This week,
we focused on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and world change. We
contemplated on the past, present and future of ICT and the possible risks and
dangers it could impose.
In class,
we covered various areas of areas of ICT –mass media, internet, wireless
technologies, cloud computing etc. To me, many of these are so near, yet so far.
So near is because we are mainly revolved around mass media and internet. However,
to many of us, we are far from the construction and build-up of ICT. We can
deploy such technologies despite the abstraction and complications behind-the-scene.
We can get in touch with people everywhere in seconds. We can convey and retrieve
data in real time context. We can be instantly well-informed as long as we are in
an open society. As artificial intelligence gets more advanced, ICT seems to
simplify our world with a complex methodology eventually.
The introduction
of ICT is the turning point of which people are more connected to the world’s
happenings and the economy functions in an unrelenting pace. People’s working efficiency
is up by many levels with the accessibility of various information and
knowledge. The interaction between static information and dynamic brains is
more responsive. We do not just stare at the data on paper or from books with
no means to express our own opinions to many strangers. In fact, people nowadays actively receive information
from others, digest it and produce their approach of viewing things back to the
others.
ICT never fails to provide information. But to
think broader, how much truth is there in the information provided and how much
simple is our life now?
Indeed, we have gone through a period when
people are indulged in the convenience that ICT has brought to us. There were
moments of satisfactory before the abuse of such advancement. Nonetheless, issues
and concerns are raised along the familiarity of ICT. Increased exposure of information
can be a double-edged sword. Funny to say, we thought that our life was tough
as many things had to be done manually and we were manipulated as information
were highly censored and tailored with the politic power. Now, we think we are
lucky but we are just living in a bigger pool of lies. When information is over
flooded and others can contribute their personal or prejudiced opinions anytime
anywhere, we ought to be a filter machine – distinguishing the truths from the
lies. There can be many other concerns such as espionage and identity theft. The
word “hacker” also is not something new due to the emergence of internet and
wireless technologies. While internet provides entertainment and convenience to
us, we have to be aware of security issues especially during activities when
privacy is highly involved.
We once
thought we would be more humane in the era of information technology. In fact,
we are turning less human.
