Bridging the Digital Divide | Jim Sevier | TEDxGreenville

Summary

In this TEDxGreenville talk, Jim Sevier delves into the issue of the digital divide, reflecting on his personal journey from an analog world into the digital age. Having witnessed the evolution of technology, Sevier highlights the persistent gap between those who can access and leverage digital platforms and those who cannot. The talk introduces the creative concept of a 'shamanic interface'—a simplified digital interface inspired by Daniel Suarez’s novels that would allow users to access technology through intuitive gestures rather than literacy or technical skills. By employing universally understood somatic gestures and motion recognition technology, Sevier presents a vision for bridging the digital divide, enabling all individuals to step confidently into the digital world.

Highlights

• Jim Sevier discusses the ongoing struggle many face with accessing and understanding the digital world. 🌐
• He draws a parallel with the London Underground to explain the concept of the digital divide, illustrating those who can and cannot board the technology 'train'. 🚉
• Sevier introduces a revolutionary idea—a 'shamanic interface'—which could allow people to interact with technology through easy gestures, removing barriers of literacy and technical knowledge. 💡
• This interface could use existing technologies like motion sensors and gesture recognition to function, making it a feasible future innovation. 🚀
• Sevier calls for continued support of projects aimed at making digital access reachable and affordable for everyone. 💪

Key Takeaways

• Jim Sevier emphasizes the ongoing challenge of bridging the digital divide, highlighting it as a major social issue. 🌍
• The digital divide represents a gap between those with access to digital technology and those without, often limiting opportunities for the latter group. 🚧
• A 'shamanic interface', inspired by sci-fi literature, could democratize digital access using intuitive gestures. 🖖
• Existing technologies like cameras with motion recognition and haptic feedback are essential to developing this accessible interface. 📹
• Everyone should support initiatives making digital access affordable and inclusive to bridge the divide. 🤝

Overview

Jim Sevier takes the stage at TEDxGreenville to shed light on a pressing issue in our connected world—the digital divide. Reflecting on his transformation from an analog past to a digital present, he shares personal anecdotes from working in the tech industry. Sevier likens the digital divide to the London Underground, where some people can easily board the train to technological proficiency, while others are left waiting at the platform.

The core of his talk is a fascinating proposition: a 'shamanic interface' to make digital access as natural as gesturing. Inspired by novels that blend technology with futuristic ideas, this concept sidesteps the traditional barriers of literacy and technical know-how, potentially enabling anyone to access digital tools. With existing technologies ready to support such innovation, Sevier argues that creating a more inclusive digital landscape is within reach.

