In this era, computing is ubiquitous and pervasive in every step of our life, every activity

that we are engaged in. Computing and internet are underlying resources that almost
every type of industry needs today, some as core resources while some as critical
complementary resources. This pervasiveness of computing in our daily life has made
mankind overly-dependant on what computing can achieve. Like any other invention,
computing comes with a set of positive and negative aspects in every walk of life and every
application it is used.
One of the positive effect that computing has brought about in the world is on learning.
Anybody who cannot afford formal education can learn anything on their mind with a
computer and an internet connection. The raging Massive Open Online Courses initiative
has led the elite of universities around the world create online courses on different
platforms and are sharing their knowledge with the world at no cost or a nominal cost.
Not only courses like this, it is in the general sense that information has become accessible
in an easy and efficient manner for anyone who needs it. These days, if anyone has a
question, the first instinct is to just hit google.com website on the browser and it opens a
plethora of resources that can provide the information from the most authentic source
there is. The flip side however is that searching for every possible piece of information has
made us vulnerable to believe everything that is there on the internet and many people
are taking advantage of this through hoax sites that sell hoax products and claim to help
the information seekers. But when enough caution is administered in identifying
authenticity of the sources, internet can provide information about anything and
everything and hence can be called the modern encyclopaedia for all needs of human
kind.
Positive effect on behaviour and health
Computers can open-up a world of different cultures and practices to children and hence
help them develop an intricate understanding of the world around them. They get to make
friends from diverse backgrounds and share their experiences, knowledge with these new
friends and hence expand their knowledge horizon. It also provides a way for the pre-
millennial generation to reconnect with their friends. Since computers are a source of
information about any problem that one might have, even commoners can search about
any health problem and consult a doctor who might probably stay in another part of the
world through telemedicine. Telemedicine and Teleconsulting has revolutionised the
healthcare industry and has made healthcare accessible to the lower rungs of society who
cannot afford costly healthcare from the private hospitals. Other cutting-edge
technologies like robotic arms for operation enables doctors to perform operations that
are otherwise difficult to do. This is because doctors can try their best to operate but there
are certain parts of the body which cannot be reached just by human hands. It might also
be a case of adverse risk of damaging the organ or part. In such cases robotic arms let
these doctors reach those parts and perform the required operation with utmost precision
and safety.
Positive effect on Employment opportunities
Although computing takes up a lot of unskilled labour, it also is known for the amazing
opportunities that it has created for researchers, analysts, data scientists etc in the skilled
labour section. Artificial Intelligence has created more buzz these days with its potential
to disrupt every industry possible. Also, on the bright side, this pushes more demand for
the skilled labour thereby requiring education system to upgrade for the needs of the
evolving industry. Although this means higher competition, it also will ensure the quality
of education needed for excelling in these industries.
overall, it is an imperative that one equips herself or himself with all the latest needed tools
of the computing industry to make sure there is demand for the acquired skill.

As stated earlier, even though the advent of computing has had a tremendous positive impact
in making this world globally connected and solving complex problems in almost every
possible field, there’s a dark side to the use of computing as well.

Negative effect on people - behavior and health

The use of computers can have a negative effect on children and young-adults – exposure to
the use of computers at an early age can hinder the physical activities that is required for the
holistic development of child. A teenager may prefer social networking and going through his
laptop and or phone, and may ignore the physical exercises. Though computing can provide
help in learning if used in the right manner, it can also lead to distraction and a kid may lose
focus on the academics. As an adult, excessive usage of computing can lead to technostress.
Today’s jobs involve multitasking, and working remotely, at-home or on-the-go. Though
computers solve the challenges of staying connected at all times, it may also lead to addictive
symptoms among its users.

Employees, today, are forced to work around the clock. And being preoccupied with the usage
of computers - the constant need to check phone or laptops for email can have negative
effects. Employees may feel a constant need to hone their IT skills for job security, and this
need to learn and unlearn can be mentally taxing for a few. There can also be misuse of the
information technology resulting from the use of computing. For example, though IT makes
it easier to store large amount of information in the form of databases, it also means that an
unauthorized access to such databases could be obtained without the need to physical access
the server on which the information is stored. In other words, if the information storage is
secure, though convenient, can lead to the misuse of computing – in the form of obtaining
and stealing confidential reports, sensitive content, hacking, and other forms of cybercrime
across the world. Thus, people, in general can depend excessively on the usage of computers,
and may find it difficult to stop using it whether or not it is required. This could lead to
restlessness, frustration, agitation and other forms of health issues. For example, constantly
sitting in front of the computer and lack of exercises can lead to heart diseases, diabetes,
obesity, eye strain, headaches, stress and depression.

For a firm that relies heavily on the use of IT and computing, it can have some management
concerns as well – it could hinder productivity and innovation, could affect relationship
among employees, and could also pose legal risks – like downloading unauthorized programs
on companies’ computers by an employee who is not aware of the rules and laws regarding
open source and proprietary software. The senior management of a firm should therefore
keep in mind the negative aspects of computing while make it an organizational priority, and
should ensure that appropriate mechanisms and workplace policies are in place to tackle such
concerns.

Effect on people – criminal activities

With the advent of computing and the widespread usage of computers, tackling the criminal
activities associated with it has become a major challenge today. Issues like copyright
infringements, child pornography, mass surveillance of people, espionage and financial fraud,
dark web and other related activities like selling illegal drugs online, cyberbullying, stalking,
identity theft etc have become intensified and grown by leveraging the network of
computers. Even though there are several laws in place to deal with these situations, the
global nature of the computing network makes it difficult to curb these problems quickly.
There may be differing laws in different countries related to cybersecurity or privacy, which
further complicates the issue.

Effect on people – unemployment

The use of computers has replaced the need of human physical intervention in quite a number
of activities. With the rise of technologies like AI and machine learning, issues like
displacement of employed workers have risen in the past decade. Computers, in the form of
robots and automation, have led to massive job destruction and layoffs in the field of
business, healthcare, e-commerce, transportation etc. And there is a fear that many low-
skilled jobs would get destroyed in the future, and humans would lose their livelihood
because of computing. For example, with the rise of ecommerce websites like Amazon, the
book stores and other retail outlets have suffered significantly in the past few years leading
to job loss. Similarly, with the onset of self-driving cars, the role of human drivers will become
redundant. Though AI would help in solving the complex problems in healthcare, it may soon
replace the skilled doctors in the near future to perform complicated surgeries. Though one
could argue that if somebody loses job because of Amazon, the firm itself leads to job
creation. However, there is a mismatch between the skills available (of those who lose their
jobs) and skills required to perform these new created jobs. This suggests that such workers
would need to acquire new skills to get the new jobs, and thus adequate measures should be
taken along these lines.

Effect on the environment – e-waste

Improper disposal of computers and other related equipment (usually old or defective)
contributes to the accumulation of electronic waste that negatively affects the environment
at large. The scrap components of these computers contain harmful components such as lead,
cadmium or beryllium leading to environment pollution of the soil, air, water and land of the
area where these are dumped. If some of these elements are exposed to the humans, it can
lead to a range of diseases that could severely affect their well-being. The e-wastes also pose
problems to the global waste trade wherein the components from developed countries are
dumped in developing countries which affects their human health and environment. Thus,
there is a need to increase the awareness about such wastes, and to introduce adequate
waste processing and recycling techniques to dispose such wastes in a proper manner –
without affecting the environment and human health.