Digital Equalization Research Articles

The involuntary experience of digital exclusion among older adults: A taxonomy and theoretical framework.

The emerging phenomenon of digital exclusion raises an important issue that not everyone is equally engaged in and can benefit from the digital world. Older adults are particularly susceptible to digital exclusion, but a comprehensive conceptual treatment of digital exclusion in older adults is lacking in the psychology literature. In this article, we provide a taxonomy to advance the literature on digital exclusion in older adults, identifying key conceptual attributes of older adults' digital exclusion experiences by articulating both structural (i.e., technology deficit) and psychological (i.e., social and information isolation) challenges that they face. On the basis of this taxonomy, we integrate insights from lifespan development theories to develop a theoretical model that considers the antecedents of digital exclusion among older adults at micro, meso, and macrolevels and outlines the potential consequences for successful aging in life and work domains. We also suggest directions for future research, aiming to address issues of digital exclusions among older adults and promote digital equality in societies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Bridging the digital divide with cloud-powered applications

Cloud-based Java solutions are revolutionizing how small and medium enterprises access sophisticated technology capabilities. This technological democratization bridges the digital divide between well-resourced organizations and smaller entities by providing scalable, cost-effective alternatives to traditional enterprise software deployments. The transformation encompasses platform independence, enhanced security measures, and optimized resource utilization through modern architectural patterns. Through serverless computing and microservices architectures, organizations can now leverage enterprise-grade capabilities while maintaining flexibility and cost efficiency. The impact extends beyond operational efficiencies to foster innovation, enable strategic growth, and create new opportunities across various business sectors. Small businesses and non-profits particularly benefit from reduced barriers to entry, improved competitive capabilities, and access to enterprise-grade tools that were previously beyond their reach. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, combined with edge computing solutions, further enhances the value proposition of cloud adoption. These advancements enable organizations to focus on core competencies while automating routine tasks and improving decision-making processes. The democratization of technology through cloud solutions also creates significant socio-economic benefits, increasing digital literacy in underserved communities and generating new employment opportunities in the technology sector. As cloud technologies mature, their role in fostering digital equality and enabling business transformation becomes increasingly vital for sustainable economic growth and innovation across all business segments.

A 6‐b 875‐MS/s SAR ADC with charge‐pump based pipelined background metastability calibration

AbstractMetastability in successive‐approximation register analogue‐to‐digital converters (ADCs) degrades the ADC's signal‐to‐noise and distortion ratio and causes error propagation through the digital equalizers of ADC‐based receivers. To mitigate these issues, a charge‐pump‐based successive‐approximation register metastability calibration method is proposed. This approach operates independently of a fixed voltage or time reference. The calibration process is executed in the background with pipelining, requiring minimal additional power. Comprehensive testing shows that the proposed calibration consistently enhances ADC SNDR and reduces the code error rate across a wide range of sampling rates.

Unraveling the dynamics of digital equality and trust in AI-empowered metaverses and AI-VR-convergence

Unraveling the dynamics of digital equality and trust in AI-empowered metaverses and AI-VR-convergence

Meeting the Needs of People With Severe Quadriplegia in the 21st Century: The Case for Implanted Brain–Computer Interfaces

Background In recent decades, there has been a widespread adoption of digital devices among the non-disabled population. The pervasive integration of digital devices has revolutionized how the majority of the population manages daily activities. Most of us now depend on digital platforms and services to conduct activities across the domains of communication, finance, healthcare, and work. However, a clear disparity exists for people who live with severe quadriplegia, who largely lack access to tools that would enable them to perform daily tasks digitally and communicate effectively with their environment. Objectives The purpose of this piece is to (i) highlight the unmet needs of people with severe quadriplegia (including cases for medical necessity and perspectives from the community), (ii) present the current landscape of assistive technology for people with severe quadriplegia, (iii) make the case for implantable BCIs (how they address needs and why they are a good solution relative to other assistive technologies), and (iv) present future directions. Results There are technologies that are currently available to this population, but these technologies are certainly not usable with the same level of ease, efficiency, or autonomy as what has been designed for the non-disabled community. This hinders the ability of people with severe quadriplegia to achieve digital autonomy, perpetuating social isolation and limiting the expression of needs, opinions, and preferences. Conclusion Most importantly, the gap in digital equality fundamentally undermines the basic human rights of people with severe quadriplegia.

