IMPACTS OF ICT

 ICT stands for information and communication technologies, which are

designed for the joint implementation of information and communication
processes.

 ICT has changed the way we communicate, access information, work,

conduct business, interact with government agencies, and manage our social
lives.
 It also has impacts to many fields such as in the society, in the medicine field,
education among others.

1. Impacts of ICT in the society

 ICT has brought both positive and negative impacts in the society.

 Positive impacts of ICT in the society

o Faster and cheaper communication speed and cost

o Paperless environment that reduces waste and saves resources
o Effective sharing of information and knowledge that contributes to the
development of a knowledge-based society
o Innovation and creativity in various fields and sectors
o Improved education and access to basic services
 Negative impacts of ICT in the society
o Social problems such as isolation, addiction, cyberbullying, and online
harassment
o Health problems such as eye strain, headaches, back pain, and obesity
o Privacy and security issues such as identity theft, hacking, phishing,
and cyberattacks
o Ethical and legal issues such as plagiarism, piracy, censorship, and
intellectual property rights

2. Impacts of ICT in education field

 Advantages of ICT in education

 Improved access to resources and information: ICTs provide unlimited
access to resources and information, which is a great support for teachers
and improves the quality of student learning.
 Increased student interest: New technological tools not only bring innovation
to academic centres but also speed up the transfer of information, increase
student interest, and allow processes to be automated.
 Promotion of student flexibility and autonomy: With the incorporation of
digital alternatives such as online courses, each student can learn at their own
pace, optimizing time and resources thanks to the flexibility provided by
digitalization and connectivity.

 Dis-advantages of ICT in education.

 Distractions: The use of technology in the classroom can lead to distractions

that negatively impact students’ learning experiences.
 Spoils creativity skills: Over-reliance on technology can lead to a lack of
creativity in students.
3. Impacts of ICT in the health sector

 The impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on the

health sector has been significant.
 ICTs have been used to improve the quality of healthcare services increase
patient safety.
 Reduce operating costs, and improve overall healthcare systems.

 The use of ICTs in healthcare has enabled healthcare professionals to provide

better patient care and outcomes.
 ICTs have also played a crucial role in the fight against COVID-19. The global
outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 further highlighted the important role of e-
Health and m-Health service modes.
 The use of telemedicine, remote monitoring, and other digital health
technologies has helped to reduce the spread of the virus by enabling patients
to receive medical care without having to visit a hospital or clinic.
 In addition, ICTs have been used to improve public health outcomes Overall,
the use of ICTs in healthcare has had a positive impact on the sector by
 improving patient care, reducing costs, and improving public health outcomes.

4. Impacts of ICT in Government offices

 Improved efficiency where paperwork has been reduced

 Enhanced communication which enables real time communication through
email video conferencing and instant messages.
 Transparency and accountability which helps in reducing corruption and
increasing accountability.
 E-Government services which has enabled the development of online services
such as tax filing, voter registration.
 Data analytics where large volumes of data are collected for policymaking.

5.Impacts of ICT in Agriculture field

Positive impacts of ICT on Agriculture

a. Improved access to information which helps farmers to make informed

decisions, reduce risks, and optimize their farming practices.
b. Increased productivity due to use of precision agriculture techniques.
c. Ease of market access
d. Availability of easy financial services such as mobile banking to the
farmers
e. Remote monitoring and control leading to more efficient farm
management

Negative impacts of ICT on Agriculture

1. Implementing ICT in agriculture can be costly, especially for small-scale

farmers.

2. Overreliance on technology can make farmers vulnerable to disruptions,

such as power outages

3. The production and disposal of electronic devices used in agriculture can

contribute to electronic waste and environmental degradation if not managed
properly

4. The collection and sharing of agricultural data through ICT raise privacy and
security concerns.