contemporary issue in mutimedia nad technology

Answer

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Introduction

Information and communication technology refers to the technology used to distribute, manipulate and create information. ICT encompasses both the mobile and internet enabled spheres powered by wireless networks. Antiquated technologies, television and radio broadcasts all form part of ICT. Over the years, ICT has always been leveraged for interpersonal, societal, and economic interactions and transactions (Haddon, 2016). It has immensely changed the way people learn, communicate, live and work. ICT as we know it continuous to revolutionize all the aspects of human life. This can be seen from the fact that most of the tasks that were previously handled by people are currently done using technological advancements such as robots. Since the invention of the internet, contemporary Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have immensely impacted business, society and culture in numerous ways.

Impact of ICT on Society

Development of internet networks and computer industry has resulted in massive changes in global communication making it reach its unprecedented heights. Such developments have a lot of impact on the learning process among other effects. Internet networks and multimedia technology have changed the entire learning philosophy, increased distance learning, and improved the quality and accessibility of learning materials (Haddon, 2016). The internet has mainly created virtual classrooms where learners and educators scatter all over the world. As such, issues of inadequate information are completely eliminated from every learning platform.

Virtual reality is one of the cornerstones of internet and technological interventions. The technology project images from glasses onto the human eyes enabling people to disregard their surroundings. As such, people who cannot afford to physically travel around the world can travel virtually and have more or less the same experience as people in such places. This has improved the satisfaction levels of individuals whose passion is to travel the world.

Impact of ICT on Businesses

It is clear that the internet has significantly improved economic activities by facilitating better business relations among people from different ethnic backgrounds globally. First, online marketing has created an avenue that enables entrepreneurs to conduct commercial activities on a global scale. It has allowed businesses to be carried out on real time from different places worldwide. Additionally, it has enabled better cultural understanding among the producers and consumers of commercial products (Nica, 2015).

Secondly, ICT has led to direct job creation thus improving the purchasing power of consumers. The increased purchasing power means readily capable and accessible market for business products thus, increased profitability. The ICT sector is currently considered the largest sector in relation to employment. In the United States alone, the ICT sector is expected to increase by 22% by 2020 (Nica, 2015). ICT also impact the GDP of individual countries. Increased GDP directly boosts the increased entrepreneurial capabilities of the citizens. For instance, the increased 3G connectivity that doubled mobile data use led to 0.5% GDP growth globally.

Thirdly, ICT has resulted in creativity and innovation in businesses and work places. Currently, workers can easily use the internet and ICT to come up with innovative approaches of expanding and growing businesses. Employees can use social enterprise platforms to interact and socialize with other creative employees from different organizations. Such interactions lead to exchange of valuable information that are critical for business growth.

Fourthly, ICT has improved human resource management among various organizations. It has improved the screening, hiring and recruiting process of new employees. Currently, potential employees submit their resumes electronically to the human resource, making it easier for accessibility and ease of traceability when necessary (Nica, 2015). This process saves a lot of time that can be used to handle other critical components of production. ICT and the internet has made it possible for human resource to track productivity and performance of employees. This constant and efficient monitoring of employees lead to increased productivity in the long run.

Lastly, ICT and the internet has led to significant improvement on communication in work places. Currently, employees can use various tools of communication to exchange valuable information at work. For instance, employees from various departments can use Skype, video conferencing, text messaging and emails to exchange information at work (Proenza & Girard, 2015). This has saved a lot of time and made inter-office relationships more efficient. Additionally, customer service departments serve their customers efficiently and productively due to improved communication.

Impact of ICT on Culture

ICT has significantly affected the norms, ideologies, and values of people worldwide. The exposure to the rest of the world through the internet has changed the style of walking, mode of dressing and talking styles of people worldwide. Today, quality time is spent by youths in unprofitable chats, surfing pornographic sites, online sexual promiscuity and unnecessary playing of online games (Proenza & Girard, 2015). These unethical behaviors are welcome into our culture through the excessive access that the youths currently have to the internet. However, internet has also positively shaped our culture to a given extent. People now have massive global information at their disposal. This information can be utilized positively for the good of the society.

