Digital Fusion ─ A Society Beyond Blind Inclusion

Pierce examines the topic of digital inclusion and how to treat the so-called “digital divide.” The preface and introduction give a sense of her ethnographic approach and awareness of inconsistencies between the lived experiences of underserved demographics and top political slogans regarding digital access. Tension between the goals of racial minorities and those intending to empower through improved access are highlighted, as well as the non-victimized attitudes and resourcefulness of poor individuals without a home computer. The role of the Internet in helping immigrants integrate with the American mainstream is discussed, culminating in the voices of children of immigrants regarding their computer-assisted school experiences. The book is tied together with the suggestion that true digital fusion must engage social justice issues, not only providing identical access but building structures of access to meet the diversity of needs in a diverse population. Annotation c2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

Joy Pierce (PhD, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at The University of Utah. Her work has appeared in numerous journals including Cultural Studies - Critical Methodologies, Qualitative Inquiry and Social Identities.