IT AS A TRANFORMATION TOOLS
Computer J.S.S 2 Third Term
Sub-theme: Basic Computer Operation and Concept
Week 1
IT AS A TRANSFORMATION TOOLS
Performance Objective:
Student should be able to:
- State the benefit of ICT
- List the disadvantage of ICT
Content
They Make Conversations Easier: ICTs are used to transform personal, one-to-one communication into group dialogues in the digital world. You can talk to anyone anytime without ever leaving your home. It’s incredible how in a span of a few short years the fact that you can connect with anyone in the world, no matter where they are, has become the norm. Most people don’t appreciate this fact for the miracle it is.
They Help Companies Grow: In the business world, ICT devices allow for more accessible connections between various enterprises and individuals. They help companies save money due to the new way of data storage, and have improved customer service immensely.
They Allow Us to Do Everything everywhere: As simple citizens, we can enjoy using ICT gadgets for talking on the phone or texting someone. If we take a look at the Internet front, we’ll notice dozens of awesome social media websites and the ability to do our shopping online. You can share pictures, find thousands of images and read the most interesting articles. All of these things are available thanks to Information and Communication technologies.
They Increase Our Effectiveness: Before the introduction of ICT devices; it would take days or weeks for a message or a letter to arrive at its destination. Instead of going to the library to find out something inconsequential, we now have the Internet at our service.
They Bring Families and Friends Together: Before ICTs were a thing, moving away from your parents or your hometown was a real tragedy. You wouldn’t see or hear from them for months, and sometimes even years. Nowadays, thanks to cell phones and video chats you can stay connected with your friends and family at all times.
They Help Save Space: Each new cell phone is getting smaller than the last, TV sets have become book thin, and laptops take up less and less space. As most Nigerians have limited room to live in, this is a much-appreciated aspect.
They Entertain Us: while it’s important to go outdoors from time to time, it’s also incredibly gratifying to just curl up on a couch and relax. And with the current generation of ICT gadgets, you have a vast variety of entertainment sources to choose from. You can play a game on your PC, watch a show on TV, or just lose yourself in hundreds of videos on You-tube. In today’s day and age, you never have to feel bored again.
They Make Sure We Aren’t alone: The feeling of loneliness is one of the most depressive ones in the world. Thankfully, with ICTs a new friend is just a message or a post comment away. It’s now easier than ever to find someone who shares the same interests you do.
Application of ICT in Education: There are dozens of uses of ICT in education alone. They provide numerous resources for teachers to use during their lessons. Besides, they allow for more interactivity between the teacher and his students. Personal computers can be used for testing, to replace textbooks that aren’t available in physical form, and to prepare the pupils for life in the digital world. Here’s a mini-list inside a list of the top 5 functions of ICT gadgets in education:
i. Presentations
ii. Demonstrations
iii. Skill practising
iv. Internet Interaction
v. Audio and Video materials
Interesting fact: It’s a proven theory that students that studied using ICT devices in schools become more successful afterwards.
As you can see, the list of ICT functions is so broad and it’s no wonder that their appearance is called the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Now that you know all the latest ICT gadgets and their uses, you have a better understanding of the value that technology presents to us.
Disadvantage of Information and Communications Technology
- Lack of Security/Privacy
Though IT may have changed and more convenient, it also brought along privacy and security issues. From email hacking, phone signal interception etc. people are worried that personal information may become public knowledge. IT keeps changing almost every day which means that the individuals must be up to date in IT to secure their jobs. There are also risk factors with the systems computer viruses, malware, spam, Trojans etc., attacking.
- Unemployment
While IT may have streamlined the business process, it has created job redundancies and subcontracting. Using the computers instead of human resources employers save huge amount of money but employees are losing their jobs as not needed anymore. - Social Media
The network pages are open to everyone including teenagers and young children’s which can affect their mental and physical health by watching and playing violent games. They became addicted to the phones, iPod, gaming consoles forgetting about outside activities and communication in the society.
- Cyber Bullying
It is so easy now bullying and threatening others in social network pages that this has become much easier for internet users all over the world. They don’t realize what the consequences are to those reading/hearing unpleasant comments. In the recent past there have been so many investigation cases regarding cyberbullying with lethal consequences:
(i) Avoid hurting someone’s feelings by emails or other forms of
Electronic communication;
(ii) Respect other people’s online rights;
(iii) Avoid insulting someone;
(iv) If someone insults you be calm;
(v) Avoid ‘crashing’ discussion groups or fora;
(vi) Respect the privacy of other people online;
(vii)Be responsible online.”