The internet has shrank the globe into one community that is concerned with the trend in dressing, speaking and walking styles to fit into the modern society. Take for instance nude dressing, which in most African societies was considered an obnoxious behavior. Currently, this style is common, more so, among youths. The internet and level of civilization that the world experience today makes it even harder to justify what is acceptable culturally, for instance, dressing code (Proenza & Girard, 2015).

The other effect of ICT and the internet invention on culture is diminished passion for academic achievements. Before the invention and expansion of the internet people had enviable reading ethics. People made use of the available books, encyclopedias and other printed materials to seek critical information regarding various subjects.  This created the perseverance attitude, drive and optimism for academic excellence among students (Baldassar et al., 2016). Even though this style was time consuming and had difficulty in information access, there was intense desire to attain academic excellence against all odds.

As technology emerged, followed by the internet, changes in students’ perception at studying, effectively changed. Unquestionably, ICT and the internet increased access to information, educational materials and enhanced e-learning due to its cost effectiveness and other benefits. However, there is prevalent abysmal failure today as compared to stellar performance that were observed years back. Students today are more concerned with entertainment aspiration as opposed to academic excellence (Baldassar et al., 2016).

On the contrary, internet remains significantly critical to the advancement of academic achievements among various scholars. The internet has proven to have the potential to breach the existing gap between the western world and developing countries. Currently, students can access high quality and reliable academic information from the internet rather than use outdated and under-equipped libraries in the developing nations. Many scholars have pointed out the need for internet accessibility in every institution to expose pupils to the world at early age and increase teachers’ output. Through e-learning, the internet has decreased overcrowding in various classrooms that other institutions constantly experienced in the past.

Role of ICT Professionals in Ensuring Ethical Computing

Responsibility to the Public

As part of their work, ICT professionals should improve public understanding of computing systems. They should educate the public as part of a collective fulfillment of their responsibility. For instance, the professionals could write a letter to newspaper editors explaining technical issues that surround proposed internet regulation policy. They should contribute through their technical expertise on discussions that relate to computing in development of public policies (Quinn, 2014). The professionals should participate in these discussions to provide technical facts that may help communities uphold their ethical standards. When the employee’s obligation to be loyal to the employer conflicts his obligation to protect the public, such an employee may consider whistle blowing to inform the public of the imminent threat.

Responsibility to Users

 The ICT professionals should not only be concerned with technical excellence but also the social effects that computing has on the users. When assessing the risk and capabilities of the computing system, the professional should report all the relevant findings accurately and honestly. When designing a computing program, the professionals should consider not only the client’s specifications, but also the effect that it may have on the users and others (Quinn, 2014). For example, a computing engineer who designs hospital’s information system should not only allow speedy access of patients’ information by nurses and physicians but also protect the same records from unauthorized access.

ICT professionals should exercise due diligence in development of various software. They should give great attention to both unknown and known faults, more so, for software whose failure threatens the safety of other people and users. Such software should be designed such that their users do not end up violating the privacy of others. The professionals moderating contents of various social media platforms should take it upon themselves to protect unauthorized access of users’ personal information or its accidental leak to inappropriate individuals.

The ICT professionals should operate on the principle that only a necessary amount of personal information can be collected and stored into the system (Friedman & Kahn, 2017). The timeframe for such information’s disposal should be well defined. Also, such information should not be predisposed to the public for unethical usage by cyber bullies. The professionals should educate the users of their software to honor confidentiality and appropriate usage of the applications. Additionally, they should use complex encryptions that prevent the computing system from being easily hacked by unauthorized people.

Conclusion

Information and communication technology refers to the technology used to distribute, manipulate and create information. On societal aspect, some of the impact of ICT include changed learning philosophy, increased distance learning, and improved quality and accessibility of learning materials. Economically, ICT has established online marketing, increased innovation and creativity at work places among others. Culturally, the internet has changed people’s customs, values and norms relating to education and dressing styles. ICT professionals should practice the established codes of ethics to ensure that their programs are hack-proof and protects the confidentiality of users.