Final answer:
Usability divide (option a) is not a recognized stage of the digital divide, which typically includes economic, accessibility, and empowerment divides. The digital divide contributes to a knowledge gap and a lack of e-readiness among certain demographics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'digital divide' refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that don't or have restricted access. Amongst the stages of digital divide are an economic divide, which is based on the financial ability to access technology, an accessibility divide, referring to the availability of technological infrastructure, and an empowerment divide, which reflects the ability to fully utilize technology for improving one's life. However, usability divide is not typically considered a standard stage of digital divide.
When discussing the implications of the digital divide, a related concept that emerges is the knowledge gap. This refers to the information disparity that arises due to differences in access to technology. Furthermore, the concept of e-readiness is important in understanding an individual's or group's ability to use technology effectively to process and interpret information.