Computer Dependency - Essay Example

Computer Dependency Technology is advancing at a tremendous speed globally and both individuals and organizations are trying to cope with the emerging challenges arising from significant changes in the technology industry. People of all ages have started embracing the use of computers at an alarming rate to keep pace with technology advancements and to accomplish different tasks that were traditionally performed by manual methods. Children today are being exposed to the use of computers at a very tender age because the computers have become a basic commodity both in the learning and playing environment (Eaton, et al. 2). The adults have also not been left behind; they have significantly become too depended on computers for almost all their activities both in the workplace and household environment. For instance, computers have become a tool for online shopping in this 21st century because of the growing e-commerce platform. Therefore, it is undeniable the whole world is drastically embracing the use of computers in almost every aspect of life. The use of computers on the global scale has been on an upward trend resulting in the high of the gadgets by human beings for the accomplishment of various tasks. Human beings have become too dependent on computers as manifested by the amount of time they are spending on the gadgets. Today personal interaction has significantly changed due to the existence of computers and advancement in technology. People now prefer to use computers rather than face to face interactions because of the high efficiency and effectiveness of the gadgets. The use of social media forums such as Twitter and Facebook available through the internet are undeniably on the upward trend because human beings have become dependent on computers for their communication and socialization (Thomas). Therefore, people are spending a lot of time in these forums sharing with their virtual friends online leading to an increase in demand and dependency on computers. For instance, children today are spending a considerable amount of time with computers either playing games, watching online videos and TV channels, listening to online learning materials or communicating with their friends (Eaton, et al. 4-10). It thus evident people have ditched their traditional ways of interaction and are becoming too dependent on the computer for their communication and other activities. Byron, for instance, argues that computers have forced children to give up on exercising due to high dependency on computer games unlike in the past (2). Children in Britain, for example, spend four and half hours with computers (Thomas). A research by the ChildWise firm shows that children in the U.K. spend most of their time with a computer in a day compared to the amount of time they spend exercising in a week. They use the computer to access their favourite information such as celebrity news, music and games, in addition to, watching online TV channels (Thomas). On the other hand, adults spend most of their time on computers doing activities such as communicating with others, studying, working, doing office jobs or even online shopping (Thomas). Conversely, a 2011Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance Survey released in 2012 in the U.S. revealed that high school students spent three hours or more using computers and the students preferred learning from a video on a computer compared to reading a textbook (Eaton, et al. 1-5). Therefore, from the research it is evident human beings are spending more and more time on computers for their different activities a manifestation of how they have become dependent om the computers. Students also depend on computers for studies and researches in their respective disciplines since they help them to access information from online books and other research papers (Eaton, et al. 1-5). According to the U.S. Census Bureau of Statistics, most homes in the United States have computer and internet access. Many of the households use the computers to do online shopping and other household, workplace, learning and playing activities (Rosenbaum). Therefore, because of the convenience and flexibility that computers are offering to a majority of many households, many more homes are getting connected to the internet and acquiring computers to enjoy the benefits accompanying them such as convenience of making orders online an implication that many people have become dependent on the computers. Furthermore, people have become too dependent on computers because of the modern civilisation era where information rules the world; hence, triggering a high demand of information, which is concentrated in computers. For this reason, people have become hoodwinked to the computers to stay abreast with the current affairs and events taking place around them. The internet is the biggest source of information in the world and computers are the most convenient channels of accessing such information (Rosenbaum). In addition, it is so exciting how almost every process in today`s life has become automated. Almost all the manufacturing processes and the banking systems have become computerised. The transportation sector has also not been left behind; many commercial vehicles and trains now have computerised ticketing systems (“Design and Practices”). Furthermore, there has been a series of computerised innovations such computerised planes and computerised missiles that are used in wars. Today, people depend on computers to pay bills such as electricity and water bills