The Internet Technology - Article Example

With the advancement of technology and the introduction of new innovations the lives of individuals all over the world have been revolutionized. The implementations of technology have become a critical part of our lives, making them much more advanced and easier. Some prominent effects of technology are seen in the way complex industrial as well as household processes have been automated. It can been seen from the introduction of transport technology, shortening distances all the way to internet technology which has brought about radical changes in various social, educational as well as ways to conduct business. To gain a thorough understanding of the effect that technology has we will look at the impact it has had on the social, educational, entertainment as well as financial spheres. As far as technology goes the impact that it has had on the society has been in phenomenal. Every aspect of life has been altered due to the impression made by technology. It not only affects people regardless of their ages worldwide but it also goes to reflect the novelty that the human mind is capable of. How the society is affected by the introduction of rapid technological innovations can be categorized by looking at the most altering technologies. The first of these is the internet technology. Gone are the times when people struggle to gain information and date in order to make critical decisions. The introduction of the internet fills that information gap providing consumers with a wealth of information to make smart and informed decisions. It provides a platform for students as well as teachers for consultation or referrals. The Internet provides a place for businesses as well as individuals to find the information that they need and the exchange of information a simplified process. Not only can through proper usage companies build themselves it can enable consumers to easily search for specific services tailor made for them (McGinn, 2001). Despite the ease of information and flexibility that is the result of the technological progress of the World Wide Web there are other negative implications that it has contributed to as far as the society is concerned. True that consumer can make better decisions resulting in an influx of products that are of higher quality and value. Also it has lead to the world moving towards a society where individuals everywhere are integrated and a lot more connected however there are harmful implications of this technology as well. The first of these is the availability of harmful and unhealthy material reliable online that is easy to access for everyone regardless of age. There are then also individuals who publish harmful material on the internet and due to weak controls to censor children and adults alike have easy access. Internet crime, in terms of hacking, blackmailing and manipulation online is another negative implication due to the introduction of this technology. Cyber crime is now a threatening advent of the society on which is possible only due to the introduction of internet technology. The introduction of nano technology is also deep rooted as far as the restructuring of the society is concerned. It has impacted not only the area of human health, by the use of nanotechnology to treat diseases like cancer but also the way it can be used to dismantle cancer tumors. The health sector has made numerous advancements which have led to the treatment of diseases effectively and enhancing human health leading to higher life expectancy. In addition to the impact on the health sector, the electronics industry is also affected due to nanotechnology. This can be seen in the way the use of the nano, variable devices and applications can be built. A significant incorporation of this concept is used for combat as well as espionage for considerable improvements in military strength and defense. Energy technology is another category which has impacted the society and our way of living today. This can be seen by the introduction of solar, wind and hydrogen technology of the battery. These have played a crucial role in place of alternative technologies. Furthermore they aided in breaking the monopoly of the different energy sectors. This can be seen in the way numerous houses in American and Europe, power their home with the use of solar energy. However the increase in water and air pollution in the environment today is also a downside of the heat generated due to the use of this energy (Smill, 1994). As far as the impact of technology in shape of the internet the implications it has had on the financial markets is profound. Not only does the internet facilitate information flow but it touches every aspect of how business is conducted. It touches how the ease of information aids in evaluating actions, such as conducting analyst reporting. Also with the introduction of new softwares and interfaces information exchange, analysis and dissemination is affected. Another very critical change brought on by the internet is the way it facilitates interaction between economic agents; this comprises of how financial instruments and physical goods are exchanged and the contingent claims that pertains to them. How markets are created as well as enhanced is also affected along with live discussions of financial markets withheld by multi-parties. The third impact was that of direct access that the economic agents have to the market, all because of the internet. The constitution of the internet making the world a true global network, all the above aspects can now be undertaken across national borders and state and local jurisdictions simply because of it. The internet has also had a significant impact as far as the creation of new processes and interactions is concerned. It has led to the creation of goods, procedures and interactions which were not possible before. This can be seen in the way digital goods can be delivered by the use of the internet. These comprise of a wide variety of goods from printed information all the way to software goods such as music, pictures and videos found in digital form. The delivery of these goods is now faster, more efficient as well as lesser in price when compared to their traditional distribution. Furthermore the content available in digital form is easier to search for words and patterns, which enhances its value. An example that is relevant is that of the Napster on the internet and its distribution of digital goods. How Napster has been successful in the way it has facilitated the peer to peer transfers of music over the internet shows the