It is imperative to stress once again that while the access issue is still important, it is not as important as it once was. Since this was once the ultimate barrier to digital equity, past efforts to bridge the digital divide have focused immensely on this issue. Thanks to these efforts, the problem is being solved in various ways, by various people, and with varying degrees of success. Such efforts are aided by the natural economic progression of the computer industry; as production becomes more cost-effective, people in lower socioeconomic levels become more able to own computers. “As the power of the computer chip increases, [it is possible to] buy a computer with twice the power 18 months after the previous purchase, yet pay the same price” (Solomon, Allen, and Resta 8). With the increased availability of such technology to average people comes a significant increase of computing power in the hands of individuals and a redistribution of power from the technical minds to the ordinary people of the world (Solomon 9). From this point onwards, bridging the digital divide will no longer mean simply making machines available, because the machines by themselves will not be able to “transform problems of literacy, poverty, powerlessness, and cultural isolation and ignorance” simply by being present (Monroe xi). Physical access must be integrated with other factors as well.