Our Digital World – Semester Exam

Objectives:

· Acknowledge how access to technology has changed over the decades

· Identify how technology has impacted society

· Recognize how technology has impacted the workplace

· Define the digital divide

Advances in Digital Technology

Technology has become a large part of everyday life for several people. For example, you there. You're taking this course from a computer or maybe even a tablet. Can you believe only 20 years ago, taking a course like this would have been virtually impossible?

If you're taking this course, you are considered a digital native. A person exposed to technology from a young age is comfortable using it. However, technology hasn't always been so readily available. Technology has transitioned from only being available to the government, large companies, and wealthy individuals to becoming a big part of most households. Here are a few technological advancements that have significantly impacted everyday access to technology.

1990's

2000 – 2010

2011 +

Digital Technology in Society

Advancements in technology have had both positive and negative effects on society. Let's take a look at a few of each.

Staying Connected: Technology allows everyone with access the ability to stay connected. You can keep in touch with family and friends from wherever you are. You can even see their faces with technology like Facetime and Skype. In addition, you can stay connected to the world around you. You no longer have to wait for the newspaper or the nightly news on television. You can access around-the-clock coverage on the internet and through social media. In some cases, social media has played a major role in getting people to help when normal channels are unavailable.

Important Medical Advancements: Technological advancements in medicine are not only improving health, but they are also saving lives. From better ways to monitoring patients to 3D printing of life-saving implants, some of today's medical advancements seem to be right out of science fiction movies.

Unlimited Access to Knowledge: With the inventions of technologies such as the internet, smart devices, apps, and WiFi, there is unlimited access to anything you want to know right at your fingertips. "Google it," a popular phrase named after the search engine, has become the standard language for finding information. About anything you want to know can be found with an internet search.

Inactive Lifestyles: What can't you do from your computer or smart device? Very little except being active. With less need to go places and do activities requiring movement, it seems harder and harder to get up and get your body moving. With easy access to banks, retail stores, and now even grocery outlets, people have less need to go outside. Your body needs activity and the proper fuel to run efficiently.

Global Deterioration: The car and airplane were great technological advancements that were amazing for humanity, but with the pollution, they've caused, Earth needs some serious damage control. Technology is being developed to help humans be less reliant on atmosphere-damaging fuels, but it is still unavailable to the everyday consumer.

Decreased Human Interaction: People are becoming socially awkward with less and less real human interaction. In other words, digital natives have begun to rely on technology so much that they're having trouble recognizing how their attitudes, behaviors, and actions affect the people they interact with.

Digital Technology in the Workplace

Technology advancements have also had positive and negative impacts on the workplace. We'll take a look at a few of each here. Click each button to view more information.

Positive Impact

Skilled Labor Force: With repetitive tasks being automated or taken over by machines, management can focus on hiring employees with more education and enhanced skill sets. This provides a higher quality of work for talented employees.

Impact Connectivity: The internet and communication tools like Skype and Facetime make connectivity easier. If permitted, employees can work from the office, home, or even the local coffee shop. Not only can employees work from anywhere, but they can also collaborate with other employees around the world. Though there are challenges like time zones and possible language barriers, technology can help promote global teamwork.

Efficiency: Technology can make processes faster and more precise. This increases productivity and decreases the time it takes to complete a task.

Negative Impact

Dependency: Because employees have become so reliant on technology, there's often a disruption in the workplace if technology fails or is unavailable. Loss of power or interruption of internet service can cripple an office for hours or even days.

No Downtime: Since work emails, reports, and systems are so easily accessible, more and more employees are taking work out of the office. They are taking less time for themselves to relax, which can raise stress levels.

Changing Technology: Technology changes at a rapid speed, which causes software or systems purchased just two years ago to be dinosaur-like. When technology becomes outdated, it can become inoperable or incompatible with other technology, which makes it useless and costly to replace.

The Global Digital Divide

Even though you see technology everywhere, and though some people have unlimited access to it, some people have little to no access. This is called the digital divide. A digital divide is an economic inequality between groups broadly construed regarding access to, use, or knowledge of information and communication technologies. The divide within a country may refer to inequalities between individuals, households, and businesses.

For example, Amy's family may be able to afford high-speed internet in their home, while Nancy's family cannot. The divide between countries is referred to as the global digital divide. Many individuals, households, and businesses have access to the latest and greatest technology in the United States. However, in less developed countries, access may be too expensive and unreachable for individuals, households, and businesses.