Running head: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN HUMANITIES

The Significance of Information Technology in Humanities

Franz Daniel T. Biag

Southville International School and Colleges

Author Note

Franz Daniel T. Biag, Department of Information Technology, Southville International

School and Colleges.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Franz Daniel T. Biag,

Department of Information Technology, Southville International School and Colleges, 1281

Tropical Avenue Corner Luxembourg Street, BF Homes International, Las Pinas, 1740.

E-mail: franzbiag@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Information Technology pays a big role on humanity, importance on business, education,

finance, healthcare and security. After reading these three articles, it is said that there are

advantages and disadvantages. It has made people communicate easier and cheaper with the use

of the internet. Business has become more cost effective for both themselves and their

consumers. It has also created new jobs, without these advances, these jobs would not exist. But

along with the creation of new and interesting jobs, it has also led to a rise in unemployment.

People also credit information technology with a lack of security. And one of the main

disadvantage is lack of privacy, Hacking, Bugs and much more. Together these findings suggest

that we both get advantages and disadvantages depending on what type of person he/she is.

Keywords: information technology, humanity, importance, advantage, disadvantage,

communicate, business, privacy

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Introduction

In this modern day and age, information technology plays a big role. However, if youre not in

the field of information technology yourself, you might not know just how information

technology touches your life. Read below to find out how information technology plays a role

in a number of different fields that you might not have realized. For those of you that dont

know, information technology is the study and use of systems for storing, retrieving, and

sending information. This can include software, hardware, applications, and so much more.

Much of what people use in the 21st century was created with help from information

technology. Items as common as cars use information technology. Business, education, and

even healthcare have all been redesigned thanks to information technology. Read more about

how each field has been changed using information technology below.

The importance of information technology in business. With the introduction of computers, the

business world was changed forever. Using computers and software, businesses use

information technology to ensure that their departments run smoothly. They use information

technology in a number of different departments including human resources, finance,

manufacturing, and security.

Using information technology, businesses have the ability to view changes in the global

markets far faster than they usually do. They purchase software packages and hardware that

helps them get their job done. Most larger businesses have their own information technology

department designed to upkeep the software and hardware.

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The importance of information technology in education. The world of education is changing as

the modern world continues to grow. With so much progress happening, its important that

education be able to reach students in new ways so that their students are prepared for the

future. The students of today are the leaders, inventors, teachers, and businessmen (and

women) of tomorrow. Without the proper skills, these students will not have the preparation

needed to survive.

With so much focus placed on education, it can sometimes be difficult to hold a job and still

get the training needed to get a better job. Information technology plays a key role in students

being able to keep their jobs and go to school. Now, most schools offer online classes that can

be accessed on computers or laptops, tablets, and even mobile phones. A busy student at work

can easily check in or submit assignments while on their lunch break.

The importance of information technology in Finance. With all the online purchases going on,

its important that banks and security keep tabs on everything to keep everyone safe.

Information technology might just working its hardest with internet transactions. As more

transactions are done, the internet requires more networks, more computers, and more security

programs to keep its consumers safe. Without information technology, these purchases would

be impossible, and it would be impossible for banks to keep these purchases secure.

Information technology has also made it faster and easier than ever to send or receive money.

Its now also easier to open an online small business to sell whatever you might want. If you

dont want to have to file for a domain name, set up a website, and all the other steps required

for registering an online business, you can use other websites like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy to

sell things.
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Information technology also makes it easy for finance to function on a global level. In this

modern age, your credit score and credit rating is available online securely. This allows

lenders, insurance companies, and businesses to run a quick credit check on you making it far

easier to open credit.

The importance of information technology in Healthcare. Improvements in information

technology have allowed for great reform in healthcare. Most medical offices can now send

and receive digital medical information from doctors youve had in the past. Changes like this

allow costs to be lowered and increase the amount of time doctors can spend on patients

compared to paperwork.

Security improvements with information technology have made it so that your medical

information is secure no matter where its sent. You can even have prescriptions sent digitally

to local pharmacies at most medical offices.

