technology for communication essay

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Karunaratne, Indika & Atukorale, Ajantha & Perera, Hemamali. (2011). Surveillance of human- computer interactions: A way forward to detection of users' Psychological Distress. 2011 IEEE Colloquium on Humanities, Science and Engineering, CHUSER 2011. 10.1109/CHUSER.2011.6163779.

June 9, 2023 / 0 comments / Reading Time: ~ 12 minutes

The Digital Revolution: How Technology is Changing the Way We Communicate and Interact

This article examines the impact of technology on human interaction and explores the ever-evolving landscape of communication. With the rapid advancement of technology, the methods and modes of communication have undergone a significant transformation. This article investigates both the positive and negative implications of this digitalization. Technological innovations, such as smartphones, social media, and instant messaging apps, have provided unprecedented accessibility and convenience, allowing people to connect effortlessly across distances. However, concerns have arisen regarding the quality and authenticity of these interactions. The article explores the benefits of technology, including improved connectivity, enhanced information sharing, and expanded opportunities for collaboration. It also discusses potential negative effects including a decline in in-person interactions, a loss of empathy, and an increase in online anxiety. This article tries to expand our comprehension of the changing nature of communication in the digital age by exposing the many ways that technology has an impact on interpersonal interactions. It emphasizes the necessity of intentional and thoughtful communication techniques to preserve meaningful connections in a society that is becoming more and more reliant on technology.

Introduction:

Technology has significantly transformed our modes of communication and interaction, revolutionizing the way we connect with one another over the past few decades. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst, expediting this transformative process, and necessitating our exclusive reliance on digital tools for socializing, working, and learning. Platforms like social media and video conferencing have emerged in recent years, expanding our options for virtual communication. The impact of these changes on our lives cannot be ignored. In this article, we will delve into the ways in which technology has altered our communication and interaction patterns and explore the consequences of these changes for our relationships, mental well-being, and society.

To gain a deeper understanding of this topic, I have conducted interviews and surveys, allowing us to gather firsthand insights from individuals of various backgrounds. Additionally, we will compare this firsthand information with the perspectives shared by experts in the field. By drawing on both personal experiences and expert opinions, we seek to provide a comprehensive analysis of how technology influences our interpersonal connections. Through this research, we hope to get a deeper comprehension of the complex interactions between technology and people, enabling us to move mindfully and purposefully through the rapidly changing digital environment.

The Evolution of Communication: From Face-to-Face to Digital Connections:

In the realm of communication, we have various mediums at our disposal, such as face-to-face interactions, telephone conversations, and internet-based communication. According to Nancy Baym, an expert in the field of technology and human connections, face-to-face communication is often regarded as the most personal and intimate, while the phone provides a more personal touch than the internet. She explains this in her book Personal Connections in the Digital Age by stating, “Face-to-face is much more personal; phone is personal as well, but not as intimate as face-to-face… Internet would definitely be the least personal, followed by the phone (which at least has the vocal satisfaction) and the most personal would be face-to-face” (Baym 2015).  These distinctions suggest that different communication mediums are perceived to have varying levels of effectiveness in conveying emotion and building relationships. This distinction raises thought-provoking questions about the impact of technology on our ability to forge meaningful connections. While the internet offers unparalleled convenience and connectivity, it is essential to recognize its limitations in reproducing the depth of personal interaction found in face-to-face encounters. These limitations may be attributed to the absence of nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice, which are vital elements in understanding and interpreting emotions accurately.

Traditionally, face-to-face interactions held a prominent role as the primary means of communication, facilitating personal and intimate connections. However, the rise of technology has brought about significant changes, making communication more convenient but potentially less personal. The rise of phones, instant messaging, and social media platforms has revolutionized how we connect with others. While these digital tools offer instant connectivity and enable us to bridge geographical distances, they introduce a layer of blockage that may impact the depth and quality of our interactions. It is worth noting that different communication mediums have their strengths and limitations. Phone conversations, for instance, retain a certain level of personal connection through vocal interactions, allowing for the conveyance of emotions and tones that text-based communication may lack. However, even with this advantage, phone conversations still fall short of the depth and richness found in face-to-face interactions, as they lack visual cues and physical presence.

Internet-based communication, on the other hand, is considered the least personal medium. Online interactions often rely on text-based exchanges, which may not fully capture the nuances of expression, tone, and body language. While the internet offers the ability to connect with a vast network of individuals and share information on a global scale, it may not facilitate the same depth and authenticity that in-person or phone conversations can provide. As a result, establishing meaningful connections and building genuine relationships in an online setting can be challenging. Research and observations support these ideas. Figure 1. titled “Social Interaction after Electronic Media Use,” shows the potential impact of electronic media on social interaction (source: ResearchGate). This research highlights the need to carefully consider the effects of technology on our interpersonal connections. While technology offers convenience and connectivity, it is essential to strike a balance, ensuring that we do not sacrifice the benefits of face-to-face interactions for the sake of digital convenience.

Figure 1:  Increased reliance on electronic media has led to a noticeable decrease in social interaction.

The Limitations and Effects of Digital Communication

In today’s digital age, the limitations and effects of digital communication are becoming increasingly evident. While the phone and internet offer undeniable benefits such as convenience and the ability to connect with people regardless of geographical distance, they fall short in capturing the depth and richness of a face-to-face conversation. The ability to be in the same physical space as the person we’re communicating with, observing their facial expressions, body language, and truly feeling their presence, is something unique and irreplaceable.

Ulrike Schultze, in her thought-provoking TED Talk titled “How Social Media Shapes Identity,” delves further into the impact of digital communication on our lives by stating, “we construct the technology, but the technology also constructs us. We become what technology allows us to become” (Schultze 2015). This concept highlights how our reliance on digital media for interaction has led to a transformation in how we express ourselves and relate to others.

The influence of social media has been profound in shaping our communication patterns and interpersonal dynamics. Research conducted by Kalpathy Subramanian (2017) examined the influence of social media on interpersonal communication, highlighting the changes it brings to the way we interact and express ourselves (Subramanian 2017). The study found that online communication often involves the use of abbreviations, emoticons, and hashtags, which have become embedded in our online discourse. These digital communication shortcuts prioritize speed and efficiency, but they also contribute to a shift away from the physical action of face-to-face conversation, where nonverbal cues and deeper emotional connections can be fostered.

