"Bolt examines the many forces at work in the digital divide - its split along racial and gender lines and its effect on the future of American employment and education - as well as the common misconceptions about the solutions. Despite the fact that almost fifty percent of American homes now have computers, white families are still twice as likely as African-American ones to own computers and three times as likely to have access to the Internet. The rates are even more alarming for Latino families. Young girls - often not given the same opportunities and encouragement to develop computer skills as boys - are also at great risk of being shut out of the digital future. And contrary to popular belief, placing computers in schools will not solve the problem alone." "Interviewing educators, government officials and technology professionals, Bolt creates a rich tapestry of voices that addresses the larger social concerns of the digital divide. He also profiles a number of organizations and institutions - from schools that are effectively partnering with technology companies, to Community Technology Centers in urban locations, to the increasing amount of web content being created specifically for women and minorities - that can be seen as models for positive change."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved