CHAPTER 8 :

ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF ICT

SOCIAL, BUSINESS & EDUCATION

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OUTLINE

 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF ICT ON SOCIAL

PERSPECTIVE
 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF ICT ON BUSINESS
PERSPECTIVE
 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF ICT ON EDUCATION
PERSPECTIVE

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INTRODUCTION

 The application of Information technology (IT) or Information

and communications technology (ICT) to daily human activities
has made tremendous impact on both businesses and individuals.
 IT is being applied in almost every aspect of human lives
including health, social, education, leisure, work, businesses and
communication.
 Information technology is basically the application of the
computer hardware and software mechanism to processes,
management and distribution of information.
 The key benefits of IT are better ways of processing, storing and
managing information.
 Added to this is the automation of forecasting and planning. 3
Better Ways of Processing Information

 Data processing is automated through the application of

Information technology.
 Hence data and information can be processed with much more
speed and accuracy.  
 At a very basic level, computers can be programmed to
perform validity and verification checks on data to eliminate
human errors during input and data capture. 
 These operations enhance reliability and consistency of data.
 With the use of computer software programs such as word
processors, database applications, and spreadsheets, large
amount of data can be processed faster and at lower costs.    4
Better Ways of Storing and Managing Information

 Computers have very large storage capacities.

 Tons of vital documents can be scanned and saved for future use.
 It is also possible to search millions of records and retrieve information
within seconds.
 Today, some storage and data management solutions can provide:
1. Durable and robust facilities for data storage
2. Rapid and shared access to unlimited number of users simultaneously 
3. Easy organisation of data, expert indexing and cataloguing functions
4. Security and protection to sensitive documents
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Forecasting and Planning

 With automated and processed information, users of computers can

tap into the additional functions and capability of information
systems.
 These capabilities include forecasting and planning, which
enhances decision making functions of any organisation.
 Specific areas that have benefited from the use of Information
technology are socialization and global interaction, entertainment,
communication, economy, education and health.
 Seven areas of advantages are listed below…..

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Socialisation and Global Interaction &
Entertainment

1. Socialisation and Global Interaction

 Through the use of IT, it has become very easy to socialise and
interact with people globally.
 This is made possible with the use of technologies such chat
rooms, social networking sites and enhanced mobile gadgets.
2. Entertainment
 Increasingly, high technology applications are being developed and
released into the society.
 These software and hardware technologies provide easy access to
a wide range of entertainments that can be access from home using
the mobile and Internet network. 7
 Communication and Global Economic
Advancement

3. Communication
 ICT has had extraordinary positive impact on global communication.
 Some years back, getting message across to someone in another country
may take days or months.
 Business men have to fly thousands of miles across the world to attend a
one hour meeting.
 Now, these arranged within minutes and at very low cost from the comfort
of your own home.

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 Communication and Global Economic
Advancement

4. Global Economic Advancement

 A major advantage of information technology is the advancement of
global economy.  
 The trend is tuned towards global investment, trading and more
opportunities for competitive advantage.
 The growth of e-commerce has brought opportunities for small business
to expand and big firms to go global.
 Increase in labour productivity has been attributed to the use of IT.

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Education and Health

5. Education
 Education has advanced beyond the use of traditional classrooms.
 The world is now in the age of e-learning, or technology enhanced
learning.
 Learners are no longer restricted by time or distance; they can learn
anywhere and any time.

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Education and Health

6. Health
 The integration of information and communications
technology into the health sector system has brought about
enhancement and quality to the health care delivery system.
 Two major benefits are reduction in medication and prescription
errors and enhancement of decision making with the use of
computer based decision support systems. 

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Assistive Technology

7. Assistive Technology
 The use of assistive technologies such as Braille
writers, trackballs, joysticks and many others enable persons with
disabilities to function independently, at home, work and in
education.

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 SOCIAL

ICT refers to the devices used to communicate between computers.  


ICT comprises of any device or system that enable the storage,

retrieval, manipulation and transmission or dissemination
of information.
Such devices include television, radio, computer hardware, software

and networks, cellular / mobile phones and satellite systems.
ICT or IT can also refer to the study, the design, development,

implementation management, support and applications of
computer systems.