Additionally, the study emphasizes the impact of social media on self-presentation and identity construction. With the rise of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, individuals have a platform to curate and present themselves to the world. This online self-presentation can influence how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us, potentially shaping our identities in the process. The study further suggests that the emphasis on self-presentation and the pressure to maintain a certain image on social media can lead to increased stress and anxiety among users.

Interviews:

I conducted interviews with individuals from different age groups to gain diverse perspectives on how technology and social media have transformed the way we connect with others. By exploring the experiences of a 21-year-old student and an individual in their 40s, we can better understand the evolving dynamics of interpersonal communication in the digital age. These interviews shed light on the prevalence of digital communication among younger generations, their preference for convenience, and the concerns raised by individuals from older age groups regarding the potential loss of deeper emotional connections.

When I asked the 21-year-old classmate about how technology has changed the way they interact with people in person, they expressed, “To be honest, I spend more time texting, messaging, or posting on social media than actually talking face-to-face with others. It’s just so much more convenient.” This response highlights the prevalence of digital communication among younger generations and their preference for convenience over traditional face-to-face interactions. It suggests that technology has significantly transformed the way young people engage with others, with a greater reliance on virtual interactions rather than in-person conversations. Additionally, the mention of convenience as a driving factor raises questions about the potential trade-offs in terms of depth and quality of interpersonal connections.

To gain insight from an individual in their 40s, I conducted another interview. When asked about their experiences with technology and social media, they shared valuable perspectives. They mentioned that while they appreciate the convenience and accessibility offered by technology, they also expressed concerns about its impact on interpersonal connections. They emphasized the importance of face-to-face interactions in building genuine relationships and expressed reservations about the potential loss of deeper emotional connections in digital communication. Additionally, they discussed the challenges of adapting to rapid technological advancements and the potential generational divide in communication preferences.

Comparing the responses from both interviews, it is evident that there are generational differences in the perception and use of technology for communication. While the 21-year-old classmate emphasized convenience as a primary factor in favor of digital communication, the individual in their 40s highlighted the importance of face-to-face interactions and expressed concerns about the potential loss of meaningful connections in the digital realm. This comparison raises questions about the potential impact of technology on the depth and quality of interpersonal relationships across different age groups. It also invites further exploration into how societal norms and technological advancements shape individuals’ preferences and experiences.

Overall, the interviews revealed a shift towards digital communication among both younger and older individuals, with varying perspectives. While convenience and connectivity are valued, concerns were raised regarding the potential drawbacks, including the pressure to maintain an idealized online presence and the potential loss of genuine connections. It is evident that technology and social media have transformed the way we communicate and interact with others, but the interviews also highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance and recognizing the value of face-to-face interactions in fostering meaningful relationships.

I have recently conducted a survey with my classmates to gather insights on how technology and social media have influenced communication and interaction among students in their daily lives. Although the number of responses is relatively small, the collected data allows us to gain a glimpse into individual experiences and perspectives on this matter.

One of the questions asked in the survey was how often students rely on digital communication methods, such as texting, messaging, or social media, in comparison to engaging in face-to-face conversations. The responses indicated a clear trend towards increased reliance on digital communication, with 85% of participants stating that they frequently use digital platforms as their primary means of communication. This suggests a significant shift away from traditional face-to-face interactions, highlighting the pervasive influence of technology in shaping our communication habits.

Furthermore, the survey explored changes in the quality of interactions and relationships due to the increased use of technology and social media. Interestingly, 63% of respondents reported that they had noticed a decrease in the depth and intimacy of their connections since incorporating more digital communication into their lives. Many participants expressed concerns about the difficulty of conveying emotions effectively through digital channels and the lack of non-verbal cues that are present in face-to-face interactions. It is important to note that while the survey results provide valuable insights into individual experiences, they are not representative of the entire student population. The small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings. However, the data collected does shed light on the potential impact of technology and social media on communication and interaction patterns among students.

Expanding on the topic, I found an insightful figure from Business Insider that sheds light on how people utilize their smartphones (Business Insider). Figure 2. illustrates the average smartphone owner’s daily time spent on various activities. Notably, communication activities such as texting, talking, and social networking account for a significant portion, comprising 59% of phone usage. This data reinforces the impact of digital communication on our daily lives, indicating the substantial role it plays in shaping our interactions with others.  Upon comparing this research with the data, I have gathered, a clear trend emerges, highlighting that an increasing number of individuals primarily utilize their smartphones for communication and interaction purposes.

Figure 2: The breakdown of daily smartphone usage among average users clearly demonstrates that the phone is primarily used for interactions.

The Digital Make Over:

In today’s digital age, the impact of technology on communication and interaction is evident, particularly in educational settings. As a college student, I have witnessed the transformation firsthand, especially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The convenience of online submissions for assignments has led to a growing trend of students opting to skip physical classes, relying on the ability to submit their work remotely. Unfortunately, this shift has resulted in a decline in face-to-face interactions and communication among classmates and instructors.

The decrease in physical attendance raises concerns about the potential consequences for both learning and social connections within the academic community. Classroom discussions, collaborative projects, and networking opportunities are often fostered through in-person interactions. By limiting these experiences, students may miss out on valuable learning moments, diverse perspectives, and the chance to establish meaningful connections with their peers and instructors.

Simon Lindgren, in his thought-provoking Ted Talk , “Media Are Not Social, but People Are,” delves deeper into the effects of technology and social media on our interactions. Lindgren highlights a significant point by suggesting that while technology may have the potential to make us better individuals, we must also recognize its potential pitfalls. Social media, for instance, can create filter bubbles that limit our exposure to diverse viewpoints, making us less in touch with reality and more narrow-minded. This cautionary reminder emphasizes the need to approach social media thoughtfully, seeking out diverse perspectives and avoiding the pitfalls of echo chambers. Furthermore, it is crucial to strike a balance between utilizing technology for educational purposes and embracing the benefits of in-person interactions. While technology undoubtedly facilitates certain aspects of education, such as online learning platforms and digital resources, we must not overlook the importance of face-to-face communication. In-person interactions allow for nuanced non-verbal cues, deeper emotional connections, and real-time engagement that contribute to a more comprehensive learning experience.

