School of Information Technology Murdoch University
Abstract
Heightened attention to technological diffusion and informational inequalities is of\ud
particular societal concern, given the increasing mediation of everyday life whereby\ud
web-based initiatives abound and an increasing amount of information on critical\ud
human services including education and healthcare are online or only available online.\ud
As Cheong and Martin (2009) note, the digital divide is a significant, multi-layered access\ud
challenge for institutions of higher education worldwide as they embark on e or distance\ud
learning programs, including the incorporation of virtual course management systems.\ud
Kreps (2006) also notes that the digital divide is an important health communication\ud
problem as new technologies can help underserved populations retrieve relevant health\ud
information, yet exacerbate disparities by reducing access to those most at risk for poor\ud
health outcomes