Sevier concludes with a rallying call for action, urging continued support for initiatives that make digital access both affordable and ubiquitous. By developing technology that everyone can use irrespective of their skill level, society can bridge the gap in the digital divide. This, he suggests, is not just an opportunity, but a responsibility to ensure equal access to the digital train of progress.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Personal Background The narrator discusses being born in 1960 and growing up in an analog world. They describe using rotary telephones and solving math problems with traditional methods, such as using pencil and paper. Their knowledge of the world was shaped by watching black and white television.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Embracing the Digital Revolution The chapter, 'Embracing the Digital Revolution,' reflects on the author's personal experience with the onset of the digital era. Born in 1960, the author recalls a time before digital technology was ubiquitous. The narrative highlights the transformational impact of the digital world on society, particularly from the late 20th century onwards when the author was in their late 20s. This period marked the beginning of what would become a lifelong career in the technology industry for the author.
• 01:00 - 02:00: Technological Advancements and Their Impact This chapter explores the evolution of technology, highlighting significant milestones from large mainframe computers to compact devices, the advent of the internet, web browsers, and social media. It illustrates how current technologies enable control of multiple internet-connected devices remotely, and hints at advancements in the medical field that are influenced by technological growth.
• 02:00 - 03:00: The Challenge of the Digital Divide Chapter Title: The Challenge of the Digital Divide Summary: This chapter explores the transformative impact of the digital world on healthcare, illustrating how digital connectivity allows remote diagnosis and medication administration. However, it also highlights the significant issue of the digital divide, emphasizing that millions of people globally, including many in South Carolina, lack access to the necessary digital infrastructure, thereby being excluded from these advancements.
• 03:00 - 04:00: Understanding the Digital Divide Metaphor The chapter introduces the concept of the 'digital divide', a term used to describe the exclusion of certain groups from the digital world. The chapter aims to introduce this topic and present a plan to eliminate the digital divide. An analogy is made to the London Underground, suggesting that just as the train system connects various parts of the city, efforts must be made to connect everyone to the digital world.
• 04:00 - 05:00: Statistics Highlighting the Digital Divide The chapter uses a metaphor of a train and platform to discuss the digital world and access to it. The train represents the digital world itself, while the platform represents the means by which people access it. The concept of 'minding the gap' between the train and platform is suggested as a life lesson, possibly implying the importance of awareness and readiness in navigating the digital divide.
• 05:00 - 06:00: Access vs Understanding in the Digital World This chapter explores the metaphor of a train platform to illustrate differences in access and understanding in the digital world. It describes two groups of people: those who can 'get on the train' (access digital resources) and those who cannot. The first group possesses the necessary skills, knowledge, and economic means, while the second group lacks these resources. The metaphor of 'the Gap' signifies the divide, indicating that for the latter group, the barrier to access and understanding is too vast to simply step over.
• 06:00 - 07:00: Personal Experience with Digital Challenges The chapter discusses the digital divide, referencing a statement made by William Canard, the then-chairman of the FCC in 1995. Canard highlighted that in a society increasingly defined by access to information, a lack of access to technology can result in people being left behind economically and educationally. This highlights the challenges faced by individuals without the necessary digital access to progress in a technology-driven world.
• 07:00 - 08:00: Inspiration from Daniel Suarez's Novels In 'Inspiration from Daniel Suarez's Novels,' the digital divide is highlighted as an ongoing issue, emphasizing its growth over time. Despite technological advances, there remain over 34 million Americans without access to digital resources, underscoring a persistent gap between technological platforms and the people who are left disconnected. This chapter reflects on the implications of this divide, urging a critical examination of how technological advancements are distributed and who is left behind in the process.
• 08:00 - 10:00: The Idea of a Shamanic Interface The chapter titled 'The Idea of a Shamanic Interface' discusses the challenges faced by U.S. adults in accessing digital technology and the internet. Specifically, it points to the prohibitive cost of internet access, which many cannot afford. Furthermore, it highlights a significant literacy issue, where one in four U.S. adults are either illiterate or possess limited literacy skills. The chapter also touches on the lack of necessary technical skills among people to effectively use digital connectivity. These points underscore the key barriers to digital inclusion.
• 10:00 - 12:00: The Role of Somatic Gestures The chapter 'The Role of Somatic Gestures' discusses the contributing factors to the digital divide, emphasizing the importance of access to digital technology and the necessary skills to utilize it. It highlights global, federal, and local projects aimed at enhancing digital connectivity and addressing these challenges.
• 12:00 - 14:00: Technologies Enabling Somatic Interfaces The chapter titled 'Technologies Enabling Somatic Interfaces' explores the futuristic vision of widespread and affordable digital broadband connectivity. It discusses the challenges of ensuring that people have the necessary literacy and technical skills to effectively utilize such connectivity. These issues are identified as being more complex than initially anticipated, hinting at the broader challenges faced in the technology sector.
• 14:00 - 15:00: Call to Action for Bridging the Digital Divide The chapter discusses the challenges of bridging the digital divide, especially for those with significant experience and knowledge but who still face difficulties in accessing and understanding the digital world. It highlights the complexity and evolving nature of technology that even affects those who have been part of the digital landscape for decades.

