Advantages of ICT:
Communication:
With the help of ICT it has become quicker and more efficient to contact either a business or family member. We can now correspond with anyone around the globe by simply text messaging them, or sending them an email. The wide availability of the internet has also opened up face-to-face direct communication from nearly anywhere in the world, thanks to the help of video-conferencing, social networking websites, Skype and a myriad of deal offered by telecommunications companies and smart phones thus making it far cheaper than in the past. Online communication can bring families / friends together across distances.
Globalization:
ICT has not only brought the countries and people closer together, but it has allowed the world’s economy to become a single interdependent system. This means that we can not only share information quickly and efficiently, but we can also bring down barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries. The world has developed into a global village due to the help of information technology, allowing countries who are not only separated by distance but also by language to share ideas and information with each other.
Cost effectiveness:
ICT has also helped to automate business practices, thus restructuring businesses to make them exceptionally cost effective. This, in turn, increases productivity making the business more profitable.
Greater Availability:
ICT has made it possible for businesses to be automated giving clients access to a website or voicemail every time. This means that a business can be open anytime, anywhere, giving a customer the capability to make a purchase from different countries thus making it easier and more convenient.
Bridging the cultural gap: .
Greater access to technology has helped to bridge the cultural gap by helping people from different cultures to communicate with one another, and allow for the exchange of views and ideas, thus increasing awareness and reducing prejudice. 6. Creation of new jobs:
Probably, the best advantage of ICT has been the creation of new and interesting jobs. Computer programmers, Systems analysts, Hardware and Software developers, and Web designers are just some of the many new employment opportunities created with the help of ICT.
Disadvantages of ICT :
Destructive and immoral content:
I.C.T technology has provided access to damaging information through various websites that host destructive and immoral content.
Unemployment:
While information technology may have streamlined the business process it has also created job redundancies, downsizing and outsourcing. This means that a lot of lower and middle level jobs have been done away with causing more people to become unemployed.
Privacy:
though information technology may have made communication quicker, easier and more convenient, it has also bought along privacy issues. From cell phone signal interceptions to email hacking, people are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge.
Lack of job security:
Industry experts believe that the internet has made job security a big issue as since technology keeps on changing with each day. This means that one has to be in a constant learning mode, if he or she wishes for their job to be secure.
Dominant culture:
While information technology may have made the world a global village, it has also contributed to one culture dominating another weaker one. For example it is now argued that US influences how most young teenagers all over the world now act, dress and behave. Languages too have become overshadowed, with English becoming the primary mode of communication for business and everything else.
