Mobile phones have also become immensely popular, and nearly everyone has one these days. Mobiles can now take the place of personal notebooks, and some phones even have the facility to send Emails to people via WAP, which stands for “Wireless Application Protocol”. Pictures can also be sent via the mobile networks.
The gaming world has been revolutionised by the ICT boom and players can now play each other over a broadband connection in real time with minimum lag, and connection speeds are improved all the time. Music can also be listened to free of charge off the Internet. Radio stations such, as “total rock” which is one of the web’s most popular web based music station.
Advantages at Work
Technology has opened up new gateways for us in the technological age. Computers have removed boring repetitive manual tasks in factories because robots are being used far more often. Jobs can be applied for online. Software can be shared remotely over the Internet, as well as documents and files. Shares can be also be monitored, bought and sold over the Internet. New jobs have been created due to I.T such as call centres that solve your computing problems over the phone. Companies like AOL and BT and many other companies that offer an Internet connection have also done very well, because of the high demand for Internet services. Also many people use their credit cards and other such cards to do their shopping. They can do this because of the communications between the shops and banks that allows the shops to take money out of your bank remotely to pay for products you purchase.
With applications such as “video conferencing”, companies can interact with each other from thousands of miles away. Employees will not have to travel to other countries to discuss business ventures, but can do so via a video link. This cuts down costs for the company.
Disadvantages
As with everything, there are disadvantages with the ICT technology.
Not only has ICT created new jobs, but it has also left a lot people unemployed because machines have taken over from them because they are cheaper and more reliable than a person. Robots are now performing many of the manual tasks such as assembly work and paint spraying in factories and many industrial processes operate 24 hours a day and are continually being monitored and controlled by computers. Computers are overall cheaper and faster than people.
People are also gradually loosing the art of conversation and socialisation. Instead of ringing someone up for a chat, a text message can be sent quickly and cheaply. Also instead of going out with friends, children are instead staying at home and staring at the computer. People become reliant on ICT and prolonged use can reduce social interaction and feel that there is no need to leave their home.
Hacking can result in computer fraud and hackers can steal money from someone’s bank account because they have gained unauthorised access. Also if someone steals your credit card, they can easily spend your money online and the Internet makes this very easy to do so. People can also hack into someone’s computer now with the increasing number of people with broadband. If you don’t protect your computer with Anti virus software and Firewalls, people can gain access of your computer and damage files, or even spy on what you do on your computer.
Peoples privacy is also being effected by ICT because the government store a lot of personal data about us, and can monitor us with use of the increasing number of security cameras that are everywhere in cities. Databases store all our personal details and lots of people do not agree with this.
Overall, I think that the advantages of ICT over weigh the disadvantages. More opportunities have been opened up to us such as speaking to people the other side of the world very cheaply. Before the computer age, this was nearly impossible. Although I do not think that ICT should be put in front of social life. Things have been made easier for us to access such as online banking, and online shopping.