A study conducted by Times Higher Education delved into this topic, providing valuable insights. Figure 3. from the study illustrates a significant drop in attendance levels after the pandemic’s onset. Undeniably, technology played a crucial role in facilitating the transition to online learning. However, it is important to acknowledge that this shift has also led to a decline in face-to-face interactions, which have long been regarded as essential for effective communication and relationship-building. While technology continues to evolve and reshape the educational landscape, it is imperative that we remain mindful of its impact on communication and interaction. Striking a balance between digital tools and in-person engagement can help ensure that we leverage the benefits of technology while preserving the richness of face-to-face interactions. By doing so, we can foster a holistic educational experience that encompasses the best of both worlds and cultivates meaningful connections among students, instructors, and the academic community.

Figure 3:  This graph offers convincing proof that the COVID-19 pandemic and the extensive use of online submission techniques are to blame for the sharp reduction in in-person student attendance.

When asked about the impact of online submissions for assignments on physical attendance in classes, the survey revealed mixed responses. While 73% of participants admitted that the convenience of online submissions has led them to skip classes occasionally, 27% emphasized the importance of in-person attendance for better learning outcomes and social interactions. This finding suggests that while technology offers convenience, it also poses challenges in maintaining regular face-to-face interactions, potentially hindering educational and social development, and especially damaging the way we communicate and interact with one another. Students are doing this from a young age, and it comes into huge effect once they are trying to enter the work force and interact with others. When examining the survey data alongside the findings from Times Higher Education, striking similarities become apparent regarding how students approach attending classes in person with the overall conclusion being a massive decrease in students attending class which hinders the chance for real life interaction and communication. the convenience and instant gratification provided by technology can create a sense of detachment and impatience in interpersonal interactions. Online platforms allow for quick and immediate responses, and individuals can easily disconnect or switch between conversations. This can result in a lack of attentiveness and reduced focus on the person with whom one is communicating, leading to a superficial engagement that may hinder the establishment of genuine connections.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, the digital revolution has profoundly transformed the way we communicate and interact with one another. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this transformation, leading to increased reliance on digital tools for socializing, working, and learning. While technology offers convenience and connectivity, it also introduces limitations and potential drawbacks. The shift towards digital communication raises concerns about the depth and quality of our connections, as well as the potential loss of face-to-face interactions. However, it is essential to strike a balance between digital and in-person engagement, recognizing the unique value of physical presence, non-verbal cues, and deeper emotional connections that face-to-face interactions provide. By navigating the digital landscape with mindfulness and intentionality, we can harness the transformative power of technology while preserving and nurturing the essential elements of human connection.

Moving forward, it is crucial to consider the impact of technology on our relationships, mental well-being, and society. As technology continues to evolve, we must be cautious of its potential pitfalls, such as the emphasis on self-presentation, the potential for increased stress and anxiety, and the risk of forgetting how to interact in person. Striking a balance between digital and face-to-face interactions can help ensure that technology enhances, rather than replaces, genuine human connections. By prioritizing meaningful engagement, valuing personal interactions, and leveraging the benefits of technology without compromising the depth and quality of our relationships, we can navigate the digital revolution in a way that enriches our lives and fosters authentic connections.

References:

Ballve, M. (2013, June 5). How much time do we really spend on our smartphones every day? Business Insider. Retrieved April 27, 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-time-do-we-spend-on-smartphones-2013-6

Baym, N. (2015). Personal Connections in the Digital Age (2nd ed.). Polity.

Karunaratne, Indika & Atukorale, Ajantha & Perera, Hemamali. (2011). Surveillance of human-       computer interactions: A way forward to detection of users’ Psychological Distress. 2011 IEEE Colloquium on Humanities, Science and Engineering, CHUSER 2011.             10.1109/CHUSER.2011.6163779.  https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Social-interaction-vs-electronic-media-use-Hours-per-day-of-face-to-face-social_fig1_254056654

Lindgren, S. (2015, May 20). Media are not social, but people are | Simon Lindgren | TEDxUmeå . YouTube. Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ5S7VIWE6k

Ross, J., McKie, A., Havergal, C., Lem, P., & Basken, P. (2022, October 24). Class attendance plummets post-Covid . Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/class-attendance-plummets-post-covid

Schultze, U. (2015, April 23). How social media shapes identity | Ulrike Schultze | TEDxSMU . YouTube. Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSpyZor-Byk

Subramanian, Dr. K .R. “Influence of Social Media in Interpersonal Communication – Researchgate.” ResearchGate.Net , www.researchgate.net/profile/Kalpathy-Subramanian/publication/319422885_Influence_of_Social_Media_in_Interpersonal_Communication/links/59a96d950f7e9b2790120fea/Influence-of-Social-Media-in-Interpersonal-Communication.pdf. Accessed 12 May 2023 .

And So It Was Written

Author: Anonymous

Published: June 9, 2023

Word Count: 3308

Reading time: ~ 12 minutes

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Communication Technology Essay

This Communication Technology Essay is about how relationships have been impacted. This is the question:

Nowadays, the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. 

In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make? 

Is this a positive or negative development?

Understanding the Task

You should be able to see that there are two parts that need to be answered:

The first part is about general effects and the second part is asking for your opinion about this. 

So it doesn't easily fit into an essay 'type'.

Don't worry about this. If you have learned to recognize different types of essay but you find one that does not seem to fit any, just focus on working out exactly what you are being asked. 

So in this one you have to brainstorm some ideas about the way relationships have changed. 

Stating your Opinion

For the second part you need to decide if it is positive or negative, or both. 

Choosing one side and writing about it is probably the simplest way to approach it. In other words:

• Body 1: The way relationships have changed
• Body 2: The negative impacts (or positive)

Although it says ' positive or negative ', it's YOUR opinion, so if you decide it is both it is fine to say this as long as you  make it clear . 

In this model Communication Technology Essay, the writer has stated that it is both positive and negative.

• Body 1: The way relationships have changed (positive)
• Body 2: The negative impacts

When you take a look at the model answer, you'll see the writer has discussed the new types of relationships and labelled them as positive, but then gone on to look at the negative sides.

There are usually several ways you can approach and organize an essay, not just one. As long as it is coherent and answers the question, that is fine. 

Now take a look at the model answer and the comments below. 

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. 

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

It is evident that technology has transformed the ways of communication and influenced relationships in a variety of ways. In my opinion, there are both positive and negative effects of this.

The principal way in which relationships have been affected is that they tend to be at a distance rather than face-to-face. The advent of the internet has made it easy for business owners to communicate across the world, with remote job opportunities one call away. Online educational programs are available for people residing in different countries, and it is no longer a dream to attend live classes from the comfortable environment of a home. Not only this, the social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have revolutionized relationships, be it making online friendships with people from other countries or staying in touch with loved ones. Based on this perspective, technology has influenced relationships in a positive way. 

