06/03/2018
The most drastic alteration in our lives since the past few years is the pe*******on and massive progress of the Information technology, which has become more of a necessity for us now rather than a facility. These drastic changes that information technology has introduced in our lives have completely changed our lives and perhaps our lifestyles. Life has become much less manual and a lot hassle-free for people all around the globe that have active access to the innovations of information technology.
Rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICT) has lead to significant changes in social, economical and political relations of the modern society. Access to information and control over it contribute to the prevalence of soft power in politics of digital age, and empower the non-state actors in international relations. Contemporary diplomatic service, besides being faced with enhanced roles, requests for extended outreach and accountability, yet shrinking resources, is also challenged with multistakeholder and multidisciplinary international arena.
The world is fast becoming a global village and the thirst for more knowledge and information has been a driving force for the drastic changes in Information Technology around the world, these changes are what people have termed as the “third industrial revolution”. One can see the basic trends in the Information Communication Technology revolution in terms of its structural changes, from telephony to the Internet, fixed to mobile telephone and from narrowband to broadband. The development in information technology has left an impression on us as individuals not just in the western world but generally. Information technology today has a completely distinct essence to it when compared with how it was perceived to be back in the day. The drastic changes that information technology has introduced in our lives have completely changed our lives and perhaps our lifestyles.
Understanding Information Technology
Information technology is so closely attached with our lives today because half the efforts that we have to make in our daily lives in order to sustain and expand are now being done and completed by technological gadgets and machines. For instance, the innovative IPhone that can allow an individual to surf through the Internet on the spot whenever he/she might need it for assistance and relevant information. Information Technology is a term that encompasses all forms of technology used to create, store, exchange, and use information in its various forms (business data, voice conversations, still images, motion pictures, multimedia presentations, and other forms, including those not Yet conceived). It is a convenient term for including both telephony and computer technology in the same word.
Indeed, it has made life extremely organized and structured but at the same time we have failed to acknowledge the threats and dangers that it brings along with it. We cannot ignore the fact that there are over thousands and thousands of cyber intrusions each day, which has ended up affecting the lives of people in an unfavorable manner. For example, online banking systems have allowed hackers to steal money and many awful incidents have taken place because of this technological advancement and facility provided to the people. This implies that with more and more technological advancement and information accessibility, the chances of the exploitation of technology and information expand.
Enhancement of the quality of life
Is the most noticeable aspect of attaching information technology so closely with our daily lives but it seems as if we are ignoring the problems that it is bringing along with the much-needed enhancement. For example, The GPS system (Global positioning system), which was originally developed for military-use but eventually it became a part of our daily, lives in the form of car navigation system. The same GPS system is now being used by terrorists and in other illicit activities, which obviously project the dark side of having information technology at hand.
The most pragmatic yet optimistic side to having information technology at hand is less consumption of time and a better quality of life. For instance, we can reach out to our family and friends residing miles away from us through mobile phone, Internet, computer and web cameras. It is worth mentioning here that every sphere of work and study has developed and excelled in this day and age because of the technological enhancement. Technology has provided every sphere with an opportunity to make their work a lot easier and organized. For instance, spheres such as entertainment have become so significant in our daily lives because of Media, which revolves around many technological widgets such as the satellite system. The main reason as to why information technology has become so proximately attached to our daily lives is the fact that our daily lives now revolve around the technology and we feel incomplete or void without having it around us.
In conclusion, I can imply that there are many merits and demerits when it comes to the usage of information technology and people should be able to differentiate that. Information technology is bliss for the most part with such a gigantic impact on our daily lives but it should be used responsibly while realizing the significance of personal struggle and effort. We cannot deny that information technology has become the most significant part of our daily lives while making our lives a lot more hassle-free and swift. Take an example of e-mailing and online shopping which both define how deeply information technology has penetrated into our daily lives and how technologically accustomed we are now. In Britain today, ask an average citizen to show a form of identification and you get: credit/debit card, Oyster card, driving license and Loyalty cards, this is the result of the advancement of information technology, we can almost not do without them and also this could be to our detriment because the it could lead to identity theft, it can be used to track your movement.
Precise details of our daily lives are collected, processed, stored, retrieved everyday within huge computer database, which belongs to big companies, government departments, that is information technology in the form of surveillance system.
The increasing saturation of household with Information Technology has led to many people consuming several technologies at the same time, like: listening to music and browsing online, switching between homework on computer and chatting with friends, zapping through channels on the television with the use of a remote controls.
Admittedly I can conclude that information technology is perhaps the most significant part of our daily lives now and it has taken human life to whole new and an intellectual level. Furthermore, it has opened infinite routes of receiving information anytime anyplace allowing us to live a much qualified and informed life.
Abdul D.S Nanni
Information Communication Technology Specialist.
