Digital Divide

Susannah Fox will present data about the impact of the internet on health and health care to a meeting of the HIT Policy Committee, convened by David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P., National Coordinator...

Just as in offline politics, the well-off and well-educated are especially likely to participate in online activities that mirror offline forms of engagement. But there are hints that social media may alter this pattern.

Broadband adoption increases, but monthly prices do, too.

Participatory medicine is taking hold with both citizens and health professionals. But there are still pockets of people who lack access to the basic technology, lack the skills required to participate, or who may lack the sense that they are welc...

Wireless connectivity has drawn many users more deeply into digital life.

One in ten Americans is living with a rare disorder. The internet can be a vital source of information for people who may never have otherwise met someone else with their disease or condition.

Over half of the adult internet population is between 18 and 44 years old. But larger percentages of older generations are online now than in the past, and they are doing more activities online.

Our May 2008 survey asked dial-up users why they do not have a broadband connection at home and our December 2007 asked non-internet users about the reasons they do not use the internet. This table summarizes the results.

Investment in broadband has become part of the broader discussion about President Obama's economic stimulus package. How easy will it be to increase the pool of broadband subscribers or to encourage existing ones to upgrade their connection speeds?

For a host of reasons, the new administration needs to develop a national broadband strategy but research suggests that users must be central actors in its design.