Addressing the Digital Divide in Health Education: A Systematic Review.

The disparity in access to essential healthcare resources and services is exacerbated by the digital divide, which presents a significant obstacle to health education. Effective tactics to advance digital equity and provide equitable access to resources for telehealth and digital health are needed to close this gap. Digital databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were used to conduct a systematic review. Keywords and Boolean operators including "digital divide," "health education," "digital equity," "telehealth," "digital health literacy," and "strategies" were used in the literature search process. Only peer-reviewed English-language papers that addressed methods for bridging the digital divide in health education were accepted after being screened in accordance with the preset inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results were compiled using a narrative synthesis method after data were retrieved and synthesized with the aid of suitable quality assessment tools. After satisfying the inclusion criteria, seven papers were added to the systematic review. The results emphasized the complexity of the digital divide in health education and provided a range of approaches to mitigate disparities in access to digital health technologies and resources. The importance of digital equality and universal design, continuous intervention evaluation and monitoring, and enduring obstacles to Internet access and healthcare technology availability were among the major themes. This systematic study emphasizes how critical it is to put evidence-based tactics into practice in order to close the digital divide in health education. Through the promotion of universal design principles, ongoing evaluation of treatments, and digital equity, stakeholders can mitigate health disparities, improve population health, and guarantee equitable access to telehealth and digital health services.

Advancing LWIR FSO communication through high-speed multilevel signals and directly modulated quantum cascade lasers.

This study investigates the potential of long-wave infrared (LWIR) free-space optical (FSO) transmission using multilevel signals to achieve high spectral efficiency. The FSO transmission system includes a directly modulated-quantum cascade laser (DM-QCL) operating at 9.1 µm and a mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) detector. The laser operated at the temperature settings of 15°C and 20°C. The experiment was conducted over a distance of 1 m and in a lab as a controlled environment. We conduct small-signal characterization of the system, including the DM-QCL chip and MCT detector, evaluating the end-to-end response of both components and all associated electrical elements. For large-signal characterization, we employ a range of modulation formats, including non-return-to-zero on-off keying (NRZ-OOK), 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4), and 6-level PAM (PAM6), with the objective of optimizing both the bit rate and spectral efficiency of the FSO transmission by applying pre- and post-processing equalization. At 15°C, the studied LWIR FSO system achieves net bitrates of 15 Gbps with an NRZ-OOK signal and 16.9 Gbps with PAM4, both below the 6.25% overhead hard decision-forward error correction (6.25%-OH HD-FEC) limit, and 10 Gbps NRZ-OOK below the 2.7% overhead Reed-Solomon RS(528,514) pre-FEC (KR-FEC limit). At 20°C, we obtained net bitrates of 14.1 Gbps with NRZ-OOK, 16.9 Gbps with PAM4, and 16.4 Gbps with PAM6. Furthermore, we evaluate the BER performance as a function of the decision feedback equalization (DFE) tap number to explore the role of equalization in enhancing signal fidelity and reducing errors in FSO transmission. Our findings accentuate the competitive potential of DM-QCL and MCT detector-based FSO transceivers with digital equalization for the next generation of FSO communication systems.

Campaigning for digital equality: the role of digital access attitudes in neoliberal context

ABSTRACT Covid-19 has thrust social services into the work of meeting digital needs, and some practitioners are mooting the need for more universal digital access. Yet little is known of societal attitudes towards digital equality and the means to achieving it. This article discusses the sociodemographic origins of digital and digital access attitudes in the context of a neoliberal state. Applying multiple regression of participants’ answers to a campaign poll and content analysis of their comments, we found that: (i) digital access attitudes do not follow from the more widely known attitudes towards technology adoption; (ii) while public and social service professionals have greater sympathy towards digitally vulnerable populations, they also hold more neoliberal views towards how digital resources are to be distributed; and (iii) neoliberal ideology undergirds digital access attitudes. These findings have implications on digital services for social development.

“Technopian but lonely investors?”: Comparison between investors and non-investors of blockchain technologies, cryptocurrencies, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in Artificial Intelligence-Driven FinTech and decentralized finance (DeFi)

“Technopian but lonely investors?”: Comparison between investors and non-investors of blockchain technologies, cryptocurrencies, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in Artificial Intelligence-Driven FinTech and decentralized finance (DeFi)

"In the Metaverse We (Mis)trust?" Third-Level Digital (In)equality, Social Phobia, Neo-Luddism, and Blockchain/Cryptocurrency Transparency in the Artificial Intelligence-Powered Metaverse.

