Leveraging Information Technology to Build a More Inclusive E- Society

The last few decades have seen tremendous innovations in information technology (IT) that have affected all aspects of modern life. Contemporary society has been variously called ‘Information Society,’ ‘Digital Economy,’ and ‘Knowledge Economy.’ The term ‘E-Society’ is perhaps more appropriate as it truly reflects the degree to which we are dependent on electronic or digital means even to execute our daily routine activities. Unfortunately, this convenience has not reached all segments of our society. Globally speaking, only one billon out of six billion has access to the Internet. In the United States, 27 percent of the population lacks access to the Internet, according to a study completed last year by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. In this paper, we analyze the role of information technology in shaping the various aspects of the current e-society. We study the problem from several perspectives and propose a set of recommendations that aids in building a more inclusive e-society.