Introduction

EKOS’ Dual Digital Divide series of studies have shed considerable light on Canadian Internet usage and access trends, highlighting those among us who are most at risk of exclusion from Canada’s evolving information society. Now in its fourth edition, this year’s report builds on the findings from the first three studies utilizing, for the first time, an integrated quantitative and qualitative approach to exploring key trends.

The quantitative research and tracking analysis indicate the “near user” subgroup identified in earlier studies has, by and large, come online as expected. At the same time, the particular rigidity of “far users” has continued such that there is little likelihood they will go online in the immediate future. The results of the qualitative research in this years’ study have provided important insights into understanding the attitudes and practices of non-users, as well as confirmation of the findings of the broad quantitative survey results from the 2003 Rethinking the Information Highway study.

A comparison of digital divide trends and core issues between this year’s research and the study results from the first report in 2000 is revealing. On the one hand, there have been significant gains made in regards to the overall pervasiveness of Internet usage and reduction of the digital divide in several respects. On the other hand, a significant number still do not use the Internet More worrisome is that many of these individuals are members of social subgroups that are at greatest risk of marginalization — low income, blue collar employed (those least likely to have access at work), seniors/retirees, and rural Canadians.