How has IT affected Society? Essay

The term information technology (IT) refers to anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people that work with these technologies. IT evolved in the 1970’s and has become a part of our everyday lives. †¢Globalization: The creation of one interdependent system helps us to share information and end linguistic barriers across the continents. The technology has not only made communication cheaper, but also possible much quicker and round the clock. The wonders of text messages, email and auto-response, backed by computer security applications, has opened up scope for direct communication. †¢Creation of New Jobs: Things that were once done manually or by hand have now become easier and faster due to the advent of a computing technology. A whole new field of opportunities for skilled persons has opened up such as web designers, computer programmers, system analyst etc. †¢Cost effective: Information technology has helped to computerize the business process to make them extremely cost effective money making machines. This in turn increases productivity which ultimately gives rise to profits that means better pay and less strenuous working conditions. †¢Privacy: Though information technology may have made communication quicker, easier and more convenient, it has also bought along privacy issues. From cell phone signal interceptions to email hacking, people are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge. †¢Dominant culture: While information technology may have made the world a global village, it has also contributed to one culture dominating another weaker one †¢Loss of personal touch: emails and instant messaging have replaced the old tradition of handwriting letters. †¢Theft of personal information †¢Pornography †¢Unemployment †¢Lac of job security IT use in Mexico has changed since the implementation of NAFTA. Specifically, it appears that the indirect effects of NAFTA have increased investment and foreign firm activity in Mexico, which has ultimately increased IT use. However, the uniform proliferation of IT throughout Mexico, especially among domestic firms and within the more rural areas, appears to be weak. NAFTA, though helpful, could have been more effective in stimulating IT adoption if it were aided by further government interventions and if more focus was directed at building up a more conducive IT infrastructure. Cuba is the Caribbean’s largest and least commercialized island and one of the world’s last bastions of communism. The island’s relative political isolation has prevented it from being overrun by tourists, and locals are sincerely friendly to those who do visit. Cuba’s international telecommunication infrastructure is in better condition and better able to meet current and future demand than their internal infrastructure, although that is also improving. Demand for telecommunication is rising in spite of the economic effects of the loss of Eastern Europe and the embargo. Key industries which generate hard currency (tourism and biotechnology) require communication, and their requirements are being slowly funded. And article covering the effect of technology on the society of Nigeria While students may hunger and yearn for computers they do not have the earning power to buy PC â€Å"While students may hunger and yearn for computers they do not have the earning power – so while the demand will be catalyzed by students it will be actualized by willing parents, wards, guardians, mentors and other well meaning Nigerians who are willing to invest as little as N3, 500 a month in the future of the country†, Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology says summing up the launch of the Student PC Ownership Programme to equip Nigerian students with computers. Cost effectiveness on Businesses Quicker Communication Theft of personal information The Information Technology Society deals with all aspects of information technology in industry, administration, teaching, research and science. Its primary aim is to promote the scientific and technical development of information technology and its practical application. The ongoing computing and communications revolution has numerous economic and social impacts on modern society and requires serious social science investigation in order to manage its risks and dangers. Each technology has its users and developers. They determine the importance and influence of technology on the consumer. To determine and group the users and developers of the information technology, special properties have to be taken into account.