title: The effects of the smart environment on the information divide experienced by people with disabilities.
abstract: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is connected with every aspect of social, cultural, economic, educational, and commercial activity. Smart devices in particular have changed society and are necessary goods for modern people. Smart device usage is rapidly growing in everyday life, so the ability to use a smart device is increasingly important, yet there is little data supporting increased digital inclusion of people with disabilities in mobile device use.
  
  
  
  This study investigates the effects of the smart environment on the information divide experienced by people with disabilities.
  
  
  
  Data from the 2013 Information Divide Index Data of the National Information Society Agency was analyzed regarding three aspects: access, skill, and competence. The accessibility difference was investigated by comparing access to a PC or smart device in two groups. The effects of a smart environment on the information divide were analyzed using General Linear Modeling (GLM).
  
  
  
  The access rate was higher for the general group than for that of those with disabilities, and this difference appeared to be greater in the smart environment. The results of the GLM showed that disability and device access had statistically significant effects on skill and all aspects of competence.
  
  
  
  These results provide evidence that the smart environment further creates the information divide for people with disabilities. Strategies should be formed to reduce this divide, particularly within smart environments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Home Economics Education, College of Education, Jeonju University, 1200 3-ga, Hyoja-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, 560-759, South Korea. Electronic address: bluesj@jj.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Su-Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Secondary Special Education, College of Education, Jeonju University, 1200 3-ga, Hyoja-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, 560-759, South Korea. Electronic address: eunyoung@jj.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003201:Computers; D066310:Digital Divide; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068997:Smartphone; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Information divide; People with disabilities; Smart device