The Metaverse, powered by a variety of key innovative technologies including 3D virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain/cryptocurrency-based non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and the Internet of Things, has been proposed as the future of a virtual universe for education, work, business, and commerce. This research (∑ N = 954) presents the results of three cross-sectional surveys that examine the influence of third-level digital (in)equality and consumer (mis)trust on Metaverse adoption intention. Study 1, focusing on the Metaverse for hybrid education, reports the mediating effect of (mis)trust in the Metaverse on the relationship between the educational dimension of third-level digital (in)equality and behavioral intention to adopt the Metaverse for virtual learning as well as the moderating effect of social phobia. Study 2, focusing on the Metaverse for remote working, reports the mediating effect of (mis)trust in the Metaverse on the relationship between the economic labor dimension of third-level digital (in)equality and Metaverse adoption for virtual working as well as the moderating effect of neo-Luddism. Study 3, focusing on the Metaverse for business, reports the mediating effect of (mis)trust in the Metaverse on the relationship between the economic commerce dimension of third-level digital (in)equality and Metaverse adoption for virtual commerce as well as the moderating effect of blockchain/cryptocurrency transparency perception. This research can provide theoretical frameworks to examine people's hopes and fears about the Metaverse and consequential adoption versus non-adoption of the Metaverse for hybrid education, hybrid remote working, and omni-channel virtual commerce. Practical, managerial, and policy implications for the Metaverse and the NFT market are also discussed.

A Novel Digital Equalizer Based on RF Sampling Beyond GHz

A Novel Digital Equalizer Based on RF Sampling Beyond GHz

‘Constants’ and ‘variables’ of digitalized education

Introduction. The article examines the problem of informatization of a globalized society. The purpose of the study is to summarize the ideas about the ‘constants’ and ‘variables’ of modern university education as a self–organizing system actively involved in the processes of digitalization. Materials and Methods. In order to achieve the research aim, a thematic review of Russian and international studies on the issues of informatization of a globalized society has been conducted. The study involved a comparison of alternative points of view reflected in the works by B. Readings, P. Cramer, etc. The analysis of existing theories of the information society has been carried out. Results. Reviewing the results of Russian and international studies has shown that the world picture today is structured predominantly by the modern media, while most globalizing trends are becoming less and less manageable. The history of philosophy frequently addresses the problem analysis of such paradigmatic shifts which arise implicitly and take shape in emergence. The article discloses the authors’ understanding of ‘constants’ and ‘variables’ in contemporary university education as a self-organizing system that is rapidly undergoing an intensive process of digitalization. A traditional European university typically demonstrates its ‘aura of age’. The questions are: ‘To what extent is the structure of consciousness influenced by the development of digital resources and by outsourcing the functions of academic word and of individual memory to external digital data media?’; ‘To what degree can production of university knowledge act as an intellectual practice and determine the independence of thinking?’ The problem of establishing the topic of academic engagement and interaction in online formats is considered to be debatable. The authors show that today individuals as subjects of cognitive activities find themselves in a situation where they face value choices, which, in their turn, determine the prospects and the potential of cultural development. Mnemonic operations are to longer perceived as the art of memory. This problem attains special significance during the process of building humanitarian education within the system of electronic communication. One cannot claim categorically that individuals cease to think structurally when they relay the function of storing information to digitized sign systems as a universal resource. Conclusions. The conducted research allowed the authors to conclude that the development of digital technologies as a means of fulfilling social interests means positioning the idea of ‘digital equality’ as the main social asset. This has stimulated establishing cardinally new directions in humanities research. At the same time, the need in relevant and timely connections between the concepts of infogenesis and semiosis is seen today as one of the most current issues in world paradigm problems.

