What Do We Mean by Internet Access?

Published in the journal "Preventing Chronic Disease", this paper focuses on a discussion of access, including access to the Internet and Web, content accessibility, and restrictions to access.

From the Abstract

"Much is written about Internet access, Web access, Web site accessibility, and access to online health information. The term access has, however, a variety of meanings to authors in different contexts when applied to the Internet, the Web, and interactive health communication. [The authors] have summarized those varied uses and definitions and consolidated them into a framework that defines Internet and Web access issues for health researchers. [They] group issues into two categories: connectivity and human interface. [Their] focus is to conceptualize access as a multicomponent issue that can either reduce or enhance the public health utility of electronic communications."

According to the authors, "the Internet and World Wide Web (Web) have rapidly become ubiquitous in the lives of the majority of Americans. By March 2004, three fourths of Americans were able to use the Internet from home. Americans routinely turn to the Web for information, entertainment, merchandise, and communication. In particular, the Internet has become a prime source of health information for consumers. Although the Internet has potential as a tool for health improvement, its impact hinges on issues of access. Access is an issue that affects people at home, at school, and in the community at large. Even where access to basic Internet infrastructure exists or is provided, further access to Internet use is often limited by other factors. A more global concept of Internet access encompasses a spectrum of narrower, interrelated factors described by Eng et al as 'the ability to access, comprehend, and utilize information and support appropriate to one’s personal characteristics'."

The authors "broadly define connectivity as 'connecting or being connected to the Internet, the Web, a Web site, Web page, or Web subcomponent; having the functionality and content of the Internet and/or Web physically available.' The human interface category of Internet access is defined as "those factors relating to user demographics and characteristics, such as literacy, language, education, race, ethnicity and culture, income, disability and age, experience and familiarity, and skill and training, which determine or restrict level of access to Internet/Web and content".