lieu of visiting company offices. Employers have also computerised their recruitment processes and are encouraging people to send their applications through the use of computer online systems. The employers nowadays do their selection processes through tests such as aptitude tests using computers. These factors have necessitated many employees to buy their own computers or visit cyber stores to do their application since the world corporate market is doing away with the traditional methods. Therefore, the computerisation of almost every process in the world shows how human beings have become too dependent on computers (“Design and Practices”). People have become dependent on computers because they make work easier and faster. Computers have always been graded as the best helper in performing tasks compared to all other alternatives. For instance, computers are used to solve the most complicated calculations such as to calculate loss and profits in companies. They have made transactions become faster compared to the past years when everything was mechanical in nature. For instance, computerised ATMs have enabled banks to achieve high efficiency and effectiveness in processing transactions. Computers have also made shopping easier and quick as people can make orders from the comfort of their sits at home and receive them within the agreed time. This has made people prefer the use of computers in almost all their life aspects. Work in warehouses, which was once considered very difficult because of the many units of loads that had to be arranged in order has been simplified by the use of computers. Therefore, it is evident human beings and organization have become too dependent on computers because of the benefits they offer (“Advantages in Using a Computer”). Despite the high computer dependency being witnessed in the world today, there are people that believe computer dependency does not exist in the world. These people argue that before computers were developed, there were people who existed 2000 years ago and survived and lived without computers. For this reason, they argue that computers are not a basic necessity and people can live without them. Therefore, they articulate that people are not dependent on computers for their survival. To counter this argument, however, it is critical to note that computers play a critical role in the world today both for individuals and organizations. For instance, a number of people today make money using their computers. They stay glued to the computers all day long to make a living. Moreover, many companies have opened branches and outlets globally due to the globalisation and are managing the businesses through computer. Therefore, without computers the many inventions taking place in the world could not have been realised without the use of computers (“History of Computers”) The “BBC News” states that some people oppose the notion that there is high dependency of computers in the world today by arguing that not everyone has access to a computer. The opponents further argue that not all countries around the globe have access to computers by citing factors such as high level of poverty and the initial cost. They also argue about the expensive cost of computers. Poverty stricken countries cannot afford to buy computers as compared to the developed countries. However, it is critical to note that even the least developed countries have significantly embraced technology; schools are providing computer studies to students to equip the students with the basic computer skills those in the developed countries. For instance, Africa has become a dumping site of second-hand computers by the Western countries, however, this has benefited these countries and enabled them to bridge the existing gap of the demand for computer resulting in high computer usage in the countries (“BBC News”) Conclusion It is evident computers remain to the most beneficial gadget in the whole world that has been significantly embraced by both people and corporate organizations in the world. This has resulted to the high dependency of computers by people globally because of the benefits they offer to the users such as convenience to shop online from homes; communicate and socialize with peers among many others. Moreover, children and students have also not been left behind; they are doing their reading, research, playing games from computers in their homes. Ultimately, human beings have significantly become dependent on computers for accomplishing their daily activities in the workplace, household, learning, playing and among many other activities. Work Cited “Advantages in Using a Computer”. N.p., 2015. Web. 7 May 2015. “BBC News | Africa | Computers to Africa Scheme Criticised”. N.p., 2015. Web. 7 May 2015. “Design and Practices: Computer-Aided Design, ICT and Computer-Aided Manufacture”. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2015. “History of Computers”. N.p., 2015. Web. 7 May 2015. Byron, Tanya. "The Byron Review: Safer children in a digital world." London: DCSF (2008). Mark Griffiths. CyberPsychology & Behavior. April 2000, 3(2): 211-218. Eaton, Danice K., et al. "Youth risk behavior surveillance-United States, 2011." Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries (Washington, DC: 2002) 61.4 (2012): 1-162. Rosenbaum, Steven. “Welcome To the Era of Information Under-Load”. N.p., 2013. Web. 7 May 2015. Thomas, Liz. “Screen Addicts: Children Spend More Time In Front Of Computer Or TV Every Day Than They Spend Exercising In A Week”. N.p., 2011. Web. 7 May 2015. Read More