Identifying the practices and policies of improving digital equity among vulnerable communities in Calgary

Access to digital technologies and ensuring digital equity has never been crucial before the pandemic. Digital equity is ‘a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy.’ Digital Equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services. Pandemic-induced restrictions and subsequent lockdowns have diminished (in person) social interactions and resulted in increased dependency on digital technologies, which had already placed disproportionate burdens on marginalized groups. While many research and projects are now shifting their focus on the economic recovery of the post-pandemic phase, how the pandemic is deepening the digital divide, marginalizing the vulnerable groups, and re-enforcing the systematic exclusion is remained severely understudied. Therefore, we attempt to explore in this study the current state of the digital divide (which is often considered as a complex social-political challenge) and how it has impacted the social interaction, economic activity, and mental well-being of the city dwellers.

Faculty Supervisor:

Turin Tanvir Chowdhury

Student:

Partner:

City of Calgary

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public administration; Utilities

University:

University of Calgary

Program: