How Computers Work And How They Affect Our Lives Essay Examples

Advantages of Computers 2 - 5

Disadvantages of Computers .5 - 7
Conclusion . 7
Abstract
The present time is evidenced to reveal a wider usage of computers as an essential part of the people’s routine across the globe. As Howard-Jones (2011, p. 5) states in his latest review of the impact of digital technologies, he states that people of this generation are currently engrossed in the development of technology. Majority of the people’s means of communication is now done online or electronically. The entertainment and the leisure that people provide themselves also revolves around the use of technology through the internet or video games. Many of the people, today also find it necessary to have mobile phones as a substantial part of their communication activities and as an important means of organizing their days. Such a change in lifestyle has raised questions about the impact of technology on the well-being of people. There is therefore a need to assess the impact of computers on the lives of people. People must learn the proper and moderate use of these technological advances in order to maximize its benefits.

Introduction

The present time is evidenced to reveal a wider usage of computers as an essential part of the people’s routine across the globe. As Howard-Jones (2011, p. 5) states in his latest review of the impact of digital technologies, he states that people of this generation are currently engrossed in the development of technology. Majority of the people’s means of communication is now done online or electronically. The entertainment and the leisure that people provide themselves also revolves around the use of technology through the internet or video games. Many of the people, today also find it necessary to have mobile phones as a substantial part of their communication activities and as an important means of organizing their days. Such a change in lifestyle has raised questions about the impact of technology on the well-being of people. These questions mostly revolve around the detrimental effects of computers which are the main focus of many research studies. Some scholars and critics even imply that we are currently in the midst of an unforeseen danger through which the human brain is at stake and facing threats from the developmental world (Howard-Jones, 2011). Some say that the people of this generation have slowly developed their desires for the latest technological devices into an addiction. Howard-Jones (2011, p.5) states the use of computers have infantilized people through Facebook and have degraded people’s intelligence through Google. However, the more alarming fact of all these revelations is that at the forefront of our advancement are children who have brains that are susceptible to the experience of technology more than an adult’s mind. This fact has provided enough rational reasons for the strongly emerging concerns about the rising 24/7 technological lifestyle that the people of the 21st century currently have. Although there may be dark implications that are associated with computer usage, there are still some who acknowledge the benefits brought to the humankind by these technological advancements. This paper will, therefore, deal with how computers are used and how they affect the lives of the people of this generation.
In a study conducted by Friedberg (2003, p 511), it was revealed that there are already 24% of workers in the country from all age groups who use a computer from the year 1984. This number jumped to 51% in 1997. Statistics of this kind only show that computers have long since then become a big part of our worlds both in the professional and the personal sense. The ratio of the usage of computers seems to have already jumped significantly in the past years since we see computers and technological devices in almost every part of the country. This evident appearance of technology shows itself from the workplace and at home. According to Gujjar, Naeemullah, and Tabassum (2013, p. 346-347), the computer has already taken up a substantial part of our professional and social interactions. These tools are swiftly permeating all the aspects of people’s lives. As of this moment, an individual’s private or professional achievement is interactively joined with their computer skills at hand.These achievements depend on a person’s successful interaction with a computer (Gujjar, Naeemullah, and Tabassum, 2013).

Advantages of computers

Since computers, as mentioned in the above paragraph, are already a part of our personal and professional achievements, it is a highly sensible implication to teach computers to students of all ages. Gujjar, Naeemullah, and Tabassum (2013, p.347), have expressed their desire to create a wide promotion in the educational sector of the use of computers. According to the researchers, in order to progress in a society that is motivated by the use of computers, it would be important for all students to have a neutral and fair practice. This introduction to computers must encourage the proper use of technological equipment beginning from their childhood. This practice is quite essential for computers nowadays have become a big part of education and the workforce. Almost all schools and companies in the country are using computers as a tool in accomplishing significant tasks such as completing reports, lecture notes, presentations, inventories, sales computations and many more. All these jobs are possible because of the capacity of a computer to connect us to a world where almost any information is obtainable.
Aside from the computer-based testing, Lai and Kritsonis (2006) were also inspired to note the advantages of using a computer as a tool in education. In their study of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Computer Technology in Second Language Acquisition, they have revealed that a majority of the members of the academe today acknowledge the benefits of computers. These benefits are associated with the use of computer technology through the process called Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL). CALL programs are considered to be more convenient to use since these programs create a collaborative and at the same time independent learning environment for students learning a second language. According to Lai and Kristonis (2006), educators also indicate that the current technology can provide second language learners more independence allowing them to have the option of working on their language tasks at their pace. Aside from that, if this type of technological approach is implemented, it is foreseen that there is a lower cost for the use of computer technology as compared to the face-to-face approach to teaching. Through this method, instructors are given more time to focus on the aspects of second-language instruction that require much more attention. These aspects include improvement of pronunciation, dialog, essay writing practice and language presentation. Lai and Kristonis (2006), also add that it is more beneficial to apply computer technology to second language learning. This move is quite beneficial since it gives students more learning motivation through its emphasis on a student’s individual needs.
It is of course also evident that Computers and technology, in general, do not only create an impact in education, but they also affect the world of business. Lazic (2013, p. 1) notes that the central importance of information technology in the current business workflow can hardly be denied. This fact is supported by the statistics coming from the Wall Street Journal. It is said that 87% of the leaders in business see it fit that information technology and computers are vital parts of a business’s methodical success (Lazic, 2013). Also, since computers evolve over the course of time, computers have also contributed to the growing trend of doing business through the social media. Because of the computer’s nature to branch out through the internet, social technology has already become a growing trend in today’s business operations. According to Nord, Paliszkiewicz and Koohang (2014, p. 92), users of the social technology have widened its reach from the teenagers. These networks have widened their reach to almost every generation at this day and age with an increase in users from the 55-64-year-old age group. This fact amounts to almost 92% in growth since the year of 2012. This rapid growth in numbers has made it seem that social media today is no longer a choice for the many. Rather it is quite a necessity if many of the people want to get ahead today. Given that there is almost 500 million plus users in Facebook, and there are an average 400 million tweets sent per day, business leaders saw an opportunity for marketing business products. They saw opportunities through the internet and social media websites. These sites are now taken to mean that they can produce unmatched incomes for business organizations. These organizations are knowledgeable enough to use the social media for marketing, exposure and customer service (Nord, Paliszkiewicz and Koohang, 2014).

