Most home office only require a monitor, PC, internet connection, mouse, keyboard and a printer, some are networked with other home computers. 84% of UK office workers, Startup.co.uk, are more efficient and more motivated when able to work from home. Some of the benefits for the individual is that they can save 225 hours a year for the average London commuter, bbc.co.uk, meaning that more time can be used for work or leisure. Another advantage is that it provides working hours meaning parents can work around their children. However a disadvantage of working from home is that people may feel isolated and lose the opportunity to talk with other people and social life.
The negative effects of the availability of electronic information
While there are a huge number of positive benefits of electronic information, there are still some negative effects for both society and individuals. Some people have been required to leave some organisations for viewing inappropriate images such as pornography using work equipment or time. This can effect the organisations they work with due to lost productivity and may require monitoring of employees e-mails this action comes at a cost to companies. There is also anecdotal evidence that due to the ease in downloading pornographic images or videos over the internet more people are now accessing it than would go to a shop and buy a magazine. As it is possible to obtain images either accidentally or deliberately which are seen as inappropriate such as child pornography, which has lead to police officers being used to create units to deter accessing this information this has lead to societies resources being used up.
Other negative effects could be that cowardliness is being breed. An example of this is jobs, which use to be seen as things which must done in person are being replaced by e-mail, SMS or recorded phone messages. Like when RadioShack sacked 400 employees over e-mail. This could lead to the individuals feeling dehumanised as they weren’t “worth” 2-3 minutes of conversation just to explain.
Another harmful effect of increased availability of electronic information is that children can be emotionally traumatised more easily. In May 2005 a study involving 770 young people found that 23% of those admitted to having been bullied through the digital media (14% mobile phones, 5% internet chat rooms, 4% e-mail). 1 in 10 bullies take photos/videos of their actions using their mobile phones. Some of these videos are sent all through schools via Bluetooth and MMS messages. With many of these being uploaded onto the internet for the world to view. This public humiliation can have extremely negative effects on young people not only in their youth but through to adulthood. With some young people deciding to commit suicide due to the actions via this new technology.
With increased security made available by electronic information for in-store card transactions, criminals are now using the internet to defraud billions from the economy and high risk companies are raising their prices due to this. “Criminals are stealing over £1 million from our accounts every day.” Which.co.uk. With prices rising companies are facing higher insurance costs for all companies dealing with credit/debit cards and for the card companies leaving all organisations dealing with plastic money with increased costs.
How organisations communicate with individuals and society
With the increasing use of the internet with 57% of the UK households having internet access, organisations are progressively more using “pop-ups” as a method of communicating with people. This has become for many an annoyance as it disrupts what the person was doing. This has guided software companies to create pop-up blockers. This increased source of use for generally “freeware” has advantages for companies as their logo is used and more business is generated as a form of cheap subliminal advertising.
Using targeted advertising via SMS or e-mail, after people fill in forms or join e-groups/forums. This enables companies to gage certain levels of advertising of certain products at the correct target group achieving more efficient adverting than that of mass-media.
Television advertising provides a large population aim at. It is most effective for large companies which are used or needed by many people such as injury lawyers, supermarkets and insurance or loans. However with increased regulations to what adverts may show or which adverts can be shown such as a ban on all smoking adverts. Television advertising is becoming more expensive as reduced revenues due to TV on demand and Google™ receiving more revenue (from advertising) than Channel 4 (for more information please read the article available online from, the times website; http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9071-2432141,00.html). Whereas Radio advertising is generally allot cheaper with a local or more specific audience it can achieve better results for small to medium sized businesses.
The Impact on those who do not have or want access to electronic information
With a major impact on the 43% of homes which do not have access to this electronic information via internet access. The two main groups who do not have access to the internet are low income families and the elderly with only 28% having internet access. One of the effects is that these families with low incomes can not access discounts from buying online or paying bills online. They are also missing out on the convenience for busy families such as paying for TV license instead of travelling to a post office. Another important effect of not being able to access the internet is that they can not access vital information which is occasionally posted only on organisations websites. Such as schools and college information in adverse weather i.e. The college will be closed.
A reason why some people may not want internet access may be because they are scared as they may not understand the internet or because of the cost. And argument which is often used by the elderly is that they have got so far through life without it they can manage a little bit longer.
The impact of this for those individuals is that they can not access vital information, while being left behind in communications. Meaning they are left feeling unable to access online discounts and information.
Initiatives to enable people to get online
To help people who can’t get access or don’t know how to there are a number of initiatives such as “Everybody online”, “Peoples Network”, the libraries and internet café’s.
Everybody online is a charity supported by BT and run in partnership with Microsoft to helps communities overcome barriers they have to access technology “so residents can take advantage of the wealth of opportunities digital technology and the Internet has to offer” Citizens Online, they do this by sharing local resources and providing all the equipment required for each session.
The Peoples network is a government project using the Libraries, they explain how to use the internet in terms which are simply to understand for people new to technology, with all public libraries having access to the internet so everyone can access the benefits of the internet for free!
With internet café’s and mobile phones offering the internet at convenience and for relatively cheap providing access to more site which public and free organisations do not permit access to such as instant messenger and music download sites. It is also cheaper for light users than paying for either a dial-up service. With modern computers with fast internet broadband.
Conclusion
In conclusion I believe that the availability of electronic information has had both positive and negative impacts upon individuals and society. Such as better communication, more flexible working time and a more productive society, a society that could not function without electrical equipment or electronic information this was evident when New York had a blackout in August 2003. However in many cases the positives of the availability of this technology out weighs the negatives.
Bibliography
Definition of WAP available from < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAP> accessed 05/01/07
RadioShack information available from <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/31/radioshack_sackings/> accessed 05/01/07
Text bullying site available from<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4614515.stm> accessed 06/01/07
Quote on credit card fraud available from <http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/money/reports/banking_and_borrowing/borrowing/Credit%20card%20fraud/credit_card_fraud_report_657_56317_2.jsp> accessed 06/01/07
Internet statistics <http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=8&Pos=1&ColRank=1&Rank=176> <bbc article attached>accessed 05/01/07
Google channel 4 fact. < http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9071-2432141,00.html> accesses 06/07/07
Everybody online available from <http://www.citizensonline.org.uk/everybody_online> accesses 07/01/07