However, despite these advances, the quality of interaction has significantly declined in several respects. If people are developing most of their relationships online, this means that they may also have less fact-to-face contact. This kind of contact on a personal level is important for human beings to feel wanted and a part of society. This may be a particular problem for children's social development as they used to be seen playing out on the streets but are now too often indoors. Technology can also mean people are detached from what is going on around them even when they are out, as can be seen by the many people staring into their mobile phones as they travel or walk around. 

In conclusion, technology has brought some positive development in the ways people interact with each other. However, there are also some negative impacts of technology on the types of relationships people make. 

(299 Words)

This Communication Technology Essay would get a good score for the following reasons.

It fully answers the question, setting out the way the types of relationships people make have changed (they tend to be ' online ') and then expanding on this by giving examples. 

A balanced opinion is also clearly explained, with the impacts in the first body paragraph seen to be positive, and the second body paragraph dedicated to explaining the negative points.

The essay is also clearly organised and coherent, with the opinion clearly stated and the body paragraphs clearly each focused on one central idea.

There is also good vocabulary used and good collocations. For example:

• advent of the internet
• remote job opportunities
• social platforms
• revolutionized relationships
• people are detached from 

The grammar shows accuracy and a wide range of structures are used. 

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Ielts exam preparation for a higher band score., ielts essay – impact of technology on communication.

IELTS Essay:

Topic: Impact of technology on communication. (Advantages & Disadvantages).

Sample Answer: It is a true fact to consider that in the present day the world has become a global village. As a result technology has main impact to the contemporary world. Considering this, some analysts consider the positive impacts of technology on our communication while others shows the negative aspects of it. However, there are some pros and cons behind implementation of said proposal.

There are some significant advantages of the influences of technology on communication and time saving could be a significant fact to be considered. It is generally seen that few decades ago people used to send letters to exchange a few words and ideas with others and waited a long time to get reply from them. However, as the development of technology people use modern equipment for communication to each other. For example, telephone, mobile phones, internet and e-mails etc.  Moreover, building relationship easily and across the boundary with each other may be another merit of the technological advancement. Therefore, people are not getting alone anymore because closed families and friends get chance to find out their loved ones.

Despite, the advantages pointed out above regarding immense benefit of communication, there are some disadvantages that cannot be neglected without any careful consideration. Unstable cyber relationships could be a detrimental fact. It may be defined as that nowadays social media has brought people together and made new relationships possible. As result some relationships led to many crimes For instance, internet frauds, lying deceiving have become very common nowadays.

In the end, undoubtedly, whether communication is good or bad to the society is a matter of discussion; however, as far as I am concern communication has enormous benefits to the contemporary world and it outweighs certain drawbacks. The way we live our life could not have been possible without the blessing of the modern technology and communications.

[ Written by – Thilini Shani ]

4 thoughts on “ IELTS Essay – Impact of technology on communication ”

Hi, thanks.

I also think it to be a great post. The advice is truly beneficial for IELTS students. I would also like to say that I appreciate a lot the author’s suggestions on communication.

Great post. All nursing students and employed nurses could benefit from this wise advice. I particularly appreciate your suggestions on communication.

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Essay on Communication Technology

Students are often asked to write an essay on Communication Technology in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Communication Technology

What is communication technology.

Communication technology is how we send or get messages. Think of phones, computers, and the internet. These tools let us talk to people far away, share pictures, and work together, even if we’re in different places.

Changes Over Time

Long ago, people used letters, which were slow. Then came telephones, faster and easier. Now, smartphones and the internet let us chat instantly, anytime, making the world feel smaller and keeping us close to those we care about.

Benefits in Education

For students, communication technology means learning can happen anywhere. You can watch lessons online, join video calls with teachers, and get help from friends, all thanks to these amazing tools.

Staying Safe Online

While using these technologies, it’s important to stay safe. Keep personal information private, and be kind online. Remember, the internet is a public place, so always think before you share something.

Also check:

• Advantages and Disadvantages of Communication Technology

250 Words Essay on Communication Technology

Communication technology is all about the tools and systems we use to share information with each other. Like when you send a message on your phone or video chat with a friend who lives far away. It can be simple, like writing a letter, or fancy, like sending emails through the internet.

The Parts of Communication Technology

There are a few key parts to this technology. First, we have devices like phones, computers, and tablets. Next, there’s the internet, which is like a big web connecting all these devices. Then, we have the software, which are the programs that let us do things like send emails or make video calls.

Why It’s Important

This technology is super important because it makes talking to people easy and quick. You can send a message to someone on the other side of the world in just seconds! It helps us learn new things, do business, and stay in touch with family and friends.

Challenges and Future

Even though it’s really useful, there are some challenges too. Sometimes, people worry about privacy and how safe their information is online. Also, not everyone has access to these tools, which can be unfair.

In the future, we expect communication technology to get even better. We might see new ways to talk to each other and share information that we haven’t even thought of yet. It’s an exciting area that keeps growing and changing all the time.

500 Words Essay on Communication Technology

Communication technology is the way we share information using various tools and systems. In the past, people sent messages through letters or talked face to face. Today, we have many more options like email, social media, and smartphones. These tools let us talk to someone far away instantly.

The Role of the Internet

The internet has changed how we communicate. It is like a big web connecting computers all over the world. With the internet, we can send messages, pictures, and videos to our friends and family no matter where they are. We can also find information about anything we are curious about by searching online.

Mobile Phones and Smartphones

Mobile phones have made it very easy to talk to others. We can carry them in our pockets and call or text someone anytime. Smartphones are even better because they can do so many things. We can use them to go on the internet, take photos, and use apps that help us learn and play.

Social Media and Email

Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram let us share our lives with others. We can post photos, tell people what we are doing, and chat. Email is another way we send messages. It is more private than social media and is often used for school or work.

Video Calls and Conferences

Sometimes we want to see the person we are talking to. Video calls let us do that. We can see and hear each other on our screens. This is great for talking to family who live far away or for meetings when people cannot be in the same room.

The Importance of Communication Technology

Communication technology is important because it keeps us connected. It helps us make new friends and stay in touch with old ones. It is also useful for learning. Students can watch educational videos, talk to their teachers online, and find lots of information for their homework.

Challenges and Safety

Even though communication technology is very helpful, it can also be tricky. Sometimes, it can be hard to tell if the information we find online is true. We also have to be careful about who we talk to and what we share. It is important to stay safe and protect our personal information.

