Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Technology Adoption and Digital Equity

By DeeDee M. Bennett Gayle, this book delves into the secondary impacts of COVID-19 in the United States, particularly focusing on the increased use of technology. It highlights the global response of social distancing, non-essential business mandates, and remote work, as well as the varied guidance provided at state and local levels.

The book emphasizes on the challenges faced by marginalized populations, identifying areas where technology facilitated access and reach, and areas where it contributed to difficulties due to digital literacy or digital access issues. It is structured around the social determinants of health domains, explaining how technology was an umbrella domain that impacted every aspect of life during the pandemic, including access, use, adoption, digital literacy, and digital equity, as well as privacy and security concerns.

Given the focus on the impacts to marginalized populations, the book also discusses the use of technology to perpetuate hate, discrimination, racism, and xenophobic behaviors that emerged as a twin pandemic during COVID-19.

Part I: Primary and Secondary Impacts, and State Guidelines

This section explains the defining differences between primary and secondary impacts, as well as the unique guidelines adopted in each state.

Part II: Impact on Specific Domains

This part of the book is focused on specific domains, with each chapter dedicated to topics including:

• Economic stability through employment
• Education
• Healthcare
• Social/community context through access to services

Part III: Technological Considerations

This section focuses on unique technological considerations related to COVID-19, such as mobile health-related apps and privacy or security issues that may have posed barriers to the adoption and use of technology.

Conclusion

The book concludes with a chapter that explicitly explains the advantages and disadvantages of technology adoption during COVID-19. These exposed benefits and challenges will have implications for policies, disaster management practices, and interdisciplinary research.

ISBN: 9781032334981, 9781000904727

Language: English

Publisher: CRC Press; July 14, 2023