Research paperThe effects of the smart environment on the information divide experienced by people with disabilities

- An accessibility gap still exists in both PC and smart devices for people with disabilities; moreover, this gap is greater in the smart environment.
- The information divide of skill and convenience of competence is decreased more in that smart environment than in the PC environment.
- The skill, information, and social relationships are increased in the smart environment, and convenience is decreased in both groups.
- A customized training program should be created for people with disabilities to promote their active participation in the information society.

BackgroundInformation and Communication Technology (ICT) is connected with every aspect of social, cultural, economic, educational, and commercial activity. Smart devices in particular have changed society and are necessary goods for modern people. Smart device usage is rapidly growing in everyday life, so the ability to use a smart device is increasingly important, yet there is little data supporting increased digital inclusion of people with disabilities in mobile device use.Objective/HypothesisThis study investigates the effects of the smart environment on the information divide experienced by people with disabilities.MethodsData from the 2013 Information Divide Index Data of the National Information Society Agency was analyzed regarding three aspects: access, skill, and competence. The accessibility difference was investigated by comparing access to a PC or smart device in two groups. The effects of a smart environment on the information divide were analyzed using General Linear Modeling (GLM).ResultsThe access rate was higher for the general group than for that of those with disabilities, and this difference appeared to be greater in the smart environment. The results of the GLM showed that disability and device access had statistically significant effects on skill and all aspects of competence.ConclusionsThese results provide evidence that the smart environment further creates the information divide for people with disabilities. Strategies should be formed to reduce this divide, particularly within smart environments.