Communication technology is a big part of our lives. It lets us talk to people, learn new things, and have fun. We should use it wisely and remember to stay safe online. As we grow up, new tools will come, and we will learn to use them to share and connect even more.

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How Technology Has Changed Communication?

Introduction.

Social networks have made communication simpler, faster and better by enhancing accessibility in both social and business fields. Millions of people use social network sites to carry out financial transactions surf the net as well as carry out financial banking. Unlike use of hi-tech computer programs, social networks require minimal internet knowledge. Such networks have enabled individuals stay in touch with fiends and families and share unlimited information as well as interests.

Additionally, professionals in human services and social workers have greatly benefitted from social networks since it has facilitated exchange of information, exchange of knowledge and access to empirical data (Mika 29). Social networks are also utilized by business people to communicate and to make transactions. In business social networks, entrepreneurs augment their potential profits through online adverts and word of mouth.

However, social networks have quite a number of pitfalls. Even though these networks enable users to relay important data, conduct online conversations, share information on bulletin boards and also retrieve information, it is quite cumbersome to reveal the exact identity of users since personal details may be changed any time based on preferences. Users who conceal their identity during communication may exploit merits of this domain. For instance, such users may opt to post information that is not suitable.

It is imperative to note that social networks are vital for learning. The use of social networks has become a global phenomenon among students. What used to be a technological tool has turned into a popular social tool and a form of electronic communication that many students from various backgrounds have used in institutions of learning, in enhancing family relationships and even among themselves (Grant & Meadows 215).

How technology has changed communication

Thesis statement.

Even though social networking is powerful and helpful development in communication bearing in mind that it has made communication simpler and faster, cases of cyber-bullying from users who hide their true identities behind monitors has been on the increase. It is an issue of concern since inasmuch as it does not involve direct physical contact, its effect on individuals preyed upon is grave than actual contact and as such, may lead to suicide and depression.

The use of mobile phones, digital and interactive technologies as well as the internet by cyber users to target other people with the aim of making them feel embarrassed, humiliated, harassed, threatened and tormented amounts to cyber-bullying. Research studies indicate that cyber-bullying begun with the introduction of worldwide web. Through this, individuals were able to connect with each other through social networks.

The study on how technology has changed communication is interesting since it touches on all aspects of society especially on how individuals relate. This study attempts to explore how modern communication has been modified by highlighting merits and demerits of social networks as well as other areas of importance affected by social networking.

To begin with, it is imperative to note that social networking has become a favorite method of communication among countless number of people including teenagers and adults. Unfortunatey, the varied groups of users have been and as such, they have been negatively impacted.

Therefore, this study topic is of great interest since it provides an opportunity to learn how contemporary communication has been affected by emergence of social networks bearing in mind that communication is a crucial aspect that any given society cannot do without. For example, one of the important issues of concern that have been brought about by social networks and which this essay has explored in depth is cyber-bullying,

Emotionally distressing issues are common among children and teenagers today and according to sociologists, quite a significant percentage of these individuals find it cumbersome to come face to face or talk frankly about their emotional distress and would rather turn to social networks. It is interesting to observe that social networks provide a channel through which they can overcome fear while presenting their issues.

This has also been seen in schools where shy students who cannot speak in public actively participate in class discussions done online. However, this too plays a role in affecting their relationship with each other since some use it to bully others. Consequently, it negatively impacts on their capacity to interact well with others.

While users tend to enjoy the new approach of communicating through social networks, the latter, as aforementioned, has also led to cyber bullying such that users are more wary when interacting with unfamiliar people. Some users perceive modern communication (social networks) such as use of Facebook and twitter to be unsafe (Bahk et al 73).

There are tendencies towards bullying of children or other adolescents causing them to suffer from fear, anxiety and depression. Recent research studies have indicated that cyber bullying can cause potential harm through serious consequences more than just psychosomatic symptoms or suicide.

Cyber-bullying

Technology is a phenomenon which has transformed our society in both excellent and awful ways. Other than the fact that social networks can be used for communication, to do various assignments, perform educational functions and other diverse functions, it is without doubt that it carries with it threats that most people are not aware of. To start with, before social networks came into place, communication was executed in specific areas like in homes or offices where phones were stationary and attached to a table or a wall.

This has drastically changed, and social network sites are now common in society. Individuals can access their friends and families through social network applications such as Facebook found in their computers and phones (Brynko 11). As such, they are able to use this technology anywhere and at anytime to communicate.

However, children or teens use social networks to target their fellows. Instances of cyber-bullying instigated by a teenager against another are on the rise and some of its grievous and diverse effects on victims include embarrassment, humiliations, harassments, threats and torments (Harris & Harris 292).

This important tool of communication has indeed changed the way individuals relate. Instead of it being a channel of proper communication, it provides a cover where a cyber-bully hides to post embarrassing and rude posts using lewd language.

Communication through social networks has virtually changed modern society and way of life. Preteens, teens or children are able to pass information to friends in terms of online conversations, text messages or e-mail. According to research studies done in the recent past, many people have expressed their like for social network as a means of communication and have lauded it for its efficiency. This could be due to social impacts that this mode has on the society. (Fuery 10).

This greatly affects the well being of individuals. However, this technology has turned a mode of communication into a theatre of war where bullies and victims- since roles keep changing- trade hurtful words (Papacharissi 60). The impact after such an incident has been either children committing suicide or killing each other. Inasmuch as it beneficial to many, it is imperative to underscore the fact that it causes social disorder (Fuery 10).

Another issue posing a problem to communication is threats by social networks. The debilitating and confusing information can be due to effects cyber-bullying children are exposed to and lack of coherent array of information (Anon 2).

Information in form of threats has dangerous effects in the life of children and teenagers as it can cause potential disastrous consequences from ill-founded decisions, misunderstandings that may cause depressions and suicides and other related issues (Kilduff & Tsai 73). Children who like social networks least understand the possible effects of social disorder that cyber-bullying in through social networks can cause.

To sum up, as already mentioned, internet predators that hide behind the safety of a computer screen have preyed on their victims through threats and intimidations (Rizavi et al 907). Individuals send written forms of communication and online voice calls to other members making them anonymous to them and thereby harassing and causing them harm. This can prove to be harmful to the teens that still need guidance and are unaware of the dangers of the predators.