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 SOCIAL

Simply put, ICT includes any devices that can transmit information in


form of voice, video or data.
ICT has greatly impacted and enhanced global socialisation and

interactions.
In fact information technology has taken over nearly every aspect of

our daily lives from commerce (buying and selling) to leisure and even
culture.
Today, mobile phones, desktop computers, hand held

devices, emails and the use of Internet has become a central part of
our culture and society.
These technologies play a vital role in our day to day operations.
 14
SOCIAL

 ICT has made global social and cultural interaction very easy. 
 We now live in an interdependent global society, where people can
interact and communicate swiftly and efficiently.
 News and information can now be transmitted in minutes.
 Individuals can easily stay in contact with members of their families who
reside in other countries or make new friends across the world.

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 SOCIAL

 Examples of ICT tools used for these purposes are emails,instant

messaging (IM), Chat rooms and social networking websites, such
as Facebook and Twitter, Skype, iPhones, cellular phones and
similar applications.
 ICT made a major contribution towards the elimination of language
barriers - people speaking different languages can connect and
socialise or trade in real time via the Internet.
 This is made possible with the use of language translators.

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 SOCIAL

 In as much as the advantages of IT are numerous, it is important

to mention some of its major disadvantages to the society.
 A significant disadvantage is that older generations find it difficult to
catch up with the ever changing and numerous technologies available to
day.
 Fear of change, resistance to change and inability to catch up with rapid
technology evolution are areas to note.
 The issue of digital divide can not be ignored.

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 SOCIAL

 In the world today, there are people in the society who are not in the
position to take advantage of available technology.
 This may be due to poverty or geographical location. 
 For example, access to technology can be said to be limited in many
developing countries and these may result in lesser opportunities for
economical and social development.

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 BUSINESS

In the business context, information technology is all about


the application of computer operations to business processes.
In recent times, IT has replaced the traditional modes of businesses

with innovative technologies.
This has boosted the performance of businesses enormously and saw

the emergency of new business innovations in many areas.
Major advantages are listed below…..


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 BUSINESS

1. Higher level of Productivity 

The use of Information technology applications enable businesses to
carry out their functions more effectively in the place of work.
Such IT applications include spreadsheets, database software, word
processors, statistical analysis software and computer aided
designing (CAD) tools.
Employees can carry out their task independently, effectively, faster
and more accurately with the use of these technologies.

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BUSINESS

2. Enhanced Enterprise Processes

 Available IT systems can handle entire business processes for big
enterprises.
 Such technologies connect and centralize all business activities
using large computer servers.
 Some major advantages of these technologies are proper planning,
efficiency, easy forecasting and control and of course increased
profit.

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 BUSINESS

3. Enhanced Management and Administration

 With the range of management information systems (MIS) available
today, businesses can improve their business management
strategies, make informed decisions that can skyrocket their profits and
productivities with less efforts and reasonable timeline.
 Information technology management tools can be applied to different
areas of management including human resources, information, marketing
and finance.

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BUSINESS

4. Networking and Communication

 The use of IT networks enables effective communication within
or outside a business environment.
 For instance, the use of e-mails, instant messaging (IM)
and electronic conferencing has enhanced uninterrupted
communication for businesses with multiple offices. 
 Networking technologies aid collaboration and interaction
between businesses and clients and also make quick information
flow between the two parties achievable.

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BUSINESS

5.Electronic Commerce and Globalisation

 A major advantage of Information technology to business is e-
commerce – electronic buying and selling.
 E-commerce gave room for businesses to expand locally, nationally
and globally by removing time, distance and language barriers.
 Organisations can now do businesses across the world, hold
meetings with prospective clients and partners via the Internet.
 Small businesses can reach wider audience, grow into global
empires and utilize competitive advantage.
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 BUSINESS

6. New Technology Innovations

The use of IT has brought about new technology innovations
and therefore new businesses; these include creation of virtual
shops, markets and virtual homes.
Also think of all the innovative i-products such
as iPods, iPhones, iTunes and iPads.
Although the advantages of Information Technology in business
are immense, it is very important to note some of its major
disadvantages; these are security threats brought about by
creation of malicious software programs known collectively
as malware. 25
 BUSINESS

6. New Technology Innovations

 These threats include identity theft, damage to computer systems and
possible destruction and loss of invaluable data and information.
 The good news is that technologies continue to advance and as such
produce anti-malware programs to reduce the risks to the barest
minimum.

