Week5

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.

Session Rating: 9/10. No rush in presentation. More informative.