Effects of ICT challenge.
AO4 – Communications
Nowadays, as a result of ICT, many new routes of communication have been introduced, which are taken slightly for granted in the outer world of today. These provide us with new and enhanced methods, assisting us to connect with people easily wherever they are. In this report, I will explore some of these and I will also investigate the positives and negatives of them and opinions of why people think of them either in a good way or in a bad way.
E-mail
E-mails have a number of good values, many of which can be physically appreciated; in the following paragraph I am going to explore numerous reasons why e-mail is such a valued method of communication but also how e-mail creates vacillation in some people.
- To send an e-mail is not rocket science, and that’s why it does not require weeks, months or even years of training, it is a fast straight-forward approach to the world of socialization. E-mail is a liberated way of communicating with others, it has minimal requirements at just an internet connection and an e-mail address, and this is one of the things which make it so wildly appealing to others. The speed that it takes an e-mail to reach the chosen recipient is anywhere between 2-5 seconds depending on the location of the person. This is useful because after long hard work and graft, your work is easily sent to whoever you have to get it to, whether it is your boss, teacher or even your friends. For a business, the level of efficiency e-mail holds is super because of the ability for it to be sent 24/7 and 365 days a year with added attachments and the ability to make a message encrypted securing confidential details.
- Some people are sceptical about sending e-mails or even having an e-mail address for various reasons, including the fact that to send an e-mail, you actually have to have the e-mail address of the receiver and they are also required to have a suitable internet connection. Another thing which adds to these people’s views on the e-mail connection between people is that, if in their line of work, e-mail plays a huge part, when off on holiday, the messages will get stored however due to excess messages others may not, causes them to lose some very valuable information.
Fax
Sending a Fax (short for ‘facsimile’) is a traditional way of communicating with people halfway around the world. Fax evolved in the early stages when the internet was first invented, hence giving it some very dated features which some appreciate and some loathe. Stated under the next two bullet points are reasons as to why these people feel about Fax as they do.
- As an advantage, people find the little expense of Fax very little, and this is prime reason why they actually use it. Used because of its simplicity, a Fax has features which attract the aged or those trying to contact people in LEDC’s who may not have computers. Usually a Fax does not require any installation as it just involves the usage of an existing telephone line. The better the telephone line, the better the connection established.
- On the negative side many believe that sending a Fax is not useful as it requires many efforts before the document has actually been sent- this conformation getting to you only by ringing the person on the receiving end to check they have received it, If not you try again with 50% chances that the same will happen again. This conformation may have been made however you can’t confirm whether the WHOLE document has actually got to them which provides us with a result in the fact that the recipient is not receiving all information on the topic in question.
Video Conferencing
Video conferencing is a technique used mainly by businesses for long-distance meetings with clients and suppliers without flying halfway around the world to meet with them. The video conferencing system has its many upsides but has its downsides too. In the next two paragraphs I am going to explore these reasons why people find the technique of video conferencing extra-ordinary or they are annoyed that it was ever created.
Positives
- Video conferencing means that there is no need to spend valuable time and money on traveling to long-distance meetings. This also means that you can have a 'meeting' with people from many different offices /countries without any of them or even yourself having to travel.
- Another good thing is you can see people as well as hear them. This means you can see their body language which you can't do with a telephone call. Bodily Language in a meeting is very important as the people who are communicating can’t do so without seeing and hearing the opposite person’s opinion.
- Communicating via video conferences ensures that you can all view a document on the screen at the same time. People can work together and add their ideas. The document can be emailed to all of the people at the meeting later on. This ensures organization from the entire group, and cannot result in an ‘I lost it’ type of answer. It will always be there, so losing it will not be a problem anymore.
- Video conferences ensure efficiency. Ideas and knowledge can be communicated between all those at the meeting very quickly and responses gathered. Video conferencing is good for 'brainstorming' ideas. For a business that runs purely with the ideas from senior employees, this is a fantastic system.
Negatives
- Depending on the wealth of the company, colleagues are given equipment to match therefore a negative point which develops from this is the fact that everyone who is going to 'attend' the meeting needs access to suitable hardware and software. This can be expensive and can take a while to set up, meaning that whilst waiting for the equipment to be set up, the meeting and many others may be missed.
- Even with a fast connection, there might be a slight delay between responses depending on the distance between the several associates; also the amount of people participating in the discussion may slow the coordination down. Depending on the model used and the speed that the model offers, the swiftness of the meeting will be applied accordingly.
- Attendance to meetings as such may be very important. Hence, if the software breaks down or has a problem, attendance to this meeting cannot be verified. If the meeting contains important information, that colleague may miss out, resulting in him resorting to complicated methods to regain that information.
- Although this is very good for people with clients around the world, it is a problem for those who live in different time zones, and if they are on the other side of the world such as Australia or New Zealand, they may have to stay up all night to attend a meeting, resulting in them being overly tired and stressed with a build up of sleep deprivation.