What are the causes of the problem

Research studies have pointed out a myriad of issues and a thread bare analysis of the causes of cyber-bullying among children and adolescents. Among those issues include revenge, the fact that an individual enjoys anonymity, control or power and ignorance. The latter is by all means true since most children and teenagers lack knowledge of the impact their words have on others.

They use lewd language to generate some excitement or to kill dullness. The issue of exercising power and control over others among teens and children is another cause of cyber-bullying aimed at satisfying the ego of bullies.

Additionally, children would be free to post anything on the internet to bully others when they know they are anonymous. The fact that they are not being watched gives them confidence against any chance of being found and of any immediate consequence.

Finally, like adults, children and teenagers also display the nature of revenge. Miserable children often look for means to get back at others who have ostracized them. As a matter of fact, since children don’t maintain friendships for long, there is a high chance that revenge can cause a vicious cycle of cyber-bullying.

Proposed solutions and who can help

Due to the aforementioned problems such as identity theft, harmful conversation from unscrupulous people and cyber bullying from social networks sites such as Facebook and Twitter, it is important that appropriate measures to tackle this problems be put in place by both parents and teachers in learning institutions. Some of the proposed solutions for this study involve the participation of parents, teachers in schools and the young people.

First, children in learning institutions involved in cyber-bullying should be thoroughly disciplined. However, this poses a challenge to learning institutions when children are out of school and as such any form of discipline would be considered violation of children’s right of speech. These call for schools to work hand-in-hand with parents to curb cyber-bullying among children.

Secondly, parents should understand their children. Even though some children could be instigators of cyber-bullying, parents should be there for them when things go wrong. They should not under react, overreact or reject them. Being supportive will shield their children from harm caused by cyber-bullies. It will also provide an avenue for parents to guide their children on what is right.

The most viable is teenagers and children taking a stand against cyberbullying since it originates from them. They should be informed on the need to be careful when interacting with unfamiliar individuals (Rizavi et al 904). In case they feel uncomfortable and suspicious of the other communicator, it would be better to end that communication.

In summing up, it is vital to note that most people who interact through social networks may hide their true identities behind their computers, it is imperative for users not to lay an assumption that other communicators are who they claim to be.

Even though social networks are important for communication, personal information such as surname and location should not be given to strangers. Individuals should investigate social network sites they intend to use and incase of cyber bullying; the same should be reported to appropriate authority.

Works Cited

Alemán, Ana Martínez & Wartman, Katherine Lynk. Online social networking on campus: understanding what matters in student culture . New York: Routledge. 2009.

Anon . Sophos threat report reveals significant increase in social networking security threats . 2011. Web.

Bahk, Mo et al. Digital media dependency, relational orientation and social networking among college students. Communications of the IIMA 10.3 (2010): 69-78.

Brynko, Barbara. Trust in social networking. Information Today, 28.7 (2011): 11.

Fuery, Sean. Three ways merchants and their online social networking habits might cost you. ISO & Agent 7.2 (2011): 10.

Grant, August E. & Meadows, Jennifer Harman. Communication technology update, Volume 10, Part 2006 , Oxford: Elsevier, Inc. 2006.

Harris, Richard & Harris, Richard Jackson. A cognitive psychology of mass communication , New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. 2009.

Kilduff, Martin & Tsai, Wenpin . Social networks and organizations . California: SAGE Publications. 2003.

Mika, Peter. Social networks and the Semantic Web . Barcelona: Springer- Science+Business Media, LCC. 2007.

Papacharissi, Zizi. A networked self: Identity, community, and culture on social network Sites . New York: Routledge, 2011.

Rizavi, Sayyid et al. User perceived quality of social networking websites: A study of Lahore region. Interdisciplinary Journal of contemporary research in business 2.12 (2011): 902-913.

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Impact of Technology — The Impact of Technology on Communication

The Impact of Technology on Communication

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Introduction, marc’s argument, carly’s argument, synthesis of marc and carly’s arguments.

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Promises and Pitfalls of Technology

Politics and privacy, private-sector influence and big tech, state competition and conflict, author biography, how is technology changing the world, and how should the world change technology.

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Josephine Wolff; How Is Technology Changing the World, and How Should the World Change Technology?. Global Perspectives 1 February 2021; 2 (1): 27353. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/gp.2021.27353

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Technologies are becoming increasingly complicated and increasingly interconnected. Cars, airplanes, medical devices, financial transactions, and electricity systems all rely on more computer software than they ever have before, making them seem both harder to understand and, in some cases, harder to control. Government and corporate surveillance of individuals and information processing relies largely on digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and therefore involves less human-to-human contact than ever before and more opportunities for biases to be embedded and codified in our technological systems in ways we may not even be able to identify or recognize. Bioengineering advances are opening up new terrain for challenging philosophical, political, and economic questions regarding human-natural relations. Additionally, the management of these large and small devices and systems is increasingly done through the cloud, so that control over them is both very remote and removed from direct human or social control. The study of how to make technologies like artificial intelligence or the Internet of Things “explainable” has become its own area of research because it is so difficult to understand how they work or what is at fault when something goes wrong (Gunning and Aha 2019) .

This growing complexity makes it more difficult than ever—and more imperative than ever—for scholars to probe how technological advancements are altering life around the world in both positive and negative ways and what social, political, and legal tools are needed to help shape the development and design of technology in beneficial directions. This can seem like an impossible task in light of the rapid pace of technological change and the sense that its continued advancement is inevitable, but many countries around the world are only just beginning to take significant steps toward regulating computer technologies and are still in the process of radically rethinking the rules governing global data flows and exchange of technology across borders.

These are exciting times not just for technological development but also for technology policy—our technologies may be more advanced and complicated than ever but so, too, are our understandings of how they can best be leveraged, protected, and even constrained. The structures of technological systems as determined largely by government and institutional policies and those structures have tremendous implications for social organization and agency, ranging from open source, open systems that are highly distributed and decentralized, to those that are tightly controlled and closed, structured according to stricter and more hierarchical models. And just as our understanding of the governance of technology is developing in new and interesting ways, so, too, is our understanding of the social, cultural, environmental, and political dimensions of emerging technologies. We are realizing both the challenges and the importance of mapping out the full range of ways that technology is changing our society, what we want those changes to look like, and what tools we have to try to influence and guide those shifts.

