Communication Technology

In 21st century that we live in, communication can be done in many different ways
other than conventional speaking right in front of each other. The reason for that is because of
the existence of communication technology and the wide interest in this technology from
people around the world. Communication technology is improving as we speak and more
important sector is depending on it to gain benefits such as business and politics.
Communication technology includes telephone, radio, television, internet, and social media.
It is amazing how much communication and technology has changed in such a small
time frame. Comparing the impact in peoples lives over the last decade is like comparing
night and day. Our overwhelming dependence on technology is one of the largest changes
seen in modern society. As recently as ten years ago, it was uncommon for a child in school
to own a mobile phone now almost every child not only owns a mobile phone but laptops,
game systems and IPods.
Television has advanced radically over the last fifty years we have gone from
watching silent, black and white movies to satellite dishes with hundreds of channels.
Through the development of television we have learned about our surrounding environment
in brilliant colour and sound. Consequently we are also bombarded by news, politics and the
terrible events that occur in real time, to the extent that we have become immune in our
reactions to developments around world. The increasing amount of time spent watching
television and surfing the internet takes up a large portion of free time in comparison to
previous decades and the growth spent using this technology is attributed to the growing
obesity problems in todays society. We are much more dependent on amenities such as
technology and fast food and this is contributing to an overall unhealthy lifestyle.
Communication technology helps us in many ways. Communication Technology can
broadcast information to a wide range of people around the world in a short period of time,
this is very useful for advertisements, conveying important messages to wide range of
audiences and updating citizens of current news. Communication nowadays can even be
accessible from anywhere as long as the device can connect to the internet and there is
internet coverage in that area. Part of the advancement of communication technology is
credited to the invention of Smartphone in the market that makes it easier to access and
connected to different types Communication Technologies.

Social media has become the most popular and most effective aspect of
communication technology, the reason being users around the world can communicate with
each other anywhere and anytime they are on the internet. Social media became the most
used communication technology in comparison to television, radio, and conventional
telephone. Advertisement companies and even political figures around the world use social
media network to convey their message. As shown in a video online, radio took 38 years to
reach a market audience of 50 million, television took 13 years, internet took 4 years, IPod
took 3 years and social media giant-Face book took only 2 years. This proves that
communication technology is improving over the years and is an important way of
broadcasting information.
Communication Technology has been improving and developing since the first
television was born, many ideas and suggestion of what the future will look like with the
continuous development on communication technology. Avery interesting example of the
advancement on communication technology is a device called Sixth Sense technology. Sixth
Sense is a wearable gestural interface device by Pranav Mistry, a PhD candidate in the Fluid
Interfaces Group at the MIT Media Lab. This technology shows that technology can be more
interactive with human and someday we will not have to wear or bring many different types
of devices such as hand phone, watch, IPad, IPod, but one device can provide information
from all the devices we have now combined and so much more.
The advantages of communication technology are speeding the sending of
information. Communication technology tools like electronic mail and text messaging
systems, speed up the sending of information within and outside of the organization. Also
with the use of decentralized computing systems, sharing of information within an
organization is very first because all data is accessed from one central unit Database and it
is shared across different departments within the organization. It also improves organizational
communication: Communication technology helps in the creation of a shared information
environment in an organization. Organization information is organized in one central
location, allowing any one access that information as they need. Also technologies like
electronic mail, will enable low level employees communicate with the manager without any
need of having a dedicated time for meeting. This allows information to flow easily from the
bottom to the top without any barriers. It increases participation in organizational processes:
Every employee will have a specific task to complete and all this can be monitored remotely
by the manager. So all parties will be active since their work is being made simple by easy

communication. Employees who are shy to ask for advice and help, will use tools like
electronic mail or instant text messaging services to ask for help from their workmates within
the organization, they can also use the same medias to participate in decision making and
creative design challenges.
The disadvantages of communication technology are difficulty training employees. If
an organization deploys a new communication technology system, they will have to pay an
extra fee to train employees in the organization to use that technology effectively. Sometimes
some employees will not learn as first as others which might led to job losses. It is expensive.
It can be very expensive to install a new communication technology system in a very big
organization. Lets say that an organization has over 50 employees and they want them to
access information from a centralized location. They will have to create a strong data base
which will handle all the queries made by these employees in a minute as well they have to
buy a computer for each of these employees.
With the advent of technological advances, people now have various ways to interact
with each other. Subsequently, we gradually change the formation of relationships and
develop more diverse types of interaction among people. However, there are pros and cons in
this development. Technology has made a huge impact on relationships. The invention of
electronic equipment such as mobile phones makes it easier for people to contact each other.
Therefore, we take less time to keep in touch with friends living far away. Furthermore, the
emergence of social networks has made a revolution in communication. Nowadays, with a
computer which has an Internet connection, people can chat with friends and family
members. The advancement of technology has got the world together. This development has
both advantages and disadvantages. Positively, the interaction among people becomes more
diverse and popular because there are more convenient, faster, and less time consuming
ways to communicate with each other. In addition, social networks help people expand the
circle of friends from around the globe. People now are getting closer despite geographical
distances.
There is significant legislation and public policy relating to IT accessibility in Ireland.
The following is an introduction to the legal and policy framework in this area, not a legal
reference. It should not be interpreted as guidance or direction on legal matters.
The accessibility of services delivered through websites and other types of
Information and Communication Technology are covered under three pieces of Irish

legislation are The Disability Act (2005), The Employment Equality Act (1998) and The
Equal Status Act (2000, 2004). The Disability Act contains a specific accessibility
requirement for public sector organisations. The Employment Equality Act covers
employment of people with disabilities and provision of accessible technologies to
employees. The Equal Status Act covers various forms of discrimination, including
discrimination on the basis of a disability. Under the Act, anyone selling goods or providing
services must do all that is reasonable to accommodate the needs of a person with a disability.
This involves providing special treatment or facilities in circumstances where, without these,
it would be impossible or unduly difficult to avail of the goods or services.
In summary, communication technology provides advantages and disadvantages and
without a doubt have a huge impact on society and the future. Communication technology
can be said to be the invention of the century because of the changes it make to the human
race, it can be said to be the line that distinguish between the era of information technology
in comparison to the last era. Communication technology provides an insight to our future
and will continue to bring benefit to our society provided we keep in mind of how to use
communication technology efficiently.

Reference
1) http://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/essay-on/The-Impact-Of-InformationCommunication-Technology/140031
2) http://universaldesign.ie/Technology-ICT/Universal-Design-for-ICT/Legislation-andpublic-policy/
3) http://www.healthandsafetyreview.ie/legislation/
4) http://www.useoftechnology.com/advantages-disadvantages-communicationtechnology-organization/
5) http://dai.com/our-work/solutions/information-and-communication-technologydevelopment
6) http://www.thefreedictionary.com/communications+technology
7) http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/impact-of-technology-on-communication-essay.html