Emerging Technology - Essay Example

Technological advancements have been one of the most important ingredients of development processes across the world. Indeed, while computer and internet have redefined communication, technology, per se, has not only made life easy through various inventions like lifestyle goods, gadgets for home and offices, transport system etc. but their application in industries and businesses have also improved operational and managerial efficiency. IT or information technology has emerged as the fastest growing area that has increasingly become an integral part of business processes.

Technology with its widespread use and easy access has also opened new opportunities of ethical misconduct and criminal activities, especially cybercrimes. The latest technology smartphones may well be mini laptops with fast communication, camera, large storage and internet etc. Their compact size and hordes of features make them very vulnerable to cybercrimes as they can be hacked and sensitive data stolen by vested interests. They can be especially lethal in the hands of terrorists. In October, 2010, a bomb was timely found in the cargo plane in Dubai whose electrical circuits were linked to the mobile sim (telegraph, 2010).

Moreover, these features also offer huge potential of ethical abuse as they can be used for video recording private conversation or even making pornographic video secretly. Such covert activities are used for blackmail and ransom. Many restaurants do not allow camera phones in the restaurant for fear of offending celebrity guests. Camera phones are strictly banned in Ireland parliament mainly due to outside threats. Moreover, easy access to other phones through ‘bluetooth’ communication offers yet another way of breaching the privacy of other people.

Thus, smartphones have huge potential of ethical abuse. (words: 273) Reference The Telegraph. (30 Oct 2010) Cargo plane bomb plot: mobile phone SIM card connected to explosive package. Retrieved from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/8098600/Cargo-plane-bomb-plot-mobile-phone-SIM-card-connected-to-explosive-package.html