Telephone
Having a telephone is an exceedingly useful piece of apparatus to have. With its many useful outcomes, it helps to connect people all over the world 24/7 365 days a year. Although this is an extremely useful piece of machinery, it has its downsides too which I will explore, along with the positives, in the next two sections.
Positives
- An immediate feedback means that communicating with loved ones, friends or even business associates has never been easier, with new technical developments, a connection can be made in as less as 2-3 minutes helping people exchange information quicker than ever.
- The conversation between the two-or more components is relatively private , meaning that the components can discuss confidential information, without the added risk of the information being tracked.
- Today’s telephone companies ensure that no one-as long as they can afford it-is left phoneless, promotions, offers and others as such are constantly out on the market helping the less fortunate to budge and buy a phone, helping them to also connect with others.
- Another positive of a telephone, is that most probably, an answer machine is available meaning that you can leave a message if the recipient is not there to pick the phone up. This means that the caller will not have to keep trying until the line is free, as long as the messages are checked, the call receiving person will get the message which was trying to be communicated to them.
Negatives
- Although, in most cases, the phone is picked up, sometimes the line may be busy at the time of making an important phone call. You are then required to wait until the line is free. This, if it is a long-distance call, could be an extensive call. The passing of important information can be delayed in these cases.
- In terms of financial fees required to make a phone call, these can add up to be pricey as calls to mobiles and international destinations cost more than a regular landline phone call. However, companies release offers and promotions on a daily basis, so this problem is easily solved. Phone cards also work out to be cheaper sometimes as well.
- Talking to someone is not always the same as a face-to-face meeting as this promotes a healthier conversation. If, however, you are talking to a friend then body language may not be required as much. A business call, as I have mentioned at earlier stages, is not the same without body language as opinions are hard to analyze without the added benefit of being able to see the person.
- Another frequent problem which occurs with mobile phone’s is the fact that reception is constantly required, if you lose touch with the transmitter then your phone call, in many cases important, could be cut off losing the full conversation. Trying to ring the person again may take a while as well, because you have to wait to regain touch with the transmitter.
Overall, communication devices are them which really do not have a changing opinions audience, as everyone likes to take advantage of the features that they provide us with. It helps us to socialize with others, which as a result, helps us to stay up-to-date with the latest news and gossip. From a business angle, it gives us and our bosses a piece of mind when we both can stay informed of the others doings.
AO4-Jobs as a result of ICT.
Over the last couple of decades ICT has changed the world of employment beyond recognition. Some businesses have literally come to an end for this reason; some have had to change in order to become accustomed to the new ways of technology. And some brand new trade has developed as well. I will analyze, under the next three sub-headings, some of the trade that has undergone massive changes due to a technological introduction.
Job creations.
- IT technician- this job has been created as a result of problems occurring in the computing area that IT technicians’ are specially trained to deal with. Their numerous jobs include helping set up office and school networks, monitoring these and installing new software on account of the client’s needs.
- Call centre’s- in the past, telephone calls for businesses were dealt with by an individual in one of the head offices. This method was disliked because answering phone calls meant that they weren’t doing any work. To solve this, ICT has allowed companies to expand their communications portfolio and solve more customers’ problems by creating large call centre’s accommodating several workers doing their former jobs. This saves time on account of the executive not always being so busy with answering calls. The capacity of jobs created as a result of call centres is huge as they are very large, in order to accommodate many people.
- Web Designer-After the development of the computer, the internet was cleverly manufactured. But the level as to which the demand was for the designers of websites was growing and growing. This eventually became a well-paid occupation as businesses paid for someone to come in and create an audience-friendly website for them.
- Business analyst- because of the demand of handling a network, businesses usually employ an team of business analyst’s who incorporate ICT in that businesses day-to-day life to make it easier for them, they also install specialist software and hardware to suit that businesses needs and demands in that field to ensure efficiency on the job.
- And finally...An ICT Teacher! - Well, without the full development of technology, there’s absolutely no way these people could have had a job...is there?
Job Changes
- Printing industry- an older printer would recall standing on their feet all day and creating full stories (backwards) out of printing letters. A very manual job which required hours and hours of frustrating typesetting. Nowadays, journalists type newsletters up on computers, which is then transferred to the editor who then passes it on to the ‘printer’ who photocopies and prints them very quickly by their 1000’s.
- Secretaries- before the mid 1980’s typewriters were the only means of typing, this meant that the typist had to be very skilled as mistakes are hard to rectify. The typewriter, being a very aged way of typing, has no type of formatting settings, meaning that if you wanted to make the writing bold, the same words would have to be typed over. This is a very frustrating job which is also a vitally needed job in today’s offices. Executives today each have one or two secretaries behind them and because of the habit of always having someone run around behind you; they now believe that they cannot live without one.
