'Universal access' (UA) to the Internet and the information infrastructure has become an important economic and societal goal. Yet, a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the UA concept is still lacking. In this paper, we analyze the complexity of universal access in the context of the...

Technology in general and the Internet in particular have often been seen as the “great equalizer” in that it provides a level playing field for all individuals in the society in terms of competing for social and economic opportunities. However, technology philosophers such as Andrew...

Customer reviews are increasingly available online for a wide range of products and services. They supplement other information provided by electronic storefronts such as product descriptions, reviews from experts, and personalized advice generated by automated recommendation systems. While...