :Bangla (official, also known as Bengali) ===Literacy=== :Definition: age 15 and over can read and write :Total population: 43.1% :Male: 53.9% :Female: 31.8% (2003 est.) ==Other demographic data== Naturally there is some degree of uncertainty about the population, especially in a developing country such as Bangladesh with a high level of illiteracy and rural population. Thus the margin of error is such that in 2005 it was unknown which of Bangladesh and [[Russia]] has the larger population. For example the UN's ESA ranked Russia 7th and Bangladesh 8th, whereas the CIA World Factbook ranked Bangladesh 7th and Russia 8th. At any rate, the population of Russia is in decline while that of Bangladesh is growing. Most rankings in 2007 now show Bangladesh to be larger. The following table lists various recent estimates of the population. {\|class="wikitable" \|- \| Source \| align="center" \| Year \| align="center" \| Population (millions) \|- \| National Census<ref name="bbs"/> \| align="center" \| 1991 \| align="center" \| 112 \|- \| National Census<ref name="bbs"/> \| align="center" \| 2001 \| align="center" \| 129 \|- \| UN Population Fund<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.unfpa.org/profile/bangladesh.cfm \| publisher = [[United Nations Population Fund]] \| title = Indicators: Bangladesh \| accessdate = 2006-07-28}}</ref> \| align="center" \| 2003 \| align="center" \| 150 \|- \| UN Dept Economic and Social Affairs<ref>Medium fertility variant, {{cite web \| url = http://esa.un.org/unpp/ \| title = World Population Prospects: 2004 Revision \| publisher = UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs}}</ref> \| align="center" \| 2005 \| align="center" \| 142 \|- \| US State Dept<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3452.htm \| publisher = [[U.S. Department of State]] \| title = Background Note: Bangladesh \| date = 2005-08}}</ref> \| align="center" \| 2005 \| align="center" \| 144 \|- \| Population Reference Bureau<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.prb.org/TemplateTop.cfm?Section=PRB_Country_Profiles&template=/customsource/countryprofile/countryprofiledisplay.cfm&Country=395 \| publisher = Population Reference Bureau \| title = Country Profiles: Bangladesh \| accessdate = 2006-07-28}}</ref> \| align="center" \| 2005 \| align="center" \| 144 \|- \| CIA World FactBook<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2006/geos/bg.html#People \| publisher = CIA \| title = CIA World Factbook 2006 }}</ref> \| align="center" \| 2006 \| align="center" \| 147 \|- \| UN Population Fund<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2006/english/notes/indicators/e_indicator2.pdf \| publisher = United Nations Population Fund \| title = State of World Population 2006 }}</ref> \| align="center" \| 2006 \| align="center" \| 144 \|- \| CIA World FactBook<ref>{{cite web \| url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bg.html#People \| publisher = CIA \| title = CIA World Factbook 2007 }}</ref> \| align="center" \| 2007 \| align="center" \| 150 \|- \| UN<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2006/wpp2006_highlights.pdf \| publisher = UN \| title = World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision}}</ref> \| align="center" \| 2007 \| align="center" \| 159 \|} ==References== {{CIA WFB 2006}} ~~<references/>~~ *{{StateDept}} <!-- ---------------------------------------------------------- ~~==External links==~~ See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for a ~~{{Wikibooks\|The Information Age}}~~ discussion of different citation methods and how to generate ~~{{Wikibooks\|Information and Communication Technologies for Poverty Alleviation}}~~ footnotes using the <ref>, </ref> and <reference /> tags ~~{{Wikibooks\|Internet Governance}}~~ ----------------------------------------------------------- --> <div class="references-small"> <references /> </div> {{Asia in topic\|Demographics of}} {{Asia topic\|Ethnic groups in}} [[Category:~~Technology~~Demographics inby ~~society~~country\|Bangladesh]] [[Category:~~Nonprofit~~Bangladeshi ~~technology~~society]] [[fr:Démographie du Bangladesh]] ~~[[ar:فجوة الكترونية]]~~ ~~[[ca:Fractura digital]]~~ ~~[[de:Digitale Kluft]]~~ ~~[[es:Brecha digital]]~~ ~~[[fr:Fracture numérique]]~~ ~~[[ko:정보격차]]~~ ~~[[it:Digital divide]]~~ ~~[[he:הפער הדיגיטלי]]~~ ~~[[mk:Дигитален јаз]]~~ ~~[[nl:Digitale kloof]]~~ ~~[[ja:情報格差]]~~ ~~[[pl:Wykluczenie cyfrowe]]~~ ~~[[ru:Цифровой барьер]]~~ ~~[[zh:數位落差]]~~

Digital divide and Demographics of Bangladesh: Difference between pages