
Chromebooks are highly portable and can access the internet through Wi-Fi, including public Wi-Fi hotspots. Chromebooks have built-in integration with Google Workspace, a suite of free productivity and collaboration tools that includes Google Docs for word processing, Google Drive for cloud storage, and Google Meet for video conferencing.

Their simplicity makes Chromebooks intuitive, easy to use, reliable, and easy for organizations to deploy and maintain.

While the digital divide is a problem created by disparities in technology access, some technology is becoming less expensive, and more capable of providing internet access that is not tied to a specific location.Ĭhromebooks are inexpensive laptop and tablet computers that run Chrome OS, a simple, cloud-focused operating system similar to the Google Chrome browser. Using Technology to Decrease the digital divide This can increase students’ stress at home, which can make successful remote learning even more difficult. Low-income workers have been among those most likely to lose their jobs because of COVID-19-related layoffs. When COVID-19 forced schools to close, many underprivileged students lost access to school-based computers and high-speed internet, leaving them unable to keep up with their more-privileged peers, who have this technology at home.Īlso, underprivileged children whose education has been hurt by lack of access to technology have often been impacted by the loss of family income. COVID-19-related lockdowns have widened the technology gap between privileged and underprivileged communities, and it is important to help reduce it by distributing technology devices to families in need.Ī 2019 FCC report showed that 21.3 million Americans lack broadband access. Furthermore, without any digital devices at home, some children in disenfranchised communities are left behind academically and cannot compete with their more-well-equipped peers. While more privileged families may have high-speed internet and connected mobile devices for each family member, for many underprivileged families, having internet access and a computer for each family member is a luxury that they cannot afford.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced households across the country to work and learn from home indefinitely.
