Scheller Business Insights is a dynamic video series that highlights the innovative thought leadership of the esteemed faculty at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business. At Scheller, we are committed to exploring ideas that educate and inform others about the profound impact of business on our lives and the world.
In this episode, Eric Overby, Catherine and Edwin Wahlen Professor of Information Technology Management, and Sri Narasimhan, Gregory J. Owens Professor of Information Technology, discuss their latest research on whether improving mobile internet service can reduce digital inequality. Digital inequality refers to the gap between individuals or groups regarding their access, use, and skills in digital technologies, including the internet, computers, and smartphones.
Currently, over 90% of adults in the U.S. have internet access (Pew Research Center), but many, including those living in rural areas, from lower incomes, minorities, or lower educational levels, rely solely on smartphones for internet connectivity. This often results in widening socioeconomic divides in areas such as employment, healthcare, social inclusion, and education. During Covid-19, the digital divide became evident as teachers discovered a significant obstacle in learning from those with access to unlimited data versus those without.
Listen in as Overby and Narasimhan discuss how they conducted their research, what they discovered, and their suggestions for mitigating the digital divide.
