Page 3 - 2006

Hello, all tics and learning curves involved! Then think about

The novel Coronavirus has affected the lives of the same scenario being repeated virtually every-
Americans in many ways. Our routines have been where across the United States, differing only in
disrupted, we may have been required to take on degree. (Many rural areas have their own prob-
new roles and our households may be crowded, lems, with slow or no Internet service and weak or
with everyone there at the same time 24X7. Since no wireless service.)
we are a computer club, let’s take a look at the tech- As individuals, businesses, governments, and or-
nology side of this new world…. ganizations scramble to upgrade their technology to
Have you heard the term “Digital Divide” before? If meet these new demands, shortages are popping
not, here is Wikipedia’s definition: “A digital di- up for all sorts of tech gear. The shutdown of tech-
vide is any uneven distribution in the access to, use nology companies in China and other overseas
of, or impact of Information and Communication manufacturing locations has compounded the prob-
Technologies (ICT) between any number of distinct lem. Pickings are slim for some items, or custom-
groups.” Think computers, Internet service, ers may face long lead times. And, as so often
smartphones, wireless service, cable TV and all the happens with scarcity, prices are rising.
associated technologies and products. Not only are (Continued on page 5)
there big differences in the access to, use of and
impact of these products and services between
countries, we also have significant differences be-
tween U.S. citizens – depending on their location,
wealth, age, and education.
These differences have become more evident as
COVID-19 spreads across America. Some employ-
ees are fortunate enough to have all the tech tools
and access they need to work from home already
installed in their home; others who must work at
home may be provided with a computer and/or other
tech gear by their employer, but are facing slow (or
no) home Internet service. Ditto for their kids; one-
third of Chicago Public School students were forced
to start remote learning (when CPS closed the
schools) without access to a computer in their
home. As a result, CPS is in the process of pur-
chasing and loaning over 115,000 computers to De-Borah Sirilla
these students to fill this gap. Good news? Sort of;
but many of those students have no access to Inter- Phil Bock
net service. CPS is now working with Comcast to
secure free Internet service for the balance of the Gary Quarnstrom
school year for those students. Good news? Sort
of; but an estimated 17,000 CPS students are
homeless! So, CPS is purchasing mobile hotspots
for those students to use. Just think about the logis-

June 2020 3