There was a time, not long ago, when the so-called digital divide was perceived and illustrated as a huge canyon or a mile-wide river. On the one side stood the technology-rich, happy because they had access to computers at work, school, and home. On the other stood the technology-poor, unhappy because they had no access at all. The digital divide is possibly the single, largest, segregating force in today¡s world. The lack of access, knowledge and understanding of digital capabilities that are changing the world is shocking. These capabilities are mainly focused upon the personal computer, Internet access and the skill to navigate and effectively utilize these technologies. Due to the relatively high costs and relatively low priority associated with addressing this issue, a generation of children and families will mature without these tools that are proving to be the key to the future.
             An estimated 429 million people are online globally, but even this overwhelming number is small when considered in perspective. Of those 429 million, 41% are in North America and they only represent 6% of the world¡s entire population. According to the Digital Divide Network, global Internet statistics include:
             „« 27% of the online population lives in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (25% of European homes are online)
             „« 20% of the online population logs on from Asia Pacific (33% of all Asian homes are online)
             „« Only 4% of the world¡s online population are in South America
             „« The United States has more computers than the rest of the world combined (Digital Divide Basics Fact Sheet, 2002, p. 1)
             Statistics compounded by the U.S. Department of Commerce on the perspective of the digital divide in the United States include:
             „« 51% of all U.S. homes have a computer; 41.5% of all U.S. homes have Internet access
             „« 86.3% of households earning $75,000 and above per year...