Press Release: ICT access now widespread but laggard users risk new digital divide, warns OECD

Information technology (IT) is a major driver of economic change, restructuring businesses, affecting skills and employment, and contributing to growth. This volume describes recent market dynamics and gives a detailed overview of the globalisation of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. It analyses the development and impacts of electronic business processes and describes trends in industries supplying IT goods and services.

This volume also looks at how differences in access to ICTs have been supplanted by differences in use, looking especially at digital delivery via broadband for peer-to-peer file exchange, business services and healthcare. Further, ICT skills across all sectors of the economy are analysed to provide insights into the dynamics of job creation and outsourcing.

The potential of selected technological developments is examined, covering nanotechnology, grid computing, radio frequency identification, WiFi and anti-spam technologies.

Finally, this volume provides an overview of how IT policies in OECD countries have evolved in the last few years.

OECD Information Technology Outlook: 2004 Edition: Highlights http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/20/47/33951035.pdf

OECD: Information Technology Outlook 2004 http://www.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/display.asp?LANG=EN&SF1=DI&ST1=5LMQCR2JD3Q5

---