Promoting digital equality in co-production: The role of platform design

Promoting digital equality in co-production: The role of platform design

High-speed reach-extended IM-DD system with low-complexity DSP for 6G fronthaul [Invited

With the rising traffic demand from the metaverse, holographic communications, and so on, in beyond-5G (B5G)/6G cloud radio access networks (C-RANs), fronthaul (FH) networks that transport radio information between antennas and distributed/central units will become increasingly demanding. Optical technologies are indispensable in supporting 6G FH deployment, which needs to be high-speed and power/cost-effective simultaneously; low latency is also crucial. This work is extended from our invited paper at OFC2023. While the conference version focused on the wired-wireless conversion/converging side [e.g., using digital signal processing (DSP)-enhanced radio-over-fiber (RoF) techniques] of FH, this work contributes to the complementary side, i.e., optical transmission techniques. Considering 6G capacity and cost requirements, beyond-200-Gb/s/λ optics based on intensity-modulation direct-detection (IM-DD) PAM4 and low-complexity DSP are targeted, which transparently support digital RoF techniques like analog-to-digital-compression (ADX)-RoF (split Option 8) or Delta-sigma RoF, and other functional split options. On the other hand, while the reach of 5G FH may be around 10 km, in 6G FH routing and/or rural connectivity cases, distance can be extended to 20 km or even 40 km. In these scenarios, fiber dispersion in the C-band and even edge wavelengths of the O-band pose a significant challenge for the reach extension of 200G IM-DD systems. We validate through extensive experiments the efficient FH reach extension and dispersion mitigation based on a low-complexity optoelectronic feedforward equalization (OE-FFE) technique. We experimentally verify 224 Gb/s single-wavelength and dense WDM transmissions over up to 41 km distances in the challenging C-band with lean digital equalizers and hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC), which are among the first demonstrations to our knowledge. Even with split Option 8 and extended reach, the FH systems support up to a 10 Tb/s Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI)-equivalent rate and >300Gb/s peak wireless data rate. The presented systems can be useful for high-capacity, reach-extended FH scenarios toward 6G.

Digital Inequality: Bridging the Divide for LatinX Communities

The digital divide, a pressing global issue, is characterized by unequal access to and use of information and communication technology. This disparity, deeply rooted in socio-economic and geographical factors, has become a defining determinant of social opportunities, well-being, and advancement in the modern era. Marginalized communities, particularly the LatinX population, find themselves at the forefront of this divide, grappling with challenges hindering their digital empowerment. This research comprehensively explores the digital divide’s impact on the LatinX community, considering historical influences, socio-economic disparities, and the recent exacerbation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. By meticulously examining the unique challenges faced by the LatinX community in accessing and effectively utilizing digital resources, this study seeks to shed light on the multi-dimensional nature of the issue. Furthermore, the research proposes actionable strategies to promote digital equality, including infrastructure development and digital literacy programs. This study's overarching objective is to highlight the pressing need to address the technical aspects of the digital divide but also to emphasize the broader implications for educational equity and societal inclusivity. In doing so, it underscores the importance of collective action in building an inclusive, equitable, and digitally empowered future for the LatinX community.

Libraries as Facilitators of Digital Inclusion for Sustainable Development: The Nigerian Experience

Background: Inclusive access and use of technology are germane to sustainable development as contained in the United Nations’ transformation agenda. As such, the need to bridge the digital gap through digital inclusion has become a critical goal for developmental institutions like libraries. Purpose: This article seeks to theoretically explore how libraries can facilitate digital inclusion for sustainable development, from the Nigerian perspective. Method: The study’s theoretical assumption hinges on the resources and appropriation theory of the diffusion, acceptance and adoption of new technologies by van Dijk (2013). The conceptualisation was based on the critical dimensions of digital inclusion (acceptance, literacy and accessibility); upon which the specific objectives of the study were structured. The opinions of the authors were situated in the context of relevant literature. Result: The study established libraries as facilitators of digital inclusion across the lines of digital acceptance, literacy and accessibility. This invariably impacts on the digital equality for sustainable development of all and sundry. Conclusion: Libraries in Nigeria, especially those attached to academic institutions are at the forefront of championing the course for digital inclusion which is a vehicle to achieving sustainable development.

Community Technology Centres as Bridges to Foster Social and Digital Equality amongst the Youth in South Africa

This article sheds some light on the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in promoting youth development in selected communities in KwaZulu-Natal. The study targeted the youth in four selected community technology centres in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Through a survey, 207 youth were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. In addition, data were tabulated and presented using tables, frequencies and percentiles. The study was informed by the diffusion of innovations theory. The results indicate that a variety of ICTs are available in the telecentres to provide the youth with much-needed access to information and improved communication. The study recommends that there should be sufficient and coherent government policies regulating the training of the youth to effectively use these ICTs. Government should ensure that adequate ICT training is offered to the youth. In addition, there is a need to gradually include ICT training in the school curricula at all levels, including primary education.

