New products manufactured due to computers;
- mobile phones,
- CDs and DVDs
- videos
- satellite receivers,
- video cameras,
- digital cameras
ICT AND COMMERCE
The number of banking transactions is now so huge they could not be carried out without computers:
- electronic transfer of funds,
- elctronic payroll
- ATM transactions,
- credit/debit card transactions
- home banking.
There is a movement towards the cashless society.
Our shopping habits have changed due to ICT;
- digital TV shopping channels,
- internet shopping.
Supermarkets offer loyalty cards to encourage customers to shop at their stores. All records are stored on computer and the store can gain useful demographic information. Computerised stock control using barcodes is used by many shops. Supermarkets have grown bigger at the expense of the corner shop.
The use of phone cards has resulted in less theft from call boxes.
Internet shopping is increasing and lead to the growth of internet only companies, eg. ebay.com, and internet only banks, eg. cahoot. Security is a problem for companies and the system is open to credit card fraud especially for services, eg. payment for a subscription-only service. Internet shopping has lead to companies closing their retail outlets and consequent loss of jobs, eg. insight.com.
ICT AND MEDICINE
ICT is used in medicine in the following areas;
- hospital and health centre administration,
- storing patient records,
- communicating between health centres and hospitals
- monitoring patients in hospital,
- diagnosis of illnesses,
- helping the disabled,
- automated pathology,
- automated operations.
Most hospitals have computerised registration systems for patients that track their progress through consultation and treatment. Health Centres, Dentists and Hospitals use computers to control their appointments system and standard letters sent to patients.
Treatments received and illnesses diagnosed are stored in patient records in computers. This has the advantages that relevant data can be quickly transmitted between health centre and related hospitals and that rapid access to patient data is possible by any doctor in a practice. When patients move, their records can be transmitted electronically to their new doctor, thus speeding up the transfer process.
are used in medical diagnosis; they ask questions about symptoms and use the answers to make predictions as to the likely cause. Patients with embarassing complaints may be more forthcoming with such diagnosis.
Computer-controlled ultra-sound and CAT scanners allow accurate screening of patients. X-Ray film is being replaced by on-screen digital images. Computer-controlled robotic arms are used for operations, eg. prostate gland surgery; this is more accurately and more quickly done than by conventional means.
Monitoring of patients' heart rates, respiration rates, blood pressure are routinely measured by computers.
Computers can be used to help the disabled communicate. This includes improvements to VDU displays for the partially sighted, text to speech for the vocally impaired, braille keyboards and printouts, touch screens, speech input.
Artificial limbs are being developed that use computer control to make for more natural movement.
ICT IN THE HOME
ICT has made major changes in the home;
- computer controlled washing machines, dishwashers, microwaves,
- central heating control,
- home security devices,
- car safety,
- internet banking and shopping, email, teleworking,
- video recorders and DVD players,
- hifi equipment,
- teletext and digital television,
- computer games,
- mobile phones.
Our standard of living is higher than previously and the quality of goods has risen even though they are produced more cheaply.
The use of home computers and modems has made teleworking a viable proposition for many workers. These workers are sent their work via modem and return their finished product to head office via modem. Workers can work flexible hours in pleasant, familiar surroundings. Work schedules can be arranged around young families. Their companies can have reduced office space and insurance, saving money. Video conferencing can be used to hold meetings.
ICT AND EDUCATION
Computers are common in schools and colleges. In 2001, the government target in secondary schools was one computer to every seven students.
Distance learning is now commonplace. Tutors can set work via email and the internet. Students send homework and assignments to their tutors via email. Videoconferencing is used between schools in remote areas, eg. Finland and the Highlands of Scotland to share expertise.
Computer Based Training (CBT) is used in areas such as pilot training. Flight simulators are less dangerous and cheaper than the real thing.
Interactive video allows students to view areas and places remotely. It is used, for example, in training new recruits to oil rigs on the correct fire escape procedures; they are then familiar with the escape routes before ever visiting the oil rig.
CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT PATTERNS
The development of the computer has affected nearly every part of industry and commerce and has led to the creation of a new industry in itself.
Some skills have disappeared completely, eg. hot-metal typesetting. In the 1980s, before computers were widely used, typesetters were very skilled workers who set a page of type for newspapers and books. They used metal characters to make up the page and had to be able to read the type backwards. They used a special, low-melting point metal to make the printing plates for newspapers. Today the same work is done from an office using DTP software and electronically controlled printers. Journalists can capture the news, write it up and typeset it in one operation, leading to much greater job flexibility.
Automatic digital telephone exchanges have reduced the number of people needed to man switchboards.
OCR and OMR mean that people are no longer needed to check examination answers or football pool entries.
A few jobs have remained unchanged, eg. gardeners, plumbers.
Some jobs have been retained but existing staff have had to be retrained, eg. bank clerks, secretaries.
New industries that have arisen due to the influence of computers include, computer manufacturers, component manufacturers, consultancies, service engineers, call centres, programmers.
In many industries improvements in communication mean that job location is no longer important:
- Telecommuting, in which the worker operates from home, receives work via email and sends work back to head office via email, is commonplace. Video-conferencing is also possible.
- Small businesses may find it cost-effective to be based in rural areas rather than in cities.
There is now a danger that workers with IT skills will demand and get well-paid jobs, whereas those without IT skills may find it difficult to gain employment. This could have public-spending implications for future governments.
