Impact of computers and internet on society
There are numerous areas in which the increased ease and efficiency of computers have put a large impact. Probably the most important on our society is on information sharing
EDUCATION
Educational institutes, from primary to university level, are using computers for various learning activities. A large number of learning programs (tutorials) are available on
Almost every subject. These provide a one-to-one interaction with the student the trend of
Conducting online examinations is getting popular e.g. GRE, GMAT, SAT etc. are conducted
Online throughout the world. Questions are marked by the computer, which minimize the
Chance of committing mistakes. It also makes it possible to announce results in time.
Distance learning is a new learning methodology. Computer plays the key role in this
Type of learning. Hundreds of institutes are offering distance-learning programs. The students
Are not required to come to the institute instead they are provided reading material and attend
Classes via virtual classroom. In a virtual classroom, the teacher deliver lecture at its own
Workplace while the students, connected to a network, may listen to him at their homes. They
May put questions and answers are sent to them via email.
BUSINESS
Computer is now being widely used in business and industry. Computer information
Systems are used to keep track of huge transactions. They also allow transactions to be made
From anywhere in the world. These are also used to control machines which manufacture
Products, keep track of customer’s bills, analyze sales of various products in different
Localities on monthly and yearly basis; calculating and recording employ pays and performs
Other tasks. These are also widely used in business community to reduce the
Administrative paperwork and cost
ONLINE BANKING
The advent of the Internet and the popularity of personal computers presented an
Opportunity for the banking industry. For years, banking institutions have used powerful
Computers to perform millions of transactions. Nowadays, ATMs are installed everywhere;
These are all computerized and connected together. These can be used to draw money from
Any branch of that bank at any time of the day. Customers are now also connected to the bank via
Personal computers, which allows them to see their bank account status at home.
Banks view computerized banking as a powerful tool to attract and retain new
Customers while eliminating costly paper handling and increasing competitive banking
Environment. Following are some of the advantages of online banking
Convenience: Computerized online banking sites never close; they’re available 24
Hours a day, seven days a week, and they can be accessed from a computer.
Ubiquity: If you’re out of the country and a money problem arises, you can log on
Instantly to your online bank and make appropriate transactions.
Transaction speed: Online bank sites generally execute and confirm transactions at
Quicker processing speed.
Efficiency: You can access and manage all of your bank accounts, from one site
APPLICATION IN RETAILING APPLICATIONS
Modern stores are quickly incorporating computer system for a number of reasons.
Firstly these systems allow the billing of items to be done at great speed. They accept credit
Cards, allowing customer to purchase goods without cash.
The items at store are marked with
“Bar Code”. This is called as “Universal
Production Code”. This is a sequence of
Lines, which is read by a “Bar Code
Reader”. The price of the item is stored in
This code and these are automatically added
To the bill. The computer generates the
Receipt and the customer pays the bills.
The computer along with generating the bills also updates the inventory list. This Allows the store manager to see that which items are short and in more demand. Marketing experts can also use this information.
COMPUTER SIMULATIONS
Computer Simulation is the use of computer to represent the dynamic responses
One system by the change in behaviors of another system modeled after it. Compute
Simulations are widely used in educational institutes to make clear the understanding of the
Working of various systems e.g. simulation of aero plane is a part of training of the pilot.
Makes him /her clear the working of various parts of aero plane. Simulation of river systems
Can be manipulated to determine the potential effects of dams, and irrigation network before
Any actual construction has taken place.
In educational institutes, simulations also have advantages over hands-or
Laboratory work such as allowing students to do more complicated and hazardous
Experiments, obtain results more quickly, and get a deeper understanding of the
Experiments. Simulations can include simple graphical or numerical representations
Of how chemical or physical experiments are carried out.
APPLICATION IN ENTERTAINMENT
The advancement of computer science has also helped entertainment industry
Nowadays computer can be used to watch television shows being broadcasted on Internet,
Watch movies, listen to music and play games. Computers are also used to create animations and special effects for television shows, Commercials, movies and cartoons. These allow them to add graphics and colorful displays in
Their shows.
Computer games are also becoming a
Big attraction for children and kids. The
Computers capability to portray graphics is
Constantly improving. Thus computer games
Are getting better and better each day.
Computer games can take us into the
Excitement of competition by presenting 3D
Color images interactively. They can display
Colors and life like characters, animations,
Sounds and even videos.
Computer is also being used by music industry to create high quality music and
Sounds in less amount of time. Computerized electronic synthesizers are being used to store,
Modify and access a wide variety of sounds. New software are allowing musicians to create
Composition with less effort.
OTHER AREAS
Today computers are being used in many other areas to save time and cost. These
Include publishing where documents can be written and saved on a computer. This is
Accomplished by a word-processing application such as Microsoft Word. These applications
Allow the writers to correct and print the document in very short time. These documents can
Also be sent from one place to another via Internet.
Computers are also being used in libraries to maintain and track record of books and
Library members. Any information regarding the book, its author or date of issue can be
Searched from the computer in seconds. They can also be issued warning when the books
Issued to them are over-due and must be returned immediately.
Thus computer has allowed people to work fast, saving time and money. Also it has
Helped in spreading information and knowledge via Internet. The future will allow many additional opportunities for the applications of automation to many areas of life.
