http://disqus.com/by/johnheaven/enSun, 27 Sep 2009 16:16:23 -0000http://ash10.com/2009/09/connected-doesnt-always-mean-digitally-connected/#comment-17644637<p>I agree that it is important to be connected, and how you achieve that is not important. However, I think that this doesn't really help solve the social inclusion/digital inclusion problem.</p><p>As you rightly say, some people prefer to connect conventionally whereas others prefer to connect more digitally. I think there is probably a spectrum from those who are completely offline and do everything the old-fashioned way, to those who do everything online.</p><p>That's fine, so long as you have the opportunity to be as digital as you like. The point about digital/social inclusion is that lots of people don't have the choice, so they are by default at one end of the spectrum whether they like it or not.</p><p>There's another point, which is that by learning how to connect with friends digitally you also learn generic computer skills (well, I assume you do -- I don't actually know this for certain, but wouldn't be surprised). If you know how to access email, upload photos to Flickr, or run a blog, you're probably more likely to benefit from online banking, price comparison sites and all the rest.</p><p>So there's a lot to be said for digital!</p>John HeavenSun, 27 Sep 2009 16:16:23 -0000