GCSE ICT – Social effects of information systems
Is ICT a good thing?
- Many of the old boring jobs can now be done by a computer, which leaves workers to do more interesting tasks.
- Computerisation has improved levels of productivity, which means that workers need to work shorter hours and still maintain the same standard of living.
- Businesses in the UK must use ICT in order to keep up with their competitors in other countries.
- Without ICT many things would not be possible (e.g. Credit cards, digital television, DVDs, space travel, mobile telephones).
- ICT has created many new jobs.
Is ICT a bad thing?
- Life without ICT tends to be slower and less stressful.
- Computerisation of many jobs in industry (e.g. manufacturing) has led to unemployment.
- Many of the new ICT jobs require high levels of skills and/or qualifications, and are not easily filled by older, less ICT-literate workers.
- ICT has increased the amount of work many workers have to do, and they often have to work longer hours.
- Many ICT jobs (e.g. data entry) are just as boring as the jobs they replaced.
- The storage of personal data on computer systems has eroded people’s privacy.
- ICT systems often fail at inconvenient times – leaving businesses unable to function because they are so dependant on ICT.