- Accounting- before the development of excel-like programmes, accountants used to keep track of financial records by hand writing the information in bank books. This proved to be very difficult as the customer never had their full trust in the accountant, but after the creation of ICT, accountants were forever grateful for their clients were now able to have full trust in employing them to handle their finances.
- Banking- the withdrawal of cash back then proved to be a problem as well, because the only way to do it was if you stood and queued for ages before your turn. This was a very difficult way as businesses that had several wages to pay, had to be there on a daily basis. These days a quick trip to the many cash machines available proves to be easier than recognized. A businessman can withdraw the cash from his account, and without even going home, he can pay his employees their wages by simply transferring the said amount to the exacting account. An easy efficient method which is loved by many employers.
- Teachers- teachers-not just ICT staff- have experienced many changes on account of technology, because of the interactive whiteboards existence, it no longer means that the tired teacher must write all work out on the blackboards. An easier method, such as PowerPoint Presentations, can be found. Also, whilst planning lessons, teachers themselves went to libraries to find resources, which then helped them to plan lessons accurately. Currently, this is no longer necessary as resources can be found at the comfort of your own PC via the internet.
Job Losses
- Factory workers- Robotic devices have been initiated to make the production line in a factory swifter. This is beneficial to the company but in no means helpful to the employee whom it replaces as they now have to go out and find a new job.
- The self-service technology which can be found in libraries and supermarkets enables customers to correctly add up the value of their goods without the assistance of the till-keepers. This reduces the need of tills, therefore reducing the need of till-keepers again resulting in upset staff.
- Online shoppers have reduced the chance of shops ever being as busy as they used to be. Maintenance of the shop floor requires minimal staff, thereafter the till-staff are minimal as well, because of the high increase in online shopping. The original staff, which was of a large number, has decreased by masses.
- A job which requires sharp senses and excellent self-defense skills, the trade of a patrol man is very demanding. Until recently where they were replaced by technological CCTV cameras. Although these require control-room operators, not as many are involved as they are with patrolling. The upsetting amount of jobs which patrol men have lost is unbelievably shocking. For us, it is hard to believe how such a well-paid employee is easily replaced by means of technology.
Travel Industry.
The travel industry is a perfect example of all three effects in one, the job creations in the computing offices has resulted from the numerous people booking online. The efficiency level has risen by a significant level because of the organization which is able to take place. They can organize the customer accounts easily and access them should there be a need to. The job losses occur on the shop floor where agents are losing jobs as online bookings have become more and more frequent, as a result jobs on and off the shop floor have been lost, created and also, they have changed in a optimistic way for some. While for others they see these dramatic changes in a pessimistic view.
CDs and Books.
A modernized way of sorting through information and also the newest development on the block, the CD-rom has created an impact on people which will never be forgotten. It has opened doors for a wider approach to visually impaired, for children in schools who have illnesses such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. In the following article, I will notice the positives and negatives of this interactive activity. And also I will analyze how the traditional way, a book, can also impact on the minds of the young learners of today, and how it teaches them that to use older methods is not always as boring as they may think it might be.
CD-ROMs.
Providing a range of activities with its functional features, the CD-ROM fails to impress many, because of its overly perfect features. However, many see it as a door for broader opportunities, for the visually impaired, who fail to see many things, having a practical method of listening to a book, is a weight of many heads.
Positives.
- A CD is portable, which means, on account of the correct equipment you can experience the transportable information anywhere- CDs come in use when projects or group work are taking place as info is transferable from destination A to destination B without- in most cases- a delay.
- In a recent survey, it is said that 90% of homes in Britain have a computer, out of them, 85% are said to have a CD-Rom encyclopedia, these people will benefit for the sake of children in that household who are studying, as they have the required information on hand.
- A CD plays a huge part in many industries, whether it is for storage, or even for recordings. One of these industries is the Music industry. They hugely rely on CD-ROMs as without them, promoting a musician would be really difficult. A CD-Rom carries the base of the whole industry; it is where the music comes from. Without it, the industry would be lost not knowing how to publicize a musician’s voice at all.
- The unbelievable amount of storage space on a CD-Rom makes it an ever more useful piece of apparatus for all people, whether they are studying, recording, or storing. A CD-Rom can provide them with all they need.
Negatives.
- A fragile surface area means that one small scratch can erase all data from your CD-Rom, which means that if this data is not backed up, a problem could arise in the form of re-doing all your work for the satisfaction of your boss or co-worker.
- The frail surface area could result in a broken CD-Rom if it is brought in contact with hard floors, this also can result in a loss of data resulting in sometimes dire consequences, and again stress reappears in the form of getting this work done for the satisfaction of others.
