Access to digital tools and literacy is essential for thriving in today's interconnected world. In eastern North Carolina, significant barriers persist, with 29% of the population being aging individuals who struggle with digital skills, members of rural communities lacking technological resources, and over 15% of individuals facing challenges due to low technological literacy. These obstacles hinder their access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, thereby perpetuating cycles of inequality and isolation. Often these issues span generations, where inequalities experienced by parents are passed down to their children, creating entrenched systems of disadvantage. Limited healthcare access means a higher prevalence of untreated illnesses, impacting overall community health while inadequate educational resources result in lower literacy rates and limited job prospects.

Digital Skills for Ownership and Sustainability (DSOS) seeks to meet this need through innovative programs like the Mobile Computer Lab, providing underserved populations with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the digital age confidently and safely.

Employers believe that there is a suitable balance between the computer proficiency of business graduates and the skills required for the workplace. However, a study conducted by Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada (2020) found that some graduates had minimal or no formal computing training, and most participants had only a limited understanding of the necessary computing skills for a professional work environment. Without digital literacy education, 36% of North Carolina's population with only a high school diploma (2021 NC Digital Inclusion Profile) may face challenges in becoming employable.

With increasing reliance on digital platforms for essential services, high school students, job seekers, and the aging population of NC are at greater risk of being excluded from vital healthcare, education, and economic systems. A comprehensive approach is required—one that not only provides technology and training but also integrates digital skills with other critical aspects of daily life, including healthcare and privacy awareness.