Defining Diversity and Inclusion in Digital Spaces

eleanorharrison1
Nov 23, 2025
5 min read

Previously, I briefly mentioned earlier in the semester that digital inclusion to me means the will to welcome and accommodate others, even if it means going out of your way to do so, but today I’m going to delve into that more deeply. During my first article I talked about inclusion in terms of access, availability, affordability, adoption, and application across cultures, followed by examples within the context of my own personal experiences. These principles structure whether people are welcomed into digital environments or are left behind and are known as the “Five A’s”. This reflection continues that thought, showing how those five A’s have influenced my content, coursework, and writing.

Access During our class DTC206 discussions, I covered a BBC article [1] noting that millions of people nationwide are still using outdated versions of Windows XP or older—not because they want to, but because they have no other option. The reason these obsolete systems aren’t being upgraded often comes down to the costs tied to hardware compatibility, and for people living in rural areas with limited internet access, it becomes even more of a dead end in tech. Forbes ranks AT&T, T‑Mobile, Google Fiber, Verizon, and Comcast as the top five providers in the U.S., but their plans range from $20 to $70 a month, and even the reigning champion in coverage, AT&T, only reaches 25 of 50 states. The FCC National Broadband Map makes this gap visible, showing exactly where communities still wait for even a minimal level of broadband access. [2]

Availability

Advancements in technology have opened new avenues for open‑source Wi‑Fi and satellite content distribution, along with more apps offering offline access. A good example is Esri’s mapping tools that are designed to work without a network connection. When I digitally attended the Esri User Conference, I saw an incredible variety of mapping techniques, but what stood out most were the maps designed to be accessible for a color‑blind audience — another form of inclusion for a minority audience. ArcGIS now has that feature built in; we can adjust the colors, and the system will give us notice if we’ve gone too far on the spectrum for others to see clearly. [3]

Affordability

The question we should ask ourselves is whether people can realistically pay for the services required for reliable broadband in modern society. In one article I noted, low‑income families often cut internet first when budgets get tight; education is one of the areas most heavily affected by that financially charged digital divide. The same article addressed efforts to build 5G infrastructure as a way to combat the divide. While 5G can be an effective measure, it is expensive, takes time, and requires coordination across multiple parties. Its spread can create an environment where internet service is more diverse and competitive, which helps keep prices lower and makes high‑speed access more affordable. Still, providers remain selective in where they place it [4].

Adoption

You can’t just hand someone a device and expect them to know what to do with it. The non‑profit One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) learned this the hard way after launching an innovative humanitarian effort to distribute thousands of laptops to students. Despite its noble intentions, the project was met with resistance and neglect. The core issue was that the organization, though well‑meaning, didn’t take the time to understand its audience—the students and communities who would actually be using the laptops who were so poor they didn’t even have electricity (nowhere to plug the devices into), no central spaces like libraries or cafes with stable internet, and no motivation to go out of their way to use them. Since its initial stumble, it looks like the program has improved its stance, engaging with its community and building a new framework the Digital Educational Ecosystem which of course includes laptops but also a lot more; custom apps, personalized strategy, core team training, certification for teachers, professional development of those teachers, continued monitoring and evaluation while learning, and a more solid logistics plan. [5] Taking the time to provide spaces to work, provide training, and continuous communication are how to make an the adoption process go smoothly.

Application

During the course one question that lingered was, “how can this be applied to our daily lives?” That question came up often when we did deep-dive discussions on inclusivity in gaming.

My experience with Never Alone showed me mechanics were designed to preserve cultural identity and encourage collaboration, sharing fireside stories and inspiring messages from the vibrant Inupiat community which they used as a medium to bridge the digital and generational gaps in their society. [6]

Lost Words: Beyond the Page focused on grief and reflection, using interactive storytelling to let players process emotions in a way that felt personal, and are sometimes hard to put int0o words. Having experienced grief on many occasions I could relate to the material from a European perspective, especially when I learned that it was also a cultural identity project of sorts since it was all based on local content and creators. I did feel that the diversity was lacking as far as representation went, but for its purpose it was a solid project that achieved its goal in expressing grief through a child’s eyes and how we also might interpret those emotions. [7]

My class discussions also sometimes turned to Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, a story of a sweet little girl visiting her grandparents on a small Mediterranean island with conservation and environmental themes. I felt an immediate connection with this game both as a mother and also as a climate steward. The gameplay here helps translate complex topics like animal conservation into a format young children can understand and relate to.[8]

And of course, we can’t forget my beloved Geometry Survivor, where I explored inclusivity where there was seemingly none, but throughout the course of 255 gameplays I found ways that the simplified game mechanics and design elements could translate into truly inclusive content that even people with limitations can enjoy. Looking at games in ways they were not intended can sometimes open up possibilities for their worth and application.[9] Conclusion My thoughts about diversity and inclusion in digital spaces come down to this: technology is only meaningful if it makes room for everyone. Access, affordability, and adoption can block people before they even begin, but thoughtful application and thinking out of the box can open doors. Inclusion doesn’t happen by accident, people have to take the time to listen, and make design choices that lower barriers, and a willingness to rethink how something should be done for the benefit of including more people. Diversity is more than just different races, it’s lifestyles, and communities, and ideas where different voices can participate and be fully respected. If we want digital spaces to matter, they must be places where everyone can see themselves, contribute, and belong. Jess Mitchell’s reminder that how we phrase our language can make a big impact—like shifting “hackathons” to “makeathons” to don a more welcoming vibe—reflects my own awareness and the daily efforts I make to create a more inclusive environment. [10] [1] BBC (2025, August 24). Still booting after all these years: The people stuck using ancient Windows computers. Www.bbc.com. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250516-the-people-stuck-using-ancient-windows-computers