oh look, somebody has done yet another internet study. jeez, this time it “divides society”:

“Government and local authorities are wrong to think that improved access to the web for those who cannot afford to surf from home will end social exclusion, said Professor Steve Woolgar, a sociologist from Brunel University and director of the Virtual Society research project.

Preliminary results from the Virtual Society studies show that internet-connected kiosks put in libraries and shopping centres to get net novices using the web were being used more by those already online.”

it actually takes them a little bit to get to the super-duper and ever-so-surprising policy punchline:

“Kiosks and public net access points only attract a broader range of people when novices are given help and training during their first few forays online. ”

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