Bridging the Digital Divide | Jim Sevier | TEDxGreenville Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] I was born in 1960 and if you can't tell by that image I grew up in the analog world I used rotary telephones and I solved complex math problems with a pencil and a piece of paper uh what I what I knew of the world I got from watching black and white
• 00:30 - 01:00 television and reading an encyclopedia and no dinosaurs were not roaming the Earth then look being born in 1960 offered me a rather unique opportunity to witness the dawn of the digital world I was in my late 20s and since that time I have spent nearly my entire adult life in the technology industry
• 01:00 - 01:30 I've seen some amazing things I have seen mainframe computers the size of this stage reduced in size to fit into my back pocket I witnessed the birth of the internet and web browsers and social media right now from this stage using this device I can control no less than six Internet connected devices in my home even more incredible doctors today
• 01:30 - 02:00 can remotely diagnose and administer medication to patients anywhere there's digital Broadband connectivity yeah the digital world is pretty amazing and it has really been a profound it has a profound impact on the direction of my life but it's come at a cost millions of people throughout the world many right here in South Carolina
• 02:00 - 02:30 are being excluded from the digital world they call this exclusion the digital divide and I am here today to talk to you and introduce that topic to you and to and to show you the plan that we have for making it a thing of the past now I want to use this image of the London Underground to help us visualize the digital divide the London Underground is made up of several elements the train that takes back and
• 02:30 - 03:00 forth between our destinations the platform where you stand to access the train and the Gap and that's the space in between the platform and the train mind the gap there's actually a life lesson there now for the purpose of this discussion what I'd like us to do is to imagine for the moment that the train is the digital world and the platform is how we access it now there are two PE types of people
• 03:00 - 03:30 standing on that platform those who can get on the train and those who cannot those people that can get on the train they have the necessary skill and knowledge and economic ability to do so for them it's just a simple matter of walking over the Gap and getting on the train for those people who cannot get on the train they don't have the skill or knowledge or economic ability to do so for them the Gap is already way too wide
• 03:30 - 04:00 to try to cross and so they're left standing on the platform this is the digital divide in 1995 William Canard then chairman of the FCC stated in a society where we are increasingly defined by our access to information and what we earn is what we learn if you do not have access to technology you're going to be left in
• 04:00 - 04:30 the digital Dark Ages let's fast forward to today you might be interested to learn that the digital divide that space that gap between the platform and the train has continued to grow wider let me put this into perspective in the US there are over 34 million people who do not have access to the digital world simply because it's not offered to
• 04:30 - 05:00 them and when it is offered to them in many cases it is far too expensive for them to afford additionally one out of every four us adults are either illiterate or they have a very limited literacy skill set and I'm not even talking about the people that don't have the technical skills in order to do something with that connection these statistics Define the primary
• 05:00 - 05:30 factors attributing to the growth in the digital divide access having the ability to actually obtain a digital connection and understanding having the necessary Knowledge and Skills to be able to do something with it today we have Global Federal and locally funded projects that are actually addressing access to the digital world we can
• 05:30 - 06:00 actually visualize the day when digital Broadband connectivity will be both ubiquitous and affordable understanding having the required literacy levels and Technical Acumen to do something with that connection those problems have proven to be significantly harder to solve now I mentioned earlier that I whove been in the technology industry
• 06:00 - 06:30 for most of my adult life and that's over 30 years really old guy um and even for me at times I have difficulty accessing and understanding the digital world what hope do we have a Bridging the digital divide when people with my level of knowledge and experience have difficulties
• 06:30 - 07:00 maybe everyone just wasn't meant to ride the train at least that's how it felt to me and then one day something extraordinary happened I read a book I guess I read two books Daniel Suarez's novels are an interesting blend of action thriller meets The Geek Squad think Jason Bourne teaming up with
• 07:00 - 07:30 Bill NY the Science Guy to save the world got the image now my apologies to Daniel his books are way cooler than that all right in his books the protagonist creates a way to access the digital world that's comprehendable to all people on the planet regardless of their language literacy or technical skill levels he calls it a shamanic interface
• 07:30 - 08:00 and yes I am referring to a shaman as in a divver of spiritual intent Shaman this shamanic digital interface uses somatic gestures to invoke access to the digital world similar in many respects to the somatic rituals that shamans use to access the spirit world in short the characters in the book use motion and sound to gain access
• 08:00 - 08:30 and control elements connected to the digital world and then the lights came on for me the problem with the digital divide isn't literacy or technical Acumen the problem with the digital device is that we've we've created an interface that requires them what if instead of trying to make everyone on the planet literate or technically astute why don't we create a
• 08:30 - 09:00 shamanic interface that gives everyone standing on the platform the ability to step over the Gap and ride the train This Is My Idea we're sharing okay let's do the math to overcome the digital divide we're going to need to overcome literacy and Technology skill gaps and to do that we're going to need to create a shamanic interface and then that is
• 09:00 - 09:30 going to need to understand sematic gestures all right let's start with sematic gestures the good news there is we already know them we've seen them in movies since Close Encounters of the Third Kind which I guess celebrated its 30-y year anniversary some time ago really old guy um Minority Report with Tom Cruz he's using
• 09:30 - 10:00 a haptic glove to actually control objects in the digital world we use somatic gestures to communicate to the hearing impaired there are a very small set but a growing set of globally understood somatic gestures as an example all right next thing we got sematic gestures all right next thing we need digital devices to understand these
• 10:00 - 10:30 gestures and motions that we're putting in front of them good news guess what we already got that too a digitally connected camera that measures movement in the physical world and then translates that into actions in the digital world Microsoft Connect I guess what I'm saying is this we have all the elements we need to
• 10:30 - 11:00 create a shamanic interface save one ground swell and this is where you guys come in welcome to the party today we have activity already underway that is developing they're developing a standard set of somatic digital gestures and we expect device manufacturers to include motion recognition Technologies into the more
• 11:00 - 11:30 into the devices that we use each day uh we already have somatic gesture recognition to a very small degree in our smart devices I can actually wave my hand over my phone and it'll turn a page or I can put my hand over my phone and shut it down our part in this plan is actually pretty simple continue the support of Global
• 11:30 - 12:00 Federal and locally funded projects that Target the affordable access to the digital world we can't we can't miss this we can't drop the ball I said before we can visualize the day when it's going to really be here but we have to realize the day and it's our job to do that let's build the shamanic interface and let's use it to bridge the digital divide and let's let's give everyone an
• 12:00 - 12:30 equal opportunity to step over the Gap and ride the digital train to wherever it can take them thank you [Music]