IB Digital Society 5.1A Local and Global Inequalities Key Definitions

The gap between people who have reliable access to digital systems and the skills to use them and those who do not, a gap that tends to follow existing lines of income, age, geography, and ability.

Technologies, applications, and platforms that create, store, process, and distribute digital data and information. Smartphones, social media platforms, AI assistants, and robots are all digital systems.

Giving people access to useful, affordable financial services such as saving, sending money, and borrowing. Digital tools like mobile money can extend it to those without a bank account, though access still depends on a device and network and is set by private providers.

The delivery of healthcare at a distance using digital networks, for example video consultations, remote messaging, and connected home devices. It can widen access to care but depends on having a device, connectivity, and digital confidence.