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 EDUCATION

 Information Technology has continued to evolve with a remarkable

effect on the teaching and learning experience in the world over.
 The use of Information technology in Education is generally referred
to as technology-based learning or eLearning.  
 E-learning is being employed increasingly and at all levels of
education. 
 Major advantages are listed below….

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 EDUCATION

1. Self-paced Learning 
Due to time constraints teachers can not ensure that all learners are able
to understand a module or lesson before moving on to the next stage.
With the aid of computers, learners can study at their own pace. 
Learners are given access to both interactive and non-interactive
learning instructional materials, computers become the tutors and learners
are able to go review the learning materials as many times as possible
until they are able to gain understanding.

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 EDUCATION

2. Removing the Barriers of Distance, Time and Cost

 Far and above traditional distant learning, Information
technology provides enhanced distant education.
 Learning can take place in many ways without physical contact, anywhere
and anytime.
 Thanks to IT, people can earn a degree or qualification in universities and
colleges of choice without the need to travel, thereby cutting down on cost
and time. 
 University or colleges awarding a degree/qualification can be located in
almost any country in the world with Internet access. 
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 EDUCATION

2. Removing the Barriers of Distance, Time and Cost

 Students can access their institution’s Intranet from home and
download study and session materials.
 Adults are given another opportunity to go for higher education whilst
they are working, or to improve on their professional qualifications.  
 Women do not have to leave their young children to attend colleges or
earn a degree; this can be done from home. 
 Students who ordinarily may have been unable to attend college or
university due to certain disabilities have the opportunity to do so with
the aid of assistive technologies.
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 EDUCATION

3. Wide Variety of Learning Tools

Teaching and learning can be achieved through a wide range
of technologies and these have continued to grow very rapidly.
Delivery technologies include video and audio
tapes, television broadcasts, emails, discussion boards, online chat
rooms, podcasting, videocasting, virtual classrooms, teleconferencing or
videoconferencing and similar applications of software and hardware.
Instructional materials can also be downloaded from the Internet, Intranet
or Extranet painlessly.  
The use of these tools makes learning more interesting and encourages
collaboration among learners and teachers.
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 EDUCATION

3. Wide Variety of Learning Tools

 It is not uncommon to use social networking sites as e-learning tools.
 Examples of social communication tools that are commonly used for e-
learning are
blogs, Skpe, Facebook, Wikis, Twitter, Ning, Filkr and You-Tube
 Also, due to the fact that students have a wide variety of learning
technologies at their disposal, they can decide to use a mode of learning
that best suit their learning styles.

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 EDUCATION

4. Easy Access to External Resources

 With the advent of Information technology, doing research or self study
has never been made easier. 
 Students, teachers and researchers have easy access to general
resources such as e-libraries, online dictionaries,
thesaurus, research sites and reference books. 
 The World Wide Web itself is a network full of free and
accessible information.
 The application of Information technology to education has brought
about lots of advantages and benefits to the educational system. 
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 EDUCATION

4. Easy Access to External Resources

 These include enhanced self-spaced learning, removal of distance and
time constraints, as well as reduction in cost.
 One major disadvantage is that because of the rapid way in which
technology changes and evolves, many educational infrastructures tend to
become obsolete and the need to invest in newer technologies arises
rather frequently.
 However, it is important to stress that the advantages of IT tend to
overshadow the disadvantages.

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CONCLUSION

 Major barriers to the use of IT include cost of investment, access to

the Internet and resistance to technology.
 A major disadvantage of IT is that technologies become obsolete
very quickly.
 For individuals, firms and organisations to keep up with technology
advancement, there is need for reinvestment and training.
 Other disadvantages include security threats (such as malicious
software attacks) and loss of privacy.

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