The Social and Economic Effects of I.C.T

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Information Studies

The Effects of I.C.T

Essay

The Social and Economic Effects of I.C.T

We are now in an "information age" and our society is very dependent on information storage and communication. Around the World millions of people and companies are dependant on computers to process information. Some of the main uses of computers are based around advertising. Software technologies such as the Internet have created and opened new paths, never thought imaginable before. Computers are constantly being updated and upgraded so that they are capable of executing most 21st century tasks. Below is a list of programs, applicable to computers that are used worldwide.

Computers, Software and the Internet

Microsoft Excel Databases: Allows the user to store any type of information whether its Numerical or alphabetical.

Microsoft Word Document: Enables the user to construct letters and word-based documents, then able to forward to any other machine via the Internet.

Internet: A super technological space often referred to as the "information superhighway". Hundreds and thousands of people are able to access the Internet through their computer. The Internet is basically a big chain in which people can join themselves to by logging on. The Internet is capable of processing and transferring information from one computer to another in seconds.

These are only some of the programs that have been used within companies to produce documents for advertising etc. but this is not all that computers are used for. Computers are also used to store data such as financial, economic, employee and customer information. Although it seems risky to allow companies to hold your personal information, you can feel safe due to the Data Protection Act amended by the British government in 1998.

Personal Privacy

Businesses and companies around the World all hold personal information on both you and I. They store such information on super sized databases made for the sole purpose of recording who you are, where you live, what your job is, how much money you earn etc, etc. They want this information, so that they can refer to it for future preference and for advertising opportunities. But, "they have my personal information you say, then what's to stop them from distributing my information to other people"? Well, what actually prevents these companies from giving out your personal information is The Data Protection Act amended in 1998. The Data Protection Act is basically a law, which prevents companies from sharing certain areas of your personal details with other businesses. Also the Data Protection Act unnoticeably guides the businesses or companies who have your details to check that the information they have is correct and accurate.
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Advantages and Disadvantages

The technological advances in computers and the Internet have allowed thousands of people to complete in seconds, which would have normally taken days to complete using other sources such as books. Other advantages of using computers and the Internet are that people are now able to search, sell and purchase items without having to leave the comfort of their own home, not only that, but they can also search for things over the net and from thousands of locations around the world giving them a wide variety of choice.

Although there are all ...

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