evident changes in the distribution channel of music over the internet today ( Mary, 2004). As far as the financial interests are concerned the impact of the internet technology is such that a particular downside for consumers as well as managers is being over whelmed by the huge amount of information available. It is due to this that it is difficult to make use of the vast information flowing to consumers and managers everyday. It raises a grave concern as far as the need for filtering information is concerned. This has to do with the growing need for filtering tools and interfaces, in the absence of which have to sift through the vast amount of information confused about what to select as useful. Also there are severe privacy concerns raised by the collection of vast amount of information or behavior over the internet. Information about the activities of a consumer, such as perhaps reading a specific financial newspaper or monitoring trade activity of a certain stock, might serve to be valuable information for various vendors however it is a violation of an individual’s privacy. In countries like the US where individuals are used to a high level of protection as far as privacy is concerned find that as far as electronic mail and other activities taking place over the internet the conflict over privacy is quiet severe. Another area greatly affected by the introduction of new technology is that of the field of education. The implications of new technology as far as education is concerned have been very positive, leading to a great many changes in the education industry towards the better. With the introduction of computers and internet technology, there is a significant transformation in the education industry. The use of computers in education has made is easier and a lot more convenient for teachers and instructors to pass on knowledge to students in a way that makes learning easier. It is by the use of internet technology that education has turned into a interactive process. Computers provide to students an interactive audio as well as visual media. So basically instructors can incorporate animation software and Power Point presentations to impart knowledge and making learning a whole new different kind of experience for students. By using overhead projectors and screens, a large number of students can be taught at the same time. Also the learning methodology is made more interesting by the use of visual aid leading to much more student participation and a drop in absenteeism. This goes to show how the introduction of new technology has resulted in an increase in the retention rate and concentration level of students. The internet has also had a major impact on the learning of students. It is a efficient, fast and flexible tool as far as seeing greater knowledge and gaining skills is concerned. The availability of numerous websites and directories that give an abundance of information of a wide range of diverse subjects leads to learning that is phenomenal when compared to the traditional methods used for the accumulation of information (Baker et al, 1994). The rise of online education is also possible simply because of internet technology. Today, distance learning by making use of online education has added a whole new dimension as far as education and learning go. The availability of numerous courses on a wide range of subjects online has enabled students from all over the world to share knowledge and expand the academic growth. There is also flexibility as far as the submission of work and students doing projects over wider geographical distances is concerned (Kachala, 2008). As far as the entertainment industry goes due to the internet technology it is now possible to experience numerous traditional forms of entertainment solely through the use of a home computer, as well as make use of the new kinds of entertainment offerings. One can now shop, hear music, watch movies as well as read newspapers at their homes by simply accessing the internet. Through the use and accessibility to internet chat rooms and emails socializing can be done online whereas by the introduction of computer games we have now entered a whole new dimension by making use of online multiplayer games. Furthermore computer games as well as entertainment provided by the use of PSPs and X box’s has revolutionaries entertainment in the way individuals from all over the world can compete with each other simply by taking these devices online. No longer are personal computers being used for the common purpose of storing, processing and displaying information but gaming software has transformed this device into a major source of home entertainment (Blackburn, 2004). With the use of internet technology people can stay in touch with friends and family members who live far away by convenient and easy to access form of entertainment. However a drawback of the flexibility that technology has to offer is the fact that it is slowly accused of replacing daily human interactions. A lot of research has been done regarding the rate of social isolation, stress and depression induced due to online interactions replacing traditional ties and a sense of belonging to a real community. Like its predecessor, the television, internet as a source of major home entertainment has contributed to the social effects of prolonged technology use, which has now become a major public concern. It is feared, that some children and individuals spend so much time on these entertainment units that their development of real peer friendships suffers. Other than internet, games played by children are also accused of leading to an increase in the rate of obesity and an encouragement of violent behavior in children. References Baker, E., Gearhart, M., and Herman, L. “Evaluating the apple classrooms of tomorrow. Technology assessment in education and training.” Hilldale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. (1994). Blackburn, D. “On-line Piracy and Recorded Music Sales." Manuscript. Harvard Univer- Sity. (2004). Mary, M. “Artists, Musicians and the Internet.” The Pew Internet & American Life Project, (2004). McGinn, Robert E. (2001). “Science, Technology, and Society.” Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.(1991) Poe, Marshall. “A History of Communications: Media and Society from the Evolution of Speech to the Internet.” Cambridge University Press. (2011). Smil, Vaclav.”Energy in World History.” Boulder: Westview Press. pp. 259–267. (1994). Sivin-Kachala, J. “Report on the effectiveness of technology in schools.” Software Publisher’s Association. (2008). Read More