Artificial Intelligence for Education and Research: Pilot Study on Perception of Academic Staff

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have been used across various sectors of the global economy. The use of AI has been associated with both benefits and drawbacks, which is why the goal of this research was to identify the attitudes of academic staff of higher education institutions (HEIs) towards using AI for both academic and research purposes. To attain the goal, there was designed a questionnaire, which was distributed to members of academic staff of different biological genders and ages from 10 European countries. Irrespective of biological gender, age, or country, responses were similar. First, academic staff emphasized the importance of having AI-related regulations at HEIs. Second, academic staff were positive about using AI for information searchers and preparation of teaching materials. Third, academic staff were concerned about AI-related plagiarism issues, which is why they were reluctant to approve the AI use for research and thesis writing. Fourth, slightly more than 40% of the respondents indicated the use of AI. This points to the lack of AI skills among academic staff, which was further supported by a set of basic purposes for which AI was claimed to have been used. One implication of this research relates to the organization of the study process. Managers of HEIs should introduce institutionalized training in AI for academic and research purposes for academic staff to promote digital equality. Another implication of the study relates to the areas of AI training for academic staff. It should cover the topics of AI for the design of teaching materials, formative and summative assessment, and plagiarism check.

A Digital Frequency-Dependent I/Q Imbalance and Group Delay Estimation and Compensation Modules for mmWave Single Carrier Baseband Transceivers

This paper proposes the estimation and compensation modules of digital frequency-dependent (FD) I/Q imbalance and group delay for single carrier (SC) mode with 15 Gbps throughput rate in the millimeter-wave (mmWave) band. The proposed compensation module of a digital recursive filter can mitigate FD I/Q imbalance effects caused by the -3 dB corner imbalance of the reconstruction and anti-aliasing filters of I/Q branches. The proposed recursive filter with the appropriate initial coefficients based on the result of Golay sequence estimation can shorten the convergence time and precisely acquire the desired coefficients. The average image rejection ratio (IRR) performance after compensating by the proposed module can be improved from 21.97 dB to 47.54 dB. Besides, the group delay distortion in reconstruction and anti-aliasing filters will cause intersymbol interference to distort the in-band signal. We employ a digital equalization filter with the filter coefficients derived from the correlation results based on the Golay sequence to compensate the in-band group delay distortion. After the proposed group delay is pre-compensation at TX, the system-level performance of error vector magnitude (EVM) performance is improved by 6.21 dB to -27.78 dB to satisfy the IEEE 802.11ad/ay requirement in 64-QAM mode. The inner RX BER performance with the FD I/Q imbalance and the group delay compensation modules can achieve 3 × 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-3</sup> at 23 dB and also satisfy the system requirement at SNR of required 25.52 dB. A four-times parallelism architecture is proposed to work at a clock rate of 625 MHz with 64-QAM mode. The gate count and power consumption of the proposed design are 154.4 K and 16.2 mW, respectively.

200 Gb/s Optical-Amplifier-Free IM/DD Transmissions Using a Directly Modulated O-Band DFB+R Laser Targeting LR Applications

We experimentally demonstrate an O-band single-lane 200 Gb/s intensity modulation direct detection (IM/DD) transmission system using a low-chirp, broadband, and high-power directly modulated laser (DML). The employed laser is an isolator-free packaged module with over 65-GHz modulation bandwidth enabled by a distributed feedback plus passive waveguide reflection (DFB+R) design. We transmit high baud rate signals over 20-km standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) without using any optical amplifiers and demodulate them with reasonably low-complexity digital equalizers. We generate and detect up to 170 Gbaud non-return-to-zero on-off-keying (NRZ-OOK), 112 Gbaud 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4), and 100 Gbaud PAM6 in the optical back-to-back configuration. After transmission over the 20-km optical-amplifier-free SSMF link, up to 150 Gbaud NRZ-OOK, 106 Gbaud PAM4, and 80 Gbaud PAM6 signals are successfully received and demodulated, achieving bit error rate (BER) performance below the 6.25%-overhead hard-decision (HD) forward-error-correction code (FEC) limit. The demonstrated results show the possibility of meeting the strict requirements towards the development of 200Gb/s/lane IM/DD technologies, targeting 800Gb/s and 1.6Tb/s LR applications.