Technology can be a source of tremendous optimism. It can help overcome some of the greatest challenges our society faces, including climate change, famine, and disease. For those who believe in the power of innovation and the promise of creative destruction to advance economic development and lead to better quality of life, technology is a vital economic driver (Schumpeter 1942) . But it can also be a tool of tremendous fear and oppression, embedding biases in automated decision-making processes and information-processing algorithms, exacerbating economic and social inequalities within and between countries to a staggering degree, or creating new weapons and avenues for attack unlike any we have had to face in the past. Scholars have even contended that the emergence of the term technology in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries marked a shift from viewing individual pieces of machinery as a means to achieving political and social progress to the more dangerous, or hazardous, view that larger-scale, more complex technological systems were a semiautonomous form of progress in and of themselves (Marx 2010) . More recently, technologists have sharply criticized what they view as a wave of new Luddites, people intent on slowing the development of technology and turning back the clock on innovation as a means of mitigating the societal impacts of technological change (Marlowe 1970) .

At the heart of fights over new technologies and their resulting global changes are often two conflicting visions of technology: a fundamentally optimistic one that believes humans use it as a tool to achieve greater goals, and a fundamentally pessimistic one that holds that technological systems have reached a point beyond our control. Technology philosophers have argued that neither of these views is wholly accurate and that a purely optimistic or pessimistic view of technology is insufficient to capture the nuances and complexity of our relationship to technology (Oberdiek and Tiles 1995) . Understanding technology and how we can make better decisions about designing, deploying, and refining it requires capturing that nuance and complexity through in-depth analysis of the impacts of different technological advancements and the ways they have played out in all their complicated and controversial messiness across the world.

These impacts are often unpredictable as technologies are adopted in new contexts and come to be used in ways that sometimes diverge significantly from the use cases envisioned by their designers. The internet, designed to help transmit information between computer networks, became a crucial vehicle for commerce, introducing unexpected avenues for crime and financial fraud. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, designed to connect friends and families through sharing photographs and life updates, became focal points of election controversies and political influence. Cryptocurrencies, originally intended as a means of decentralized digital cash, have become a significant environmental hazard as more and more computing resources are devoted to mining these forms of virtual money. One of the crucial challenges in this area is therefore recognizing, documenting, and even anticipating some of these unexpected consequences and providing mechanisms to technologists for how to think through the impacts of their work, as well as possible other paths to different outcomes (Verbeek 2006) . And just as technological innovations can cause unexpected harm, they can also bring about extraordinary benefits—new vaccines and medicines to address global pandemics and save thousands of lives, new sources of energy that can drastically reduce emissions and help combat climate change, new modes of education that can reach people who would otherwise have no access to schooling. Regulating technology therefore requires a careful balance of mitigating risks without overly restricting potentially beneficial innovations.

Nations around the world have taken very different approaches to governing emerging technologies and have adopted a range of different technologies themselves in pursuit of more modern governance structures and processes (Braman 2009) . In Europe, the precautionary principle has guided much more anticipatory regulation aimed at addressing the risks presented by technologies even before they are fully realized. For instance, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation focuses on the responsibilities of data controllers and processors to provide individuals with access to their data and information about how that data is being used not just as a means of addressing existing security and privacy threats, such as data breaches, but also to protect against future developments and uses of that data for artificial intelligence and automated decision-making purposes. In Germany, Technische Überwachungsvereine, or TÜVs, perform regular tests and inspections of technological systems to assess and minimize risks over time, as the tech landscape evolves. In the United States, by contrast, there is much greater reliance on litigation and liability regimes to address safety and security failings after-the-fact. These different approaches reflect not just the different legal and regulatory mechanisms and philosophies of different nations but also the different ways those nations prioritize rapid development of the technology industry versus safety, security, and individual control. Typically, governance innovations move much more slowly than technological innovations, and regulations can lag years, or even decades, behind the technologies they aim to govern.

In addition to this varied set of national regulatory approaches, a variety of international and nongovernmental organizations also contribute to the process of developing standards, rules, and norms for new technologies, including the International Organization for Standardization­ and the International Telecommunication Union. These multilateral and NGO actors play an especially important role in trying to define appropriate boundaries for the use of new technologies by governments as instruments of control for the state.

At the same time that policymakers are under scrutiny both for their decisions about how to regulate technology as well as their decisions about how and when to adopt technologies like facial recognition themselves, technology firms and designers have also come under increasing criticism. Growing recognition that the design of technologies can have far-reaching social and political implications means that there is more pressure on technologists to take into consideration the consequences of their decisions early on in the design process (Vincenti 1993; Winner 1980) . The question of how technologists should incorporate these social dimensions into their design and development processes is an old one, and debate on these issues dates back to the 1970s, but it remains an urgent and often overlooked part of the puzzle because so many of the supposedly systematic mechanisms for assessing the impacts of new technologies in both the private and public sectors are primarily bureaucratic, symbolic processes rather than carrying any real weight or influence.

Technologists are often ill-equipped or unwilling to respond to the sorts of social problems that their creations have—often unwittingly—exacerbated, and instead point to governments and lawmakers to address those problems (Zuckerberg 2019) . But governments often have few incentives to engage in this area. This is because setting clear standards and rules for an ever-evolving technological landscape can be extremely challenging, because enforcement of those rules can be a significant undertaking requiring considerable expertise, and because the tech sector is a major source of jobs and revenue for many countries that may fear losing those benefits if they constrain companies too much. This indicates not just a need for clearer incentives and better policies for both private- and public-sector entities but also a need for new mechanisms whereby the technology development and design process can be influenced and assessed by people with a wider range of experiences and expertise. If we want technologies to be designed with an eye to their impacts, who is responsible for predicting, measuring, and mitigating those impacts throughout the design process? Involving policymakers in that process in a more meaningful way will also require training them to have the analytic and technical capacity to more fully engage with technologists and understand more fully the implications of their decisions.

At the same time that tech companies seem unwilling or unable to rein in their creations, many also fear they wield too much power, in some cases all but replacing governments and international organizations in their ability to make decisions that affect millions of people worldwide and control access to information, platforms, and audiences (Kilovaty 2020) . Regulators around the world have begun considering whether some of these companies have become so powerful that they violate the tenets of antitrust laws, but it can be difficult for governments to identify exactly what those violations are, especially in the context of an industry where the largest players often provide their customers with free services. And the platforms and services developed by tech companies are often wielded most powerfully and dangerously not directly by their private-sector creators and operators but instead by states themselves for widespread misinformation campaigns that serve political purposes (Nye 2018) .

