getting it together: a review of from access to outcomes a morino institute working papera morino...

Getting It Together: A Review of From Access to Outcomes A Morino Institute Working PaperA Morino Institute Working Paper Morino Intstitute, 2001Morino Intstitute, 2001

Introduction The Morino Institute believes that the real focus should be not providing access to technology but to focus on applying technology to improve the lives of poor, struggling people.The Morino Institute believes that the real focus should be not providing access to technology but to focus on applying technology to improve the lives of poor, struggling people. Most of the efforts at closing the digital divide gap have focused on providing low-income communities with computers and Internet connections.Most of the efforts at closing the digital divide gap have focused on providing low-income communities with computers and Internet connections.

Morino wants you to ask yourself these questions: Are we investing for technologys sake, or are we investing with real outcomes in mind?Are we investing for technologys sake, or are we investing with real outcomes in mind? Are the intended outcomes only what outsiders think the community might want, or are they in fact what the people living there see as a top priority?Are the intended outcomes only what outsiders think the community might want, or are they in fact what the people living there see as a top priority? Do we have a realistic appreciation for the challenges low-income communities face?Do we have a realistic appreciation for the challenges low-income communities face? Will our investments produce real results, or are they only there to satisfy our philanthropic desires?Will our investments produce real results, or are they only there to satisfy our philanthropic desires?

Collective Will If all the various interests in solving the digital divide issue where to come together and draw from that collective will, we can provide a powerful push to help the United States respond to the opportunities that technology offers low-income communities.If all the various interests in solving the digital divide issue where to come together and draw from that collective will, we can provide a powerful push to help the United States respond to the opportunities that technology offers low-income communities.

Ultimately the great test will be not the number of computers a nation has, but how we empower people to help themselves and their families.

1. Focus on Narrowing Social Divides Due to the ever widening socioeconomic gap, large gaps in technology have also developed.Due to the ever widening socioeconomic gap, large gaps in technology have also developed. We should refrain from focusing on the technological divide and pay more attention to the social differences, remembering that there is no easy way to fix the social divide.We should refrain from focusing on the technological divide and pay more attention to the social differences, remembering that there is no easy way to fix the social divide. We should have technology target on individual and group attempts to narrow social divisions.We should have technology target on individual and group attempts to narrow social divisions.

The best computer in the world wont get you into college if you are illiterate. You wont get hired if you dont own a decent suite or can get a ride to the interview. The digital divide is real, but it is hardly the most serious divide for Americans seeking a better life for themselves and their families.The best computer in the world wont get you into college if you are illiterate. You wont get hired if you dont own a decent suite or can get a ride to the interview. The digital divide is real, but it is hardly the most serious divide for Americans seeking a better life for themselves and their families. -Josh Senyak and Albert Fong

2. Achieve Concrete Outcomes Improving low-income peoples standard of living should be the goal of technology.Improving low-income peoples standard of living should be the goal of technology. Application of technology should be focused on health, economic growth, and education.Application of technology should be focused on health, economic growth, and education. Morino wants technology to be a vehicle for improvement with specific targets.Morino wants technology to be a vehicle for improvement with specific targets.

3. Work Through Community Leaders When technology is imposed by outsiders it is often ineffective. Morino suggests going through pre- established community leaders such as church leaders, civic clubs and others of influence. These recruiters and communicators can reach a larger group and can sell the message. When technology is imposed by outsiders it is often ineffective. Morino suggests going through pre- established community leaders such as church leaders, civic clubs and others of influence. These recruiters and communicators can reach a larger group and can sell the message.

4. Support Communities Efforts to Strengthen Their Capacity Many low-income communities lack the infrastructure to utilize new technologiesMany low-income communities lack the infrastructure to utilize new technologies For the poor, there is little focus beyond the bare essentials.For the poor, there is little focus beyond the bare essentials. In such places the wisest investment is to lay the foundation, or capacity such as housing, health clinics, and community organizations.In such places the wisest investment is to lay the foundation, or capacity such as housing, health clinics, and community organizations. Large scale technology will not succeed unless basic needs are met first.Large scale technology will not succeed unless basic needs are met first.

5. Apply Technology to Help Build Capacity Once the basic capacity needs of a community have been met, then technology can be a powerful tool for the next stage of development.Once the basic capacity needs of a community have been met, then technology can be a powerful tool for the next stage of development. Targeted technology can help agencies and groups provide services at a lower cost.Targeted technology can help agencies and groups provide services at a lower cost. Technology can interconnect people and help foster online and offline networks.Technology can interconnect people and help foster online and offline networks.

Everybody contacts everybody, and everybody works together for the common good. If we all work together at it, we all win. --Russ Combs

6. Technology Requires Its Own Capacity For many, information technology is not easy to use.For many, information technology is not easy to use. Investments in technology need to go beyond the box and wires, there must be a concerted effort to help people understand, apply, and manage the technology.Investments in technology need to go beyond the box and wires, there must be a concerted effort to help people understand, apply, and manage the technology.

Morino suggests that only one- third of all funding be directed toward technology, the rest should go to educating people.

7. Make the Case Morino states, Most people, especially those in low income communities, see little reason to embrace technology.Morino states, Most people, especially those in low income communities, see little reason to embrace technology. 57 percent of people without internet access do not plan to acquire it. (Sept 2000 Pew Internet and Life Report)57 percent of people without internet access do not plan to acquire it. (Sept 2000 Pew Internet and Life Report) 9.1 percent of nonusers say that cost is not the reason (Oct. 2000 UCLA Center for Communication Policy)9.1 percent of nonusers say that cost is not the reason (Oct. 2000 UCLA Center for Communication Policy) People need to be sold on how technology can help improve their lives.People need to be sold on how technology can help improve their lives.

8. Changes in Public Policy 8. Changes in Public Policy Morino feels that federal and state governments should provide the basic framework for technology and use incentives to help spur on philanthropic resources.Morino feels that federal and state governments should provide the basic framework for technology and use incentives to help spur on philanthropic resources. Governments should increase funding and aggressively integrate technology in programs that serve low-income people.Governments should increase funding and aggressively integrate technology in programs that serve low-income people. The federal government should create a high-level official to coordinate technology programs across government agencies. A Tech Czar of sorts.The federal government should create a high-level official to coordinate technology programs across government agencies. A Tech Czar of sorts.

9. Expand the Availability of Capital The federal government must step up to the plate.The federal government must step up to the plate. Morino suggests that the federal government aligned with high-tech community and philanthropic groups unite to create a pool of capital to really make an impact.Morino suggests that the federal government aligned with high-tech community and philanthropic groups unite to create a pool of capital to really make an impact.

11. Broaden the Scope of Efforts Morino has put forth some real problems: the small size of community capacity, the ever increasing costs of technology, and the lack of viable technology programs to service the needs of the impoverished.Morino has put forth some real problems: the small size of community capacity, the ever increasing costs of technology, and the lack of viable technology programs to service the needs of the impoverished. Morino has stated that Anything less than a massive mobilization of resources, financing, talent, and innovation is destined to produce only incremental and isolated victories.Morino has stated that Anything less than a massive mobilization of resources, financing, talent, and innovation is destined to produce only incremental and isolated victories.