Households across Minneapolis were chosen at random to participate in a city-led survey to assess the severity of the digital divide between those with access, use and knowledge of computers, mobile devices and the Internet and those without it. This is the second year that the City’s Information Technology (IT) Department has conducted this survey as a part of its Digital Inclusion initiative. The 2013 survey results were compared to the 2012 results to determine trends in the use of digital technologies in Minneapolis and between the city’s neighborhoods.
The results of this comparison show some notable changes within Camden. Most prominently, in 2012 only 30 percent of Camden survey respondents found their access to technology to be “excellent/good”—this was far below the City’s average of 54 percent. In 2013, however, the percentage of Camden survey respondents that deemed their access to technology to be “excellent/good” jumped to 53 percent, which aligned with the city’s average. Camden survey respondents also felt more comfortable applying and searching for jobs online.
Home computer access in Camden is still significantly low when compared to the greater city, with only 75 percent of the community’s residents having equipment— far lower than the 90 percent city average. However, many of the survey results pointed to a large increase in the possession and use of mobile devices and other digital devices, such as tablets, signifying an overall shift in the popularity of technology mediums. This means that home computer access no longer provides the advantages nor is it the indicator of computer literacy that it used to be.
All of these statistics are valuable in marking the progress of local efforts to bring about a more digitally inclusive Minneapolis. When looking at these comparisons, it is also important to keep in mind the fact that this is only the second year this survey has been administered; data collected over a longer period of time would more reliably capture a larger, and more statistically significant, proportion of the population. Additionally, of the 12,375 surveys that were sent out early last year, only 3,211 completed surveys were received (27 percent). Of these, only 117 surveys were gathered from the Victory/Webber-Camden area (about 3.6 percent of total received surveys). The results from Camden are therefore only representative of a small percentage of the over 5,000 people living in Camden.
The process for gathering 2014 data has already begun; another random sampling of 12,400 Minneapolis residents received the 2014 Community Technology survey in January. This year, the survey includes questions about City’s television programming, and surveys in Spanish, Hmong and Somali are also available upon request.
The importance of digital literacy cannot be underestimated in today’s workforce. Many employers are now posting their open positions exclusively online. Even positions that do not directly require digital technologies to complete daily performance oftentimes need employees to have access to email both on and off the job. Beyond the survey, the city’s Digital Inclusion initiative is also involved in efforts to help Minneapolis citizens get the digital education and training they need to succeed at work.
One such effort is the Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment Test (digitalliteracyassessment.org). A free resource that teaches basic computer skills (everything from learning where to plug in headphones to installing basic software programs), basic Internet training, differences between Windows and Apple operating systems, email basics and Microsoft Word. Upon completion of the online modules, citizens can take an exam at a variety of locations across the state to prove their competencies. Individuals who successfully complete the test are given a certificate that can be added to a resume and used in a job interview to prove an applicant’s abilities.
There are many other active local organizations that are helping citizens overcome lack of access to a computer and the Internet. The Technology Literacy Collaborative provides an interactive map of the Twin Cities that shows people where to go in their communities to use computers that are free and open to the public (tlc-mn.org/ctc).
For those that need a home computer, several organizations, such as the Free Geek Computer Adoption Program, are giving computers to residents for no to little cost. At Free Geek, citizens can “adopt” a computer for free after donating 24 hours of volunteer time to help the Free Geek team with physical tasks such as disassembling and testing gently used computers and related hardware. For little cost, local Internet providers Comcast and CenturyLink will help residents acquire a computer and monthly Internet access for a reduced price. To learn more about these programs, and others like them, see the City’s IT resource guide at minneapolismn.gov/it.
Resources of this kind are becoming increasingly critical. Digital literacy will be more and more important to everyone, no matter their job requirements; many companies, including banks and energy companies, continue to transition toward relying on customer access to online statements to pay their bills.