Disadvantages of computers

It is rather remarkable to note that the current development in technology has brought mankind closer to further advances in technology. There is also a myriad of irrefutable evidences that suggest how helpful computers have been for humankind. However, it is also a fact that with any technological advancement, there is a coupled disadvantage. From a recent study conducted by Hatzigianni and Margetts (2014, p. 114), they have discussed how serious concerns about the emergence of computers in schools were raised by most of the parents worldwide. Concerns regarding younger children who were exposed at an early age to the perils of technology were the main concerns. However, because of its applicability in today’s everyday life, arguments about exposing children to such technological devices are continuing to endure. Since there is a reducing air of concern for the detrimental effects of computers due to its usefulness, the suggested question now was what is the most appropriate age for the introduction of computers?
Subrahmanyama, Greenfield, Kraut and Gross (2001, p. 21), have revealed that the more hours that adolescents spend on the internet, there is an aspect that declines. The researchers suggest that the more that the adolescents’ social and psychological well-being diminished. The researchers have also revealed that through the internet, children are exposed to sexually overt conversations that can be acquired through public message boards and websites. Children and adolescents are also exposed to web sites that are mostly encouraged for the mature groups of the population. Since teens have access to these mature websites, they are mostly exposed to cyber sex and online flirting. These may be founded upon the role-playing identities that are quite common for the young population (Subrahmanyama, Greenfield, Kraut and Gross, 2001). On the other hand, the internet from computers is not the only threat that concerns most parents today. Computerized games are also playing quite a great role in the deception of children. Although there are considerable amounts of games that promote the use of positive social actions when playing games, many of today’s popular software encourage aggression and competition. This competitive play mostly occurs for fans of aggressive games (Subrahmanyama, Greenfield, Kraut and Gross, 2001). This fact is rather alarming. According to Subrahmanyama, Greenfield, Kraut and Gross (2001, p. 25), several experimental researches have already revealed that playing a violent game even for short periods of time can produce a short-term transmission. Through these games, there is increased aggression in a child’s play. There is also the probability of an increased aggressive or hostile reply to open-ended questions and ambiguous statements (Subrahmanyama, Greenfield, Kraut and Gross, 2001).
On the business level, Hill (2012, p. 20) relates that the current issue that employers are dealing with are the reported issues of the late dissemination of information. Most business leaders state that the delayed information are from company computers that are used by employees. This delay is caused by employees’ personal use of company computers that compromise confidentiality and privilege. Although most companies, today require the presence of computers, compromising valuable information has been an ongoing threat for most companies because of the employees’ private use. However, although this is a pressing threat to the business sector, businesses still consider computers as a vital part of their organization.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, it would be good to remember that anything out of moderation is harmful to anybody. While computers are one of the greatest advancements in today’s generation, it would be better consciously to use these tools for personal and professional achievements. These tools should serve its purpose and not the other way around. Although the latest devices are addicting, they still are very helpful in making people’s lives easier. Computers should be used as an aid in helping people succeed in their education and their chosen career paths. It should therefore not be detrimental to anybody’s progression in life. If for anything else, despite the negativities linked with it, computers are still one of the greatest technological advancements in today’s modern world.

References

Friedberg, L. (2003). The Impact of Technological Change on Older Workers: Evidence from Data on Computer Use. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 56(3), p.511.
Hatzigianni, M. and Margetts, K. (2014). Parents’ beliefs and evaluations of young children’s computer.Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 39(4), pp.114-122.
Hill, L. (2012). Personal Use of Workplace Computers: A Threat to Otherwise Privileged Communications. Journal of Internet Law, 9(8), pp.20-31.
Lai, C. and Kritsonis, W. (2015). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Computer Technology in Second Language Acquisition. Doctoral Forum--National Journal for Publishing and Mentoring Doctoral Student Research, 3(1).
Lazic, M. (2013). The Impact of Information Technology Governance on Business Performance. Frankfurt: Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften.
Lissitz, R. and Jiao, H. (2012). Computers and their impact on state assessments. Charlotte, N.C.: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Nominet Trust, (2011). The impact of digital technologies on human wellbeing. Nominet Trust State of the Art Reviews. [online] Oxford: Nominet Trust, pp.1-97. Available at: http://70.33.241.170/~neuro647/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/NT-SoA-The-impact-of-digital-technologies-on-human-wellbeing.pdf [Accessed 11 Mar. 2015].
Nord, J., PaliszKiewicz, J. and Koohang, A. (2014). Using Social Technologies for Competitive Advantage: Impact on Organizations and Higher Education. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 55(1), pp.92-104.
Subrahmanyam, K., Greenfield, P., Kraut, R. and Gross, E. (2001). The impact of computer use on children's and adolescents' development. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 22(1), pp.7-30.