The importance of information technology in Security. With so many transactions done online

and so much information available online, its important to keep all of that safe. Information

technology makes it possible for your online data to stay secure until accessed by the proper

channels. Using passwords and encryption, information technology hides your personal digital

data away, and the only way it can be accessed is by companies who have permission from

you.
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Review of Related Literature

In JuneCrisFryes (2012) Blog, it was found that no matter what you do with information

technology, it would still give either advantages or disadvantages in your life depending on how

or what you use it for. But 3 out of the 5 blogs or articles says that it has given them outstanding

advantages in life, such as, having communication with their loved once, helped in business,

gave them a lot of time cause information technology has lessen work in a huge way, and lastly

new jobs for them to try out. The disadvantages that JuneCrisFryes (2012) Blog is related to all

5 blogs, first is unemployment, privacy, job security and dominant culture. Out of all

disadvantages listed, the number 1 is unemployment. While information technology may have

streamlined the business process it has also created job redundancies, downsizing and

outsourcing. Means most of the lower and middle jobs have been wipe off causing more people

are unemployed.

In Delta State University Library and Information Science (2008) According to Crede &

Mansell (1998), ICTs are crucially important for sustainable development in developing

countries. Thioune (2003) notes that for the past two decades most developed countries have

witnessed significant changes that can be traced to ICTs. These multi-dimensional changes have

been observed in almost all aspects of life: economics, education, communication, and travel. In

a technology-driven society, getting information quickly is important for both sender and

receiver. ICTs have made it possible to quickly find and distribute information. Thoiune (2003)

indicates that many initiatives have taken at the international level to support Africa's efforts to

develop a communication infrastructure and. These efforts are designed to enable African

countries, including Nigeria, to find faster ways to achieve durable and sustainable development.
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Helmut (1998), cited by Akpore (1999), states that of the technological changes that have

influenced our lives in recent years, information technology (IT) has had the greatest impact.

This will continue at least until the end of the first half of the century, when other major

technological breakthroughs in the area of new materials, biotechnology, or energy, may provide

entirely new ways of living.

An information society is one that makes the best possible use of ICTs. Martin (1995)

supports this view by describing it as a society in which the quality of life, as well as prospects

for social change and economic development, depend increasingly upon information and its

exploitation. In such a society, living standards, patterns of work and leisure, the education

system, and marketplace are all influenced by advances in information and knowledge. This is

evidenced by an increasing array of information-intensive products and services (Martin, 1988).

Annan (2002) notes that the information society is a way for human capacity to be

expanded, built up, nourished, and liberated by giving people access to tools and technologies,

with the education and training to use them effectively. There is a unique opportunity to connect

and assist those living in the poorest and most isolated regions of the world. Informatization of

society is a major hurdle that most nations, especially developing countries, are encountering.

The information society or information age is a phenomenon that began after 1950, which brings

challenges as we seek to integrate and expand the universe of print and multimedia sources. The

two terms are often used to describe a cybernetic society in which there is a great dependence on

the use of computers and data transmission linkages to generate and transmit information (Bruce,

1995).
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The African Information Society (AISI) document (2005) argues that Africa should build,

by the year 2010, an information society in which every man, woman, child, village, public and

private sector office has secured access to the use of computers and telecommunications media.

The objective is to provide every African with the possibility of using the communication and

data processing services available everywhere else, just like any other citizens of the world.
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Conclusion

New ICTs can offer real opportunities to improve the quality of everyday life. It is also important

to deepen our level of reflection on everyday dynamics and on the constraints encountered when

introducing and using ICTs for development. A healthy information society is concerned with

getting reliable and timely information to its members. Making people aware of the benefits

derivable from the use of ICTs will help to make the society have a better and healthy one.
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Recommendations

This research is for students, professors, and researchers who are interested in knowing

the advantages and disadvantages of information technology in lives of everyday people. Having

a healthy information society is strongly needed for those advantages in our lives. New ICTs

should give priority on giving opportunity to everyday people so improvement would be present

in the lives of our society. I recommend other researchers to further continue researching about

the significance of information technology in humanities to further strengthen and for other

students and professors to have more knowledge about this study.

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Reference List

Federal republic of Nigeria (2001). Nigeria national policy for information technology (IT).

Available:www.nitda.gov.ng/nigeriapolicy.pdf.Madu2000andFapothunda1999

Thioune, R.M.C. (2003). Information and communication technologies for development in

Africa: Opportunities and challenges for community development. Volume 1. Ottawa: IDRC.

Available:http://www.idrc.ca

Eseyin, E. (1997). African Internet status . Available:www.3.5n.apcorg/atstat.htm

Bruce, O. (1995). Internet with a difference: Getting people hooked up.

Available:www.zwren.org.zw/publications/information

African Information Society Initiative (2005). AISI Connect Online Database .

Available:www.paradigm.snapc.org.africa/index.htm

Annan, K. (2002). Information and communication development: Information society surmit.

P.7.