Advantages of Computer Networking - Research Paper Example

No: Life without Computers Computer is the most dynamic invention of the 2oth century.With the advent of this remarkable technology, world is now being defied as global village. Large sale of personal computers speaks of its importance in modern world. Information technology has completely revolutionized the concept of personal computers. Laptops, dyna books and knowledge navigators are the real strength of information technology. Internet has transformed the academic and social life of youngsters. Job opportunities and online classes have changed the daily human life. Computer has eased out the business dealings in the world. Paper work has been reduced and large data regarding inventories and customer records can be maintained daily. Speed, accuracy and reliability are the hallmark of this technology. Millions of transactions can be performed in a very less time as compared to days without computer. Therefore, it is evident that computer is the blessing of science and one can perform numerous tasks without physical involvement. This has set pace to the life and has almost made the life indispensible without computers. Literature review Computer networking has made data sharing very easy. Now people can share huge amount of data programs without any problem. In future, it is going to possible to connect hundred of devices to fulfill different needs. Shrinking size of computers and then technology of laptops has made it convenient to get out of the office and use computers. This helps in remaining in touch with the people of the outside world. Certain colleges in developed countries have also offered students to share data with other students using computer networking. Computer networking within an organization and then down to within an office has made the job easy. Huge quantity of data can be shared with each other while sitting thousands of miles apart. Close circuit television cameras (CCTV) are now used to cater for any security threat to important areas. These cameras are interconnected to computer through networking and then monitored with the help of computer screens (Weiser 97). Internet technology has enhanced the use of computers manifolds. Initially it was only used by US defense department for military purpose and after seeing success it was introduced to general people. This has truly changed the world into the global village. Still the advancement is unstoppable. Now the world has almost entered the age of digital connectivity. Internet has become indispensible to people in a very short time due to its number of functions. Because of its advantages over the other technologies, it has become almost an irreversible invention. Television has been replaced with the internet as a mean of education, entertainment and communication. Varieties of entertainments are just few seconds away. Online education has really saved the time of students and has increased the interest in studies. People in any country of the world can be communicated with in seconds. This was not possible without the advent of computer (Hoffman et al 2). College students are the main users of internet in American and in rest of the world also. According to the college students, internet has really helped them to enhance their knowledge and fulfill their academic needs. In the absence of internet and computer, such fast learning was not possible. Internet amply covers all academic and social aspects of a college student’s life. This technology has almost become the integral part of their day-to-day life. They can access the web quite frequently and get the desired data to meet their academic requirements (Hoffman et al 4). Besides getting fame in students, internet has become part of the household life. Number of people getting connection for family usage is on the rise across the world. It is the cheapest mean of communicating with the relatives and known people across the world. In-home users enjoy news, games, hobbies and email through internet (Hoffman et al 5). Online banking is the major change since 2003. People do all sorts of banking from their residence. They get loans and do shopping using the different cards. Cash transactions and shopping of money is a routine matter now. Online deposit of bills has prevented the people to stand in big rows to wait for their turn. This has helped people to avoid inconvenience and save time. About 16% people in America reported internet as mean of communication instead of telephone in 2003. Now all banking problems can be resolved as banks of every country have shifted to online banking to make system customer friendly (Hoffman et al 6). Indispensible means that something is becoming part of routine life, Reading newspaper, checking email and chatting with friends. Latest economic and financial condition of different countries is helpful in keeping interest of user alive, which would not have been possible in a computer less world. Transformation means that one has a new idea of things moving around. If we talk about emails than it is sure that it has really replaced the old concept of writing letters. Now people have started using emails for their practice benefits. Communication with business partners and known people is matter of seconds now. Emails have given its users a new dimension of communication, which they did not have before. There is only one problem and that is to remain online and keep track of all incoming mails especially related to business and profit gaining. Therefore, the computer with all its accessories and gadgetries has become indispensible for the people of twenty first century (Morley & Parker 6-7) (2009). Now days there are many jobs in which the industrial usage of computer is increasing. Multi functional mobile phones are the important component of any job now. American president Obama has also been officially allowed to use “blackberry” to remain in contact with friends and staff officers. Problem of security can be easily overcome by use of different software and passwords during the job hours. These cell phones are extremely useful for business community for remaining updated and prompt decision making. Google mapping and newspaper sites are useful to keep track of fast changing situation in a country. Stock exchange and forex rates can be monitored from sitting in a room. Frequent use of telephone calls has been greatly reduced due to availability of large information on a small screen (Morley & Parker 22) (2010). Computer is a big entertaining machine. Face book, messengers, chat rooms and online games provide entertainment to kids and youths. One can interact and show his snaps to people sitting at far destinations (Morley & Parker 22) (2010). Transformation of information from one place to another is known as information technology. Information technology is the new term introduced in the world because of computer. Concept of information technology was available earlier but because of the absence of computer, it could not be implemented. Today any child without