How to overcome the digital divide? An empirical study of Taiwan’s DOCs
| Published date | 19 September 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AJIM-03-2016-0036 |
| Pages | 628-642 |
| Date | 19 September 2016 |
| Author | Cheng-Min Chao,Tai-Kuei Yu |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance,Information management |
How to overcome the digital
divide? An empirical study of
Taiwan’s DOCs
Cheng-Min Chao
National Taichung University of Science and Technology,
Taichung City, Taiwan, and
Tai-Kuei Yu
National Quemoy University, Kinmen Hsien, Taiwan
Abstract
Purpose –The digital divide is a concern, as the inequality of information access might have
significant influences on social development and quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to examine
the perceived benefit of Digital Opportunity Centers (DOCs) programs on remote area participants
from the perspective of computer anxiety and personal information ability.
Design/methodology/approach –The Taiwanese Government has built DOCs in remote areas to
provide information technology (IT) training and learning programs to citizens residing in these areas.
DOC program participants in Taiwan voluntarily completed a self-report questionnaire; the authors
received 2,105 completed questionnaires, with a response rate of 84.2 percent. This research used
partial least-squares (PLS) to empirical the research model.
Findings –Using PLS, the results show that information and communication technology ability
influences the perceived benefit of DOC programs; computer anxiety has significantly negative effects
on package software use, internet use, and IT usefulness; and internet use and IT usefulness have
positive effects on perceived benefits.
Originality/value –IT is continuously advancing, but digital resources are still lacking within
remote areas. DOCs provide citizens different types of learning experiences related to economic, social,
and educational development. DOC programs provide participants with opportunities to obtain and
improve basic IT knowledge and abilities and decreasing the digital divide.
Keywords Information and communication technology, Computer anxiety,
Digital opportunity centers (DOCs), Information technology ability,
Information technology usefulness, Internet usage
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Over the past several years, information and communication technology (ICT), internet
technology, and computers have fostered economic growth and social progress, as they
have become an inseparable part of our daily and educational lives. ICTs are
considered by many development agencies to be critical to achieve socio-economic
progress for developing countries and aiding disadvantaged groups (Lin et al., 2015).
In recent years, more and better ICTs have been adopted in international, social and
economic fields and have become a strong force of social development. Therefore,
information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) issues have
received considerable attention. ICT4D refers to the use of ICTs in the fields of
socio-economic development, international development, and human rights (Lin et al.,
2015; Heeks, 2010; Prakash and De’, 2007). ICT4D requires an understanding of
community development, poverty, agriculture, healthcare, and basic education (Chib
and Harris, 2012). The main point of ICT4D is to help disadvantaged populations
Aslib Journal of Information
Management
Vol. 68 No. 5, 2016
pp. 628-642
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
2050-3806
DOI 10.1108/AJIM-03-2016-0036
Received 28 March 2016
Revised 29 May 2016
Accepted 11 July 2016
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2050-3806.htm
628
AJIM
68,5
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