Final answer:
Wireless access points using Wi-Fi technology found in public areas are known as hotspots, and they have played a role in reducing the digital divide, though disparities in access persist.
Step-by-step explanation:
The wireless access points typically found in public places such as coffee shops, libraries, bookstores, colleges, and universities that use Wi-Fi technology are known as hotspots.
These hotspots allow device owners to connect wirelessly to the internet using a wireless WiFi router which exchanges data through a cable or another connection using microwaves. WiFi technology adheres to specific standards that ensure compatibility between devices from different manufacturers.
The spread of this technology has contributed to a decrease in the digital divide, although access to it still varies by race, class, and age in places such as the United States.