Delaware Technology Access Project

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GIS Maps

sample GIS map We're sorry, but there is no interactive map service available to show the GIS-product of this study.

To provide as comprehensive as possible map of the organizational activity, projects, and resources in Delaware that are working to build community access to information technology, the Delaware Community Information Technology Access project was initiated. The project discovered that several categories of institutions provide public technology access in Delaware: public libraries, community centers, senior centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, and public schools. In addition to these categories, there are special programs delivering technology access to groups within the community.

Defining the problem is already half the solution, and defining where the problem is located geographically, what extent it presents, and what other factors contribute to such condition can help significantly in identifying community needs and designing the solution strategies. With this in mind, the next stage of the project involved mapping the state technology access points using the Geographic Information System (GIS) software. The latter is a combination of cartography and database management tool, which represents and models spatial information. This stage helped us to visualize the distribution of services across the state and to identify the gaps in services provided with relation to area demographics. This site was constructed to offer a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive choice description.

The Community Access project Web site has also been designed as a portal to information on research, resources, and responses on building community access. The number of studies and reports that were available is extensive, and virtually all are available on the Internet. The site includes references and Web site addresses to allow the reader to identify reports of interest and directly access the full text on the Internet. Also, the feedback form is provided in order to receive the updates from the organizations about the services provided or new facilities being open.

It is our hope that the project will become an excellent resource for organizations seeking opportunities to develop IT services in the state, and that it will serve as a model for others to follow in creating a picture of what is available in their community. By making information available to public, bringing people together in a collaborative effort, the goals will be achieved of academic enrichment, workforce development, expanding community opportunities, promoting democracy, and bridging the divides and gaps among people.