Communications & Information Technology Development
Introduction
Communication and information technology has changed how we have communicated with one another over the past 2 decades. We now can contact each other instantly with an instant message via an application such as Facebook or we could Video call someone via Skype from across the world. Information that we might have had to research in the library is instantly available from websites such as Wikipedia. I am going to discuss some of the changes over the past 20 years. This will explain the different types of digital and mobile technology hardware ranging from processors to touch screens with a keen interest on how these have changed and developed into cutting edge technology.
The impact of social media has skyrocketed over the past decade and the majority of people use social media sites every day as a part of their daily routine. I will give information about the World Wide Web including how it has grown and what it is. Legislation has a vital part of this assignment also. There any many different laws relating to Communications and Information Technology which make the internet a safer place for all of us including Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Copyright and Digital Intellectual Property Rights and Safety and Welfare at Work Acts.
Communications changes in the last 20 years
There had been many communication changes in the last 20 years. In the last 20 years there has been a focus on I.C.E (Information, Communication and Entertainment). We use Google to find information instantly about many different topics. We communicate using text messages, phone calls and social media instantly. Applications provide entertainment such as Netflix give us access to some of our favourite newest movies and if you want to listen to music there are applications like Spotify and Soundcloud. Verbal contact was the main way humans used to communicate. If we needed to send a message to someone we would use the Postal Service to write to one another.
With the invention of mobile phones we transfer verbal information to text which can be sent in a couple of seconds. If a phone call needed to be made we would contact a call centre who would transfer subscriber’s calls to one another. The first mobile phone call was made in 1973 by Motorola researcher and executive Martin Cooper. Since then mobile phones have gotten smaller and more powerful. Smart phones now cover all aspects of I.C.E the invention of the touch screen revolutionized the Mobile phone industry allowing for us to increase the size of batteries and microchips. After mobile phone and text messages came the E-MAIL the e-mail is still the most commonly used way to transmit a message to another user. The first EMAIL was sent by Ray Tomlinson in 1971.
Digital and mobile technology hardware
Digital and mobile technology hardware’s are what make up today’s technology. Mobile phones generally contain hardware such as:
- Processors
- Memory Cards
- Mobile phone service to make basic phone calls and texts
- Sim Cards
- Wi-Fi Receivers
- Touch screens
- Charing ports
- Bluetooth Receivers
Processors have gotten smaller and speeds have increased to allow us to add more power to our phone. Memory cards can go up as high as 512 GB allowing us to store as much data as we could possibly need. Mobile phone servers now cater for 4G Connections allow us to get a high speed connecting to the internet making streaming music and videos better. Our phones have WI-FI to allow us to connect to the internet from our homes and places of business. Touch screens provide a quick and effective method of translating our thoughts to text.
Chargers have become smaller and software such as Quick Charge allow us to charge our phones fully in short periods of time. Bluetooth was a great infection which allows us to share files to each other’s phones, it connects to our cars to play audio or make phone calls. Before Bluetooth we had Infra-red which involved holding 2 phones together to transmit a file through a receiver on the phone.
Impact of social media
Social media includes sites such as: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. We use these social media sites to contact each other via instant messages, video calls and blog shares. We can share any information held on the internet on these social media sites. Social media has a lot of advantages in these areas. Social media has many positives it is relatively easy to use but it comes with downsides. Since the invention social media the need for social contact has minimized.
People may be left isolated due to not physically reaching out to people. For example it is easier to send and instant message to meet up with your friends instead of calling over to their house and asking them to come out. Until the invention of social media bullying was generally physical or verbal now bullies may use social media to harass their victims. People can post anonymously by making fake accounts which makes it harder to control this problem.
Impact of the World Wide Web
The First prototype of the internet was invented in the 1960’s known as Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. The Internet stores its information on hard drives in web servers around the world. A browser like Google Chrome or Firefox is used to search for websites online. The internet is now used for tasks such as:
- Online Banking.
- Booking flights/accommodation.
- Purchasing goods online such as clothing, house wear, technology etc.
- Downloading and streaming music and videos.
Social Media Research
The internet is continuing to grow every day. There is an enormous amount of information on the internet. We store a lot of our personal information on the internet like our credit card information which makes us liable to be attacked by cybercrime. Hackers may steal our information using phishing sites and key loggers. Anti-virus software must be installed on our computers to prevent us getting virus from using the World Wide Web. Legislation to be taken into account:
Data protection
Data protection keeps our information safe. In 1988 The Data protection act was conceived. It entitles us to have information kept secure and safe.
Freedom of information
The freedom of information act 1997 & 2014 gives us a legal right to access information collected about our persons. Each person has a right to access official information gathered about themselves. This also allows us to learn reasons for choices affecting ourselves.
Copyright and Digital Intellectual Property Rights
Copyright laws prevent original information and ideas like music, literature, audio, video etc. from being replicated without permission. Intellectual property includes work that is original and patented. This properties are protected by copyright.
Safety and Welfare at Work Acts
Safety, Health and Welfare Act came into place 2005. This law provides health and safety in the work place it applies to all citizens in the work place.
Conclusions
From my research I have concluded that Communications and Information Technology has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. This has impacted the world in both good and bad ways. Communications and Information Technology will continue to grow rapidly over the coming years and the legislation we put in place will protect our personal information as it grows.
Bibliography:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_mobile_phones
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_exchange
- https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/integral-memory-new-512gb-microsd-card-3381378
- https://www.history.com/news/who-invented-the-internet
- https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/negative-effects-social-media/
- http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1988/act/25/enacted/en/html
- https://tech.co/so-what-is-the-difference-between-copyright-and-intellectual-property-2009-12
- https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Legislation/Acts/Safety_Health_and_Welfare_at_Work/
- http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/6116/First-e-mail-sent-by-Ray-Tomlinson/
