HAS THE EMERGENCE OF COMPUTING AND INTERNET TECHNOLOGY BEEN A

BLESSING OR CURSE

INTRODUCTION
Computers play a key role in every sphere of life. They facilitate storage of huge amount of data.
They enable speedy processing of information and they possess an inbuilt intelligence which if
supplemented with human intellect, can work wonders. Now the issues is; 'has the emergence of
computing and internet technology been a blessing or a curse?' In an attempt to answer this
question, this write-up covers areas of the electronic business, health, education, and the social
impact of computing and internet technology.
E-BUSINESS
In theory, the Internet has no geographical, political or temporal boundaries. It has a common
infrastructure available to all. The universal availability of access to the Internet, while not
radically changing logical processes, has created new opportunities and removed some of the
physical limitations of traditional methods of conducting business.
Products can be supplied to anyone, anywhere in the world. Suppliers can respond quickly to
customer requirements. Suppliers can build a one-to-one relationship with customers. Through
search tools and customer profiles, information can be tailored to customer requirements on
demand. Direct communication results in improved pre and post-sales support.
Customers can access up-to-date information expensive printed catalogues and service guides
can be replaced by a single electronic product database (which must be kept up to date at all
times). E-mail distribution is cheaper than direct mail, and providing the information on a
website is cheaper still if users can be encouraged to access it for themselves. The overheads of
maintaining a physical retail outlet are reduced.
Routine business operations can be automated, saving time and money the supply chain is
shortened so delivery times and costs are reduced. Staff costs can be reduced standard
enquiries and sales can be handled automatically via software, leaving staff with time to handle
the difficult or higher added-value transactions.
However, one of the main roadblocks to the wide usage of internet technology in business is the
perceived lack of adequate security for online transactions. For example, consumers are growing
increasingly wary about providing credit card information over the internet. In recent times, the
press has been filled with reports about hackers breaking into e-business web sites and stealing
credit card information.

As if not enough, ensuring the security of data is a problem with internet usage. Customers are
concerned about the privacy implications of data gathered by organizations of all types and sizes.
Customer information is stored by organizations on their data bases and sometimes, the
unfortunate is that, some companies sell customers data base information to marketing
companies.

HEALTH
Computer Assisted Surgery is a fast advancing field in medicine which combines medical
expertise with computer intelligence to give faster and more accurate result in surgical
procedures. In CAS, a model of patient is created and analyzed prior to surgery. The surgery can
then be performed by a surgical robot as programmed by a medical professional.
It is expedient to state that, in the field of medicine, computers allow faster communication
between a patient and a doctor. Doctors can collaborate better over the internet. Today, t is
possible to obtain experts' opinions within seconds by means of the internet. Medical
professionals can communicate across the globe within minutes with the help of the internet.
They can discuss medical issues in medical forums. Updates in the medical field, advancements
in medicine and information about new methods of treatment can be shared.
Some of the Health benefits include early detection of infectious disease outbreaks around the
world. For instance, during the outbreak of the Ebola viral disease,
On the other hand, the use of computers can result in vision problems. People who have used the
computer for extensive people of time may complain about head-ache and pain in their wrists,
arms and legs.
Studies have found that the majority of computer workers experience some eye or vision
symptoms. This is as a result of some emission of radiations from the computer into the eyes of
the users. So, the work related complaint and symptoms of the use of computer includes
muscular strain and stress.

SOCIAL
Computer and internet technology in entertainment is a very good tool to enhance the social life
of an individual, family and community for a better life. From of the internet entertainment, kids
always better music, movies and others have been in the system.
Music can now be bought online as well as previewing the music before buying. One can even
buy certain tracts off an album if you do not want to purchase whole album.
Live chatting on the internet has been one of the popular activities to do. When chatting online,
you can communicate with as you want. There is now a video chat through the use of computer
internet technology which was not so in days gone by.
However, for all its advantages and positive aspects, the internet technology in entertainment has
its dark and ugly aspects. It is now provided easy medium to children to gain access to
pornography and this cause them to either to become sexually deviant or sexually addictive. This
phenomenon has caused another problem that is the increase in the prevalence of sexually
transmitted diseases in youths of today.
There is no gainsaying the fact that computer and internet technology has created job
opportunities both offline and online. The computer training centres, the university computer
programmes and computer hardware merchandise are clear manifestations of computer
technology advancing employment opportunities.
One can be working online and get paid. The internet now contains a data base of job
opportunities where job seekers can apply to long-distance opportunities. In Ghana for instance,
www.jobberman.com is a good example of online job platforms.
On the other hand, just as computer is creating and advancing job opportunities, is seems to be
cancelling this good thing by displacing people from their jobs by making them redundant.
Increased use of technology is causing employees lose their jobs as the computers require few
workers to operate it.

EDUCATION
It is worthy of mentioning that computing and internet technology has untold impact on
education. Computers are used to teach and make teaching and learning better. The wide use of
computers is evident in making students able to learn on their own.
Online higher education has become possible under the auspices of computing and internet
technology. Internet webinar creates an avenue for online forum and conferences where teaching
is possible.
Scientific research has been improved in no small measure by the assistance of computer
technology. The improvement is in the area of accuracy of data, speed in research, and the
volume of work done.

CONCLUSION
It is abundantly clear that, computing and internet technology is a mixed blessing. The advent of
computer and internet technology has transformed our world unspeakably.

REFERENCES
Peitz, M., and Waelbroeck, P. (2003). CD sales and Internet Piracy: Cross-section Evidence.
Mimeo, ECARES and Mannheim.
Quah, D. (2002a) 24/7 Competitive Innovation LSE.
The Internet. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

HAS THE EMERGENCE OF COMPUTING AND

INTERNET TECHNOLOGY BEEN A BLESSING OR
CURSE

GROUP 1

DANIEL NKRUMAH
(GROUP LEADER)