Information technology (IT) is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications, computer hardware and mobile devices."IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and securely retrieve information. Many companies now have IT departments for managing the computers, networks, and other technical areas of their business. IT jobs include computer programming, network administration, computer engineering, Web development, technical support, and many other related occupations.
Since we live in the "information age," information technology has become a part of our everyday lives, that's why the purpose of this article is to look at the impact of information technology on our society. Knowing that any invention has advantages and drawbacks, we are specifically interested to the most important effects of information technology on any aspect of the society.
To reach this goal, we will firstly present information technology and its different characteristics, then we will investigate the actual effect of IT by stating some arguments for and then against IT and finally we will make a little summary just to say that, despite some remarkable drawbacks, IT is very necessary because there are many tasks that would be impossible without the use of IT. Air-traffic control, credit cards, space travel and medical research are just some examples.
Information technology is comprised of computers, networks, mobile and wireless devices, satellite communications, robotics, videotext, cable television, electronic mail ("e-mail"), electronic games, and automated office equipment. The information industry consists of all computer, communications, and electronics-related organizations, including hardware, software, and services. Completing tasks using information technology results in rapid processing and information mobility, as well as improved reliability and integrity of processed information.
There have been tremendous changes in the ways people live, work and play over the past three decades. The past ten years or so have seen changes at a much faster pace. Technological innovation and entrepreneurship have been the key players in promoting these changes. The rapid pace at which IT is changing means five to ten years from now lifestyles will be a lot different from what they are today. Nowadays we have some very good products both in the hardware industry and in the application industry. Companies like, facebook, google and twitter have completely revolutionized how people communicate and share information. In the device world we have big industries like Microsoft, apple and Samsung that are paving the way for the future generation by introducing revolutionary devices and applications.
Advantages Of Information Technology
Everyday, people use technology in new ways. Computers are increasingly affordable; they continue to be more powerful as information-processing tools as well as easier to use. Some of the advantages of information technology include:
Globalization - IT has not only brought the world closer together, but it has allowed the world's economy to become a single interdependent system. This means that we can not only share information quickly and efficiently, but we can also bring down barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries and countries are able to shares ideas and information with each other.
Communication - With the help of information technology, communication has also become cheaper, quicker, and more efficient. The internet has also opened up face to face direct communication from different parts of the world thanks to the helps of video conferencing. Many collaboration platform have been built in addition to face to face call via mobile devices like iphone.
Cost effectiveness - Information technology has helped to computerize the business process thus streamlining businesses to make them extremely cost effective money making machines. This in turn increases productivity which ultimately gives rise to profits that means better pay and less strenuous working conditions.
More time - IT has made it possible for businesses to be open 24 x7 all over the globe. This means that a business can be open anytime anywhere, making purchases from different countries easier and more convenient.
Creation of new jobs - Probably the best advantage of information technology is the creation of new and interesting jobs. Computer programmers, Systems analyzers, Hardware and Software developers and Web designers are just some of the many new employment opportunities created with the help of IT.
Some disadvantages of information technology include:
Unemployment - While information technology may have streamlined the business process it has also created job redundancies, downsizing and outsourcing. This means that a lot of lower and middle level jobs have been done away with causing more people to become unemployed.
Privacy - Though information technology may have made communication quicker, easier and more convenient, it has also bought along privacy issues. From cell phone signal interceptions to email hacking, people are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge.
Lack of job security - Industry experts believe that the Internet has made job security a big issue as since technology keeps on changing with each day. This means that one has to be in a constant learning mode, if he or she wishes for their job to be secure.
Dominant culture - While information technology may have made the world a global village, it has also contributed to one culture dominating another weaker one. For example it is now argued that US influences how most young teenagers all over the world now act, dress and behave. Languages too have become overshadowed, with English becoming the primary mode of communication for business and everything else.
Information Technology In Some Domains
In summary, one can easily see that computer related technologies have a strong impact on the world. These have attracted many students and professionals to the field of information technology. There are thousands of fields that use these technological opportunities in other to boost work's cost effectiveness. These fields include:
Business - One of the first and largest applications of computers is keeping and managing business and financial records. Similar programs and databases are used in such business functions as billing customers; tracking payments received and payments to be made; and tracking supplies needed and items produced, stored, shipped, and sold. In fact, practically all the information companies need to do business involves the use of computers and information technology.
Medicine - Information technology plays an important role in medicine. For example, a scanner takes a series of pictures of the body by means of computerized axial tomography or magnetic resonance imaging . A computer then combines the pictures to produce detailed three-dimensional images of the body's organs. In addition, the MRI produces images that show changes in body chemistry and blood flow.
Science and Engineering - Using supercomputers, meteorologists predict future weather by using a combination of observations of weather conditions from many sources, a mathematical representation of the behavior of the atmosphere, and geographic data. Computer programs make it possible for engineers to analyze designs of complex structures such as power plants and space stations.
Education - The technology available today has made a wealth of knowledge available to students, which offers great potential for the speed and style of learning. Information is presented in so many ways that any type learner, whether gifted or disabled, can find and use the necessary material. With e-learning the information on the Internet is available for all who have access, without discrimination.
To wrap up , with the objective to present the information technology and to study the impact of these new technologies to the society, it is clear that the computer age is here; this cannot be debated. In many aspect of our society, we found IT efficient in solving complex problems at a very small type. It can perform enormous number of functions and operations that human cannot do. As result of the use of IT we can have cost effectiveness, globalization, communication and new jobs creation. Despite all these advantages, the IT world faces some remarkable disadvantages; privacy of information is an issue but the most important drawback is unemployment because many task initially done by human, are now done by computer. Nonetheless, it is said that in some scopes like education, technology can enhance traditional methods of learning but cannot replace the human touch.