computer is considered as twenty first century’s dropout. Information age demands long term and broad based education for curriculum development. The term “computer literacy” means that the student of present time needs to develop some understanding of computers in order to handle different tasks in future (Beardon & Whitehouse 59). “The most common understanding of computer is to gain ability to operate computer” (Beardon & Whitehouse 60). Computer is machine that students should learn as a tool of everyday life. Apart from regarding computers as educational discipline, it should be followed for series of applications and methods. It helps humans to think and act beyond the boundaries. The most important elements of computer education to gain knowledge are as following. Basic understanding of the computer technology and fast coming changes, knowledge of computers base applications and their use in the projects, understanding of the impact of technology on the society and the changes required by society to accept the technology. Finally, understanding of computer programs and then making of small programmes. (Beardon & Whitehouse 60) Methodology There are various research methods used for researching such as qualitative, quantitative, case studies, interviewing and so on. For this research, qualitative research methodology is opted. Literature review is conducted for finding the information related to life without computers. Literature review is an in-depth study of authorial sources in order to find solution to the problem raised in a research. Literature review is not just a summary or detailed description of the collected sources. It is a critical piece of review in which, the collected sources and information is analyzed in order to find the answers of the questions asked in any research. In this research, literature review is conducted to analyze the issue of life without computers and for that purpose, five sources are utilized. Results Computer networking is used to connect one computer with other for different reasons. Data sharing, information sharing and programmes sharing have become very easy. Different firms can now interact within the firm and with other firms with in no time. Previously it was not possible and even if somebody wants some data from next office then he had to walk to that office. Networking has made data transfer easy and reliable. Internet is the technology that has changed the human lifestyle in the present century. Previously it was not possible to even contact the people living in other countries. It is beneficial for the people of all ages. People can do business and seek information and education without facing any problems. Internet has interconnected the people of world. Talking to any body and getting any sort of information from any place of the world is easier than ever before. Computer and internet have changed the business style. Online banking helps to do online money transactions. Utility bills can be deposited online without standing in long rows. Complaints and suggestions can be endorsed on bank website. It has also reduced the time and efforts if compared them with the pre computer age. No one can easily say that computer is an indispensible device as it performs countless functions from the one place. Before invention of computer, it was not possible to play games, read newspapers, talk to friends and do business activities on one device. It has really turned the things around by offering quality services after the introduction of internet. If somebody had to read newspaper than he had to go out of home in search of home and even than people used to get little knowledge without any updating. Computer is a device that updates its data on regular basis to keep people informed. Use of multifunctional mobile has become part of the job and education as well. Business men can remain in touch with clients even when he is away from his office. He can always remain in contact to get latest information regarding different activities. Without mobile s and computers such rapid information and updating was not possible. Computer is major source of entertainment. Unlimited downloads of latest songs, movies and games are only possible due to computer. People can chat and see each other while living away from each other. This machine has brought about in the world this revolution. Information technology is known as computer literacy. It is important for every student to know basic computer applications and software to handle the computer. Computer with its added advantages has become the part of every office and institute. Therefore, without the knowledge of computer the people will be counted as illiterate. Database and programme making are the latest trends in information technology that every university and college student should know to face future challenges. Computer should be used by the youths as it is the machine that encourages to think beyond limits and boundaries. It is a machine that invites human to explore new things and idea about the world and universe. Conclusion Computer has become indispensible part of human life. Therefore, it is almost impossible to imagine a life without computers. Internet, online banking, information technology and the sort of communication it provides to people was never before. Especially the youths are required to learn the different applications and software of computer to join steps with the pace of twenty first century. All the conducted research that we cannot live without computers, as it has become a part of our lives. Works Cited Beardon, Colin & Whitehouse, Diane. Computers and Society. Intellect Books, 1993. Also available at http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=BckZwPywMP8C&pg=PA54&dq=computers+in+our+life&hl=en#v=onepage&q=computers%20in%20our%20life&f=false Hoffman, Donna L., Novak, Thomas P. & Venkatesh, Alladi. Has The Internet Become Indispensable? Empirical Findings and Model Development. Communications of the ACM 47 (7) (2004): 1-13. Also available at http://elabresearch.ucr.edu/blog/uploads/papers/Has%20the%20Internet%20Become%20Indispensible%20-%20Empirical%20Findings%20and%20Model%20Development%20[Hoffman,%20Novak,%20and%20Venkatesh%20-%20April%202004].pdf Morley, Deborah & Parker, Charles S. Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Introductory. New York: Cengage Learning, 2010. Also available at http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=iNJ2Std0UtsC&pg=PA5&dq=computers+in+our+daily+lives&hl=en#v=onepage&q=computers%20in%20our%20daily%20lives&f=false Morley, Deborah & Parker, Charles S. Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, Comprehensive. New York: Cengage Learning, 2009. Also available at http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=tfU7RtI7OX8C&pg=PA5&dq=computers+in+daily+life&hl=en#v=onepage&q=computers%20in%20daily%20life&f=false Weiser, Mark. The Computer for the 21st Century. Scientific American September (1991): 94-104. Also available at http://wiki.daimi.au.dk/pca/_files/weiser-orig.pdf Read More