5:ICT and World Change

Indeed, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is one of the main drivers of change. From the past to present, it has completely altered the way we work, the way we communicate, and the mindset in which we operate. We are gradually headed for a digital world, where everything we do or use revolves around technology.

I feel that the rise of the modern internet has played a significant role in our changed communication, such as emailing and skyping as compared to the primitive methods of phone calls and letter-writing. Take a look at this video that shows how the internet has progressed over time.






The above has introduced the 4 basic components that make up our modern internet: Arpanet, Military network by RAND Corporation in US, Commercial network by National Physical Laboratory in England and finally the Scientific network by Cyclades in France. It clearly described as well, what kind of problems faced at each level of networking and the constant improvisations made to address these situations, such that we have our Modern Internet now. Amazingly, behind all these technological advancements are groups and groups of intelligent people who slog their guts out for the betterment of Man. With the modern internet, we can do basically everything, ranging from information sourcing, personal entertainment, communication, e-commerce to e-services. It is just so pervasive in our lives that it has become indispensable.


It may hence seem like we’re moving towards a digital world, where all products or whatsoever are based on internet and interactive user-inter faces (like what Raymond talked about) etc, but the fact is that digital content remains dependent on the physical world as well. This is because data still has to be stored in machines needed to process this information. Quoting from Bill Thomsom, a BBC journalist, “the digital world is really a hybrid world where analogue and digital co-exist, where the physical and mutual come together in a mutually dependent relationship.” These technologies still have to rely on humans to operate it. Even if cloud computing comes into the picture, where virtually no data is stored on computers, just purely stored at the open of browsers, there is still a certain reliance on the physical world too.


Speaking of cloud computing, it was a completely foreign topic to me until I read the readings and saw the video in class describing what it was exactly. It was pretty interesting because the article on cloud computing showed how these future technology could aid businesses in cost reduction and the provision of greater convenience to users, and also what policymakers/entrepreneurs could do for cloud computing to achieve its maximum potential.


Okay, now back to my point. ICT has also played an active role in changing the medium of interaction in the education aspect because more schools are now engaging their students through the use of learning portals, visual enhancements and simulation exercises. Gone are the days when passive learning was adopted. Now are the times when students take the initiative to access the learning portal, gain insights through sourcing information via the internet and for personal enrichment. With reference to a BBC article, “When 13-year old Taylor, who lives in Modesto, California, wants help with her homework, she no longer goes and asks her mother for help. Instead she goes to her computer and gets on the internet, where she dials up an e-tutoring service, Tutor Vista, based in Bangalore, India, for help with her maths and English.” Across the world, the same thing happens; ICT has become a tool to education material.


Hence, from the above, ICT is clearly a catalyst that facilitates the knowledge revolution because of the massive amount of information and knowledge which we can derive from the internet.


However, the poor may be excluded from these ICT advancements because it is expensive while the rich are better furnished to adopt these costly developments, inevitably widening the rich-poor divide. This thus brings into picture the importance of including the poor in these technological progresses as well, be it through subsidies by uptaking these ICT or direct provision, policymakers or business individuals should actively seek to bridge this digital divide for ICT to have its maximum impact.


Overall today’s lesson was quite well-paced and topics that the other presenters came up with were fresh and interesting. 8/10!