Environmental impact of Information Technology
The case of ecological and environmental aspects of fields such as
energy, industrial production, urbanisation etc. are being hotly debated
issues across the world. The environmental impact of IT hasn't as yet
received due notice. Let's try to see the social, organisational and
impact on individuals of IT.
Well, almost all of us are well-aware of the beneficial aspects of
computers and the tremendous changes in our lives computers have
brought about in its wake. No aspects of human activity has been
left untouched by the mind-boggling development in this field. Faster
communications through emailing, online business, better medical
care, better household appliances, faster and accurate crunching of
voluminous scientific data helping in scientific study are just a few
examples to illustrate how computers are changing our lives in big ways.
There're demerits as well. The individual's dependence on computers can
cause untold miseries, if for some reason the data which he had fed into
the computer were to be lost without a back-up. An alarming situation may
arise wherein an individual may cease to use his brain for commonsense
arithmetic so that he may lose his numerical ability. Privacy of
individuals is no longer impregnable because an individual becomes so
transparent to the whole world through the storing of information about
every aspect of his life in many places. Transparent information, and at
times inaccurate information about an individual, may act as one's
disadvantage.
Effect of radiation which is harmful from the continuous exposure to the
V.D.U will affect computer users. Users may even develop ailments like
Spondylitis because in many third world countries, proper computer
furnitures are not provided. Every individual becomes the potential
victim for the consequences of computer controlled decisions in
such strategic areas such as the use of atomic and other potentially
dangerous weapons and gadgets.
The management process which tries to substitute rationality in
decision making using timely, relevant and accurate information is
greatly facilitated by the computer. Tremendous gains in financial
control, inventory control, market control etc. are possible using
computer technology. In factory production quality control, production
planning and monitoring etc. are made more effective and easy with
the help of computer. Orgainsation can move into higher levels of
forecasting, using such technique as simulation, and also benefit
by the use of various OR techniques with the help of a computer.
Harmful effects
Many orgainsation have and continue to invest in the technology without
sufficient systems analysis, and without preparing the ground properly for
implementation resulting in various kinds of frustration in such organisation.
The mix of skills needed in the orgainsation undergoes major changes which
may create lot of tension and may harmfully affect the human resources. When
computers take over many items of work from human beings, the organisation
may find itself loaded with unwanted manpower. This can lead to a lot of
industrial strife. The employees start living in continuous fear of being
declared redundant and lose morale and motivation. Distribution of power in
the orgainsation gets altered with attendant struggles for regaining power
through unhealthy ways. Non computer skilled employees may find themselves
treated as second class citizens in the orgainsation.
New and devious ways of misuse of the computer technology may be found to
defraud the organisation. The dependence on computers for handling
information may lead to several embarrassment and even losses when there
is a failure of the system. Large investment in hardware and software
are required to use the technology which may not yield immediate returns.
COMPUTERS AND LIVING STYLE
One of the major changes that can arise is that people need not spend as much time
as they spend now waiting for information. Much better public service at the
railway station, airport, banks, hospital, tourist services etc. can release a lot
of tension and frustration of the people of society. People can reduce a lot of their
local as well as long distance travel when the potentialities of both computers and
modern communication are combined. This adds to convenience as well as saving of
time. A time will come when people will be able to trade without having to use tools
and coins. This adds to safety and convenience.
Shopping can be done from home. Ticket for a show can be booked through computers.
Sales of shares can be done through computers. Books in libraries can be reserved
through computers. For the professional who is hard-pressed for time, these
facilities are extremely valuable.
Computer controlled machine operations, chemical processing, control of extensive
use of various energy beams, rays etc. can provide high accuracy. Hence society is
likely to demand much more accuracy for all products.
The programmed computer robot can do many production operations which are harzardous
and can be done by human beings today at great risk. In and around furnaces, in toxic
environments, in dizzy heights, in straight and narrow interstices etc. the robot
can relieve human beings.
There is perhaps no human activity in which computer cannot have a place, aiding man
in reducing his drudgery of repetition of giving him information ina form suitable for
taking decisions. In fact the computer can take over decisions making in various
programmed decision situations. It can also support us in non-programmed and
unstructured situations by helping us to evaluate the possible consequences of
several alternative decision choices. When combined with operation research techniques,
the computer serves as a real decision support system. The quality and speed of solving
several complex problem, which are today being decided on hunches, can be improved to
produce more economy in investments or to generate more acceptability to society.
Computerised cars and flights are becoming realities. Such automation can help society
to accomplish more speedy and safe travel.
Computers together with modern satellite communication technology has made the world
and the countries shrink. The NIC computer link functioning in our country has linked
all the district headquarters and has made the districts and Delhi come very close
together for various administrative purpose. Computers have research in a phenomenal
way resulting in several benefits to society. Advances in biomedical area are already
available to humanity. Computers also help in monitoring of health status of patients
in critical conditions and have saved many a lives.
The list of beneficial impact of computers on society is bound to undergo elongation
day by day. Sky is the limit. Imaginative adaptation by the human being of the computer
technology is bound to be moving forward in leaps and bounds.
As in the case of nuclear technology computer technology is also equally susceptible
to be misused either deliberately or unconsciously. One of the major impact of the
adoption of computer technology is that it may displace a substantial proportion of
employed people, especially those employed in white collar jobs. This will naturally
affect society's equilibrium in socio-economic spheres. The trade unions and social
leaders naturally will organise against such displacement. In a developing country
with high unemployment, therefore, the extent of resistence from which white collar
workers is bound to be naturally very high. As long as policy level changes in
rehabilitation, promotion scheme etc. are not introduced to protect and safeguard
the interest of those who are displaced, the resistance will continue.
It is well recognised that introduction of computers will reduce or eliminate the
drudgery of repetitive and low intellectual type of data processing manually. The
speed of processing will increase tremendously and this will help quicker public
service. Among managerial people a further division will be created in terms of the
extent of computer knowledge and skill. The relatively senior people stand to suffer
in this situation, unless they can quickly accomplish the necessary learning. Already
the strain of the people in this phenomenon is visible.
The huge potential of the computer technology for handling large voloume and complex
problem also throws open equally large oppurtunities to commit frauds. More thinking
and innovative safety and devices have to be generated. The time released by the
computer may corrupt the society rather than being used for beneficial purposes. This
needs careful social intervention. When more reliance is placed on computers for decision
making in such strategic areas like defense, operation of weaponry etc, the magnitude
of wilful ignorance also increases. The threat to society is also increased. If people
can do everything from home conveniently using the computer, individuals can become
less sociable and more and more self-centred. The possibility of a moneyless society
can take away the pleasures of shopping, bargaining etc.
From the foregoing discussion it becomes clear that the computer technology is endowned
with tremendous potential for benefits to society as well as different types of harmful
impact. The question of the adoption of technology or the extent of adoption, the extent
and nature of curbs to be introduced, the monitoring and correction process to contain the harmful effects etc. are all matters of social choice which should not be left to the technologist alone. Multidisciplinary groups through democratic procedures should take decisions. The concern which society has for ecological and environmental issues in respect of energy, industrialisation, deforestation, mining etc. should be extended to computerisation also.