Opportunities and Obstacles to Narrow the Digital Divide: Sharing Scientific Knowledge on the Internet

Abstract

Access to scientific information is considered a competitive advantage to foster knowledge, research, and development; improve quality of education; and advance professional practices. Although, the Web was conceived to encourage information sharing, restrictions to some publications reduce access to knowledge, especially to those in developing countries. This chapter presents a conceptual framework of the knowledge transfer cycle, and examines key factors affecting the dissemination of scientific information. Current challenges facing the open-access initiative of making scientific information free and available worldwide are also discussed. This chapter examines key factors affecting the dissemination of scientific information and current challenges posed by the open-access initiative of making scientific information free and available worldwide.