Social and moral Impact of computer Technology
Computer technology is one of the greatest and successful discoveries of mankind. Computers are electronic machines that can be used for various purposes such as communication, research, games and education. Over the years, computer technology has improved the lives of many people through various ways. Today, the computer technology is accessible to most people; this is especially in the developed countries. Computer technology therefore, has changed the lives of its users positively. However, computer technology has its own bottlenecks.
Computer technology plays an important role in economic development of many countries. The use of ICT and other computer technologies have resulted in the development of new modes of transport like electric trains which are computerized machines. Computer technology has also led to improvement in the communication sector. With the introduction of e-mails, communication has become easy for institutions and individuals to communicate and transact businesses. Therefore, the improvements in economic sectors such as education, communication, transport, health and research in agriculture using computer technology have led to economic development and growth.
Computer technology has been also led to environmental conservation and preservation. This has been done through environmental conservation campaigns on the internet. Computer technology is also environmental friendly in that there are no harmful emissions into the environment. However, disposal of old and used computer devices has proved to be a major challenge to the environmental conservation efforts.
Relationships such as marriages and parent-children relationships have been affected differently by computer technology. The use of computer technology on social sites has led to increased relationships. This is because people are able to interact on social sites and statistics have show that many couples tody first met on dating sites. However, computer technology also has negative effects on relationships. It has led to cheating in marriages, hence breaking up the marriages.
Computer technology has had its biggest positive impact in the education sector. The use of the internet to carry out scholarly research, do assignments and for general reading for students has been very helpful in enhancing education. Students can use the internet to access any material they need rather than going to libraries to read. However, the internet has been detrimental to the education sector in that some students copy direct material from the internet which is unacceptable. Other students misuse the internet and computer technology rather than utilizing it for their own academic benefits.
Finally, computer technology has a massive impact on the morals of the society. Computer technology can be used by people of all ages and they are affected differently. First, computer technology has led to the development of good and upright morals through cultural diversity and ethical teachings that are found on the internet. However, computer technology has more negative impacts on the morals of the society than positive impacts. Children and youths have been exposed to negative and immoral material on the internet such as pornographic material. This is something unfortunate which still needs to be given more attention to help solve this problem of immoral behavior in society due to internet misuse.
Therefore, computer technology is very essential and useful to ensure that the current and future society is equipped economically, morally and education-wise. Computer technology has led to improved states of the environment, economy, relationships, morals and education. However, there are people who misuse computer technology which results in negative influence on the society, especially morally.
References
Edgar, S. L. (2003). Morality and Machines: Perspectives on Computer Ethics (2, illustrated ed.). New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Kizza, J. M. (2010). Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age (4, illustrated ed.). Munich: Springer.