- The element of copyright plays a large part in some industries, for example, the DVD© company hold a strong detestation for people who copy the contents of a DVD and make money by selling these copies. The music industry also despises the individuals who attempt to copy audio material, and then go on to make profit from their illegal activity- to burn a CD-Rom, although it is illegal, still remains an easy activity in the shape of using the burning method which is found on computers, this means that with one easy transaction, many hundreds of pounds can be made as profit for the ‘businessman’ in question.
- A CD provides us with a lot of information; however, whilst using it we can never be sure of whether or not it carries a virus along with it, one virus found could corrupt the computer system, making it a harder job to repair for the owner. This is one of the many disadvantages people consider, which relate to the usage of a CD-Rom.
Books.
Positives
- A traditional way to encourage the young to keep up with ancestral ways and to not forget that technology isn’t always the best. The youth of today are said to believe that the best way to finish work, essays, projects, is by the use of the Internet, they fail to believe that books sometimes can be a better method. They fail to believe that all the information their parents and grandparents know comes from books, without recognizing that their antecedents were actually very clever, and have knowledge of that which could never be understood by them themselves.
- A book, if not at home, can easily be found at a library. At a library, because of its appeal to the whole community, usually have lots of books that can be found for one, usually very simple topic. The young learners of today resort to the Internet for information which they think is true, however they don’t recognize is that the information found in books is the most reliable around.
- An author who writes the book, is generally more educated in the topic, we tend to ignore the fact that the History books we find are written, either by very old authors, or people who were there when the event took place, making them the most knowledgeable on that topic.
Negatives
- To write a full book, paper size A5, you would usually on average have 150 pages. To even contemplate how many trees are being cut down for that one book, let alone all the other copies afterwards, is an appalling act to consider. If a publisher, guaranteed 200 copies of a 150 page book, 30,000 leafs of paper would go to a waste, this is a beginning batch, if after this, the books sold the publisher would make further copies wasting a lot more paper after the inexcusable amount of paper used for simply a beginning batch.
- Paper; a material with easy damage appeal. To fix a ripped piece of paper is actually impossible; to remove a stain is essentially impossible, ruining the book for further use. Making a book from the library dissatisfaction for the next user, due to the lack of care offered by the previous user. Fees must then be paid for that book; the book would have to be replaced with another copy, which again arises the topic of wasting resources.
- Sometimes, books are written purely for pleasure, with no intention of helpfulness at the time of publication, these types of books are usually books with the target audience being teenagers. An online reviewer commented: ‘the books that are written for teenagers are nothing but a waste; they feed unnecessary things into their minds, making them more of a nightmare than to begin with’. Many parents/guardians will agree with this statement, with, no doubt, some of their own comments to add regarding the inappropriate storylines that these books offer.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, I personally feel that ICT has introduced new and better methods of life, we have the benefit of being able to trace back to our roots with the added ‘touch’ of technology. I feel that the changes that ICT make to the society are, some may feel, bad, however, I definitely agree that it has a good effect.
In the past four reports, I have explored the positives and negatives of various technological introductions, and the variations in people’s thoughts, which just add to the interesting on-going debate about whether or not the computer, more specifically, the Internet, is a good thing or not.
Lots of reviewers, as I have mentioned above, do not like the computer or its descendants. They feel that it has a bad influence on the society, and that it encourages bad acts which harm the morale of the public. However others continue to love the computer, and they continue to love their day-to-day routine which has been made a lot easier with the use of technology.
This on-going debate has also caused a drift between adults and the youth, as the youth are trying to show adults, albeit in a bad way, that the Internet is a good thing. They don’t realize that the adults are actually aware of the tricks going on behind closed doors; the adults do realize that the Internet is not a good influence on their family and they realize that what it is offering is not good in terms of the behavior of their offspring; and they don’t plan on letting it go very easily, this causes parents to not invest in computers, for their worried nature does not allow them to. However, the deprivation of a computer harms schoolwork of the child as homework will then have to be handwritten, and it goes without saying that a computer is much, much faster.
Overall, the effects of the Internet, as explored above, are vast, and these are them which some feel that they have a positive effect on the youth, and some which others think have an unfortunate negative effect on them, creating a huge perplexity within the community, as no one knows what to believe, and whether what they do believe is true or not. This is the drift which we experience in a turn of very unfortunate events in today’s society.
ICT builds bridges for others to cross, this ‘bridge’ is aimed at the youth most of the time and the adults can’t see it in the positive view that the youngsters most definitely do. Youngsters, while trying to prove their point are just simply annoying the adults even more. The Internet is the door to many things, and adults realize that it harms sometimes the customs and traditions that the family believes in.
While we consider all this, we can see if we balance it out that the internet, much to the annoyance of adults, is actually a good thing if used in a correct manner. Parents do not want to believe this statement, however they are forced to as it does have a good effect on their children in terms of getting schoolwork done quicker, with the presentation up to scratch; reducing the amount of complaints from teachers.
