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| Tuesday, 27 April 2004 |
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Census Dept survey on computer literacy in Lanka by Dr. Amara Satharasinghe, Senior Statistician, Department of Census and Statistics The Department of Census and Statistics is conducting a survey on computer literacy in Sri Lanka. Although the need for statistics on Information Technology (IT) has been rapidly increasing in recent years, this is the first attempt to cover this field. It covers a wide range from literacy on using computers for simple basic activities such as word processing to advanced operations such as navigation systems. For the purpose of this survey, a person is considered computer literate if he/she can use a computer on his/her own to perform any task. This survey is expected to provide baseline information on current levels of computer usage in households in Sri Lanka. As the society gets deeper into the technological age, Internet access and computer literacy are going to become more important. The Internet is an amazing development based on the convergence of the computer and communication technology. The traditional constraints of space and time are no more there and the world is becoming a global electronic village. It is now possible to communicate through a computer with anyone across the globe as well as have real time access to digital documents. International collaboration is now possible in teaching, learning, publishing and resource sharing through internet. In addition to estimating the computer literacy rate of the population the ratio at the population who are using information communication tools will be estimated through data collected from the survey. The purposes for which these tools are used are also investigated. Computer literacy is essential to benefit from the innovations of IT. In Sri Lanka, computers are progressing gradually as television once did. In addition to the offices, over the past few years, computers have been penetrating into households as well. The luxury of e-mailing messages as opposed to charging up the phone bills is more appealing. Checking news and examination results and sports via the Internet is convenient. Computer literacy is becoming an important qualification. Those illiterate in computer technology will be handicapped. A variety of changes are taking place due to innovations of applications of IT. In the people's lifestyle, labour and education. Promotion in using IT is made in many areas such as electronic commerce and creating new businesses. Therefore, it is important that this issue be addressed and a change attempted to ensure that all citizens have an equal opportunity in life and at getting a job. One benefit of the computer age is that children are becoming smarter. Children develop computer skills by observing others and actively exploring different software programs. As with learning to read, each child progresses at the rate appropriate to that child. By and large, children are curious and pick up fast. The statistics compiled by this survey are expected to reveal computer literacy of children through spatial and demographic characteristics. Studies have indicated that many different factors can influence an individual's level of computer literacy. Many people who do not have access to computers and computer technology are poor and less educated. The costs involved in owning a computer, the cost of training, and texts being in English on the Internet are some factors which contribute to this division. This division is popularly known as digital divide. Digital divide is defined as the gap between those who can effectively use new information and communication tools, such as the Internet, and those who cannot. The digital divide could be seen in developed countries as well. For example only 36% of Canadians own a home computer and only 13% are connected to the Internet. In terms of public policy, there is a growing concern about the implications of the 'digital divide', whereby some social groups lack the means to access new ICT,, while others reap labour market rewards for being on the cutting edge of this technology. This contributes further alienation of the country's underprivileged people, particularly those residing in the country's rural areas.. The Digital Divide is therefore one that needs to be eradicated. The Government is working towards this end. For better planning, implementation and monitoring of projects aimed at passing full benefits of IT to all citizens by minimising digital division, a comprehensive examination of computer use in workplace, homes and community settings is required. The extent of the digital divide is primarily determined from household ownership and use of a computer and computer-related technologies. Home computer use is generally considered more important and more valuable than computer access outside home because a person can spend more time learning and practising computer skills. The computer literacy survey is conducted as a household survey, and mainly focuses on collecting information on availability of computers, telephones, internet and e-mail facilities in households and computer literacy of people in the age group of 5 to 70 years of age and also their knowledge on hardware and software. Statistics are to be compiled by demographic categories of race, age, gender and level of education. The survey will be conducted monthly in six rounds from January to June 2004. |
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