The “Digital Divide”

In the new International Health Organization Classification and Self Sufficiency Disability (ICIDH-2), the latter depend not only on physical health and mental ability, but also on social participation, which is important in maintaining autonomy and improving quality of life.
The so-called “Digital Divide”, the concept that indicates the unequal access and division between those who use information technology and those who do not, exists for several reasons: economic conditions, lack of infrastructure, social, physical and cognitive conditions.

An example of digital barriers can be found among population groups who are the most vulnerable, such as the disabled and elderly. The elderly and the disabled are often linked due to the fact that they are presented with a number of the causes behind the “Digital Divide”:

» Physical-motor deficiencies;

» Sensory deficiencies;

» Limited degree of autonomy/self-sufficiency;

» Inability in the of technology, lack of adaptation to all needs of the population;

» Poor or insufficient knowledge of information technology and digital culture.