Since the largest private entities in the tech sector operate in many countries, they are often better poised to implement global changes to the technological ecosystem than individual states or regulatory bodies, creating new challenges to existing governance structures and hierarchies. Just as it can be challenging to provide oversight for government use of technologies, so, too, oversight of the biggest tech companies, which have more resources, reach, and power than many nations, can prove to be a daunting task. The rise of network forms of organization and the growing gig economy have added to these challenges, making it even harder for regulators to fully address the breadth of these companies’ operations (Powell 1990) . The private-public partnerships that have emerged around energy, transportation, medical, and cyber technologies further complicate this picture, blurring the line between the public and private sectors and raising critical questions about the role of each in providing critical infrastructure, health care, and security. How can and should private tech companies operating in these different sectors be governed, and what types of influence do they exert over regulators? How feasible are different policy proposals aimed at technological innovation, and what potential unintended consequences might they have?

Conflict between countries has also spilled over significantly into the private sector in recent years, most notably in the case of tensions between the United States and China over which technologies developed in each country will be permitted by the other and which will be purchased by other customers, outside those two countries. Countries competing to develop the best technology is not a new phenomenon, but the current conflicts have major international ramifications and will influence the infrastructure that is installed and used around the world for years to come. Untangling the different factors that feed into these tussles as well as whom they benefit and whom they leave at a disadvantage is crucial for understanding how governments can most effectively foster technological innovation and invention domestically as well as the global consequences of those efforts. As much of the world is forced to choose between buying technology from the United States or from China, how should we understand the long-term impacts of those choices and the options available to people in countries without robust domestic tech industries? Does the global spread of technologies help fuel further innovation in countries with smaller tech markets, or does it reinforce the dominance of the states that are already most prominent in this sector? How can research universities maintain global collaborations and research communities in light of these national competitions, and what role does government research and development spending play in fostering innovation within its own borders and worldwide? How should intellectual property protections evolve to meet the demands of the technology industry, and how can those protections be enforced globally?

These conflicts between countries sometimes appear to challenge the feasibility of truly global technologies and networks that operate across all countries through standardized protocols and design features. Organizations like the International Organization for Standardization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and many others have tried to harmonize these policies and protocols across different countries for years, but have met with limited success when it comes to resolving the issues of greatest tension and disagreement among nations. For technology to operate in a global environment, there is a need for a much greater degree of coordination among countries and the development of common standards and norms, but governments continue to struggle to agree not just on those norms themselves but even the appropriate venue and processes for developing them. Without greater global cooperation, is it possible to maintain a global network like the internet or to promote the spread of new technologies around the world to address challenges of sustainability? What might help incentivize that cooperation moving forward, and what could new structures and process for governance of global technologies look like? Why has the tech industry’s self-regulation culture persisted? Do the same traditional drivers for public policy, such as politics of harmonization and path dependency in policy-making, still sufficiently explain policy outcomes in this space? As new technologies and their applications spread across the globe in uneven ways, how and when do they create forces of change from unexpected places?

These are some of the questions that we hope to address in the Technology and Global Change section through articles that tackle new dimensions of the global landscape of designing, developing, deploying, and assessing new technologies to address major challenges the world faces. Understanding these processes requires synthesizing knowledge from a range of different fields, including sociology, political science, economics, and history, as well as technical fields such as engineering, climate science, and computer science. A crucial part of understanding how technology has created global change and, in turn, how global changes have influenced the development of new technologies is understanding the technologies themselves in all their richness and complexity—how they work, the limits of what they can do, what they were designed to do, how they are actually used. Just as technologies themselves are becoming more complicated, so are their embeddings and relationships to the larger social, political, and legal contexts in which they exist. Scholars across all disciplines are encouraged to join us in untangling those complexities.

Josephine Wolff is an associate professor of cybersecurity policy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Her book You’ll See This Message When It Is Too Late: The Legal and Economic Aftermath of Cybersecurity Breaches was published by MIT Press in 2018.

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Information and Communication Technology in Learning Essay

Introduction, discussion of findings.

The ability to collect information and categorize it for the further critical analysis is an imperative step in education. Therefore, tools for improving the students’ ability to perform the specified actions is needed. ICT should be seen as a critical tool in building the motivation levels among students. Increasing their understanding of the process, and promoting the active learning among them.

The purpose of the paper was to study the effects that the application of ICT produces in the academic setting. Specifically, the connection between the adoption of ICT tools and learners’ propensity toward developing critical thinking skills, as well as general data management abilities, has been examined. It was hypothesized that the adoption of ICT strategies and the use of e-learning tools, particularly, interactive boards, allows improving the quality of learning systematically and helps to teach students to manage data appropriately.

According to the results of the experiment during which the students had to work with an interactive board, the incorporation of ICT into the academic process allows students to acquire the needed abilities faster and teaches them to perform the tasks associated with data management. Students showed the ability to categorize data and manage the recently obtained information respectively, thus building the foundation for the future development of critical skills.

Nevertheless, the incorporation of the specified strategies is recommended to be coupled with the techniques that will involve peer support among learners and the enhancement of teachers’ ability to use the corresponding tools. Thus, a gradual improvement is expected to occur.

The integration of ICT resources into the process of education is critical to the development of skills associated with critical thinking in students. In the current study, an exploration of the ways in which educators deploy ICT in their studies was conducted to determine the significance of the identified approach and determine key themes in the use of the specified technology. The analysis and discussion that ensued showed that the use of ICT tools contributed extensively to learners’ ability to work with vast amounts of information by introducing different categories and assigning specific characteristics to each set of data.

The use of disruptive innovations in the classroom environment opens a plethora of opportunities for enhancing learners’ performance. Studies have shown that there might be a correlation between the introduction of ICT into the academic environment and the performance delivered by students (Khan, Khan, U-Din, & Jan, 2015). For instance, a recent article on the issue of applying IT innovations in the academic setting has shown that the use of ICT, in general, and their integration for the transition to e-learning, in particular, allows for a gradual improvement of skills (Günaydin & Karamete, 2016).

In addition, ITC helps to encourage independence among students, fostering the idea of self-directed learning among them (Gurbuzturk, 2018). Therefore, the application of ICT tools should be seen as the introduction of a range of opportunities for improving students’ academic progress and encouraging them to succeed.

The use of smart boards should be seen as a particularly inspiring opportunity. According to the existing research, smart boards are the perfect tool for building awareness about the importance of self-directed learning, critical skills, and analytical abilities among students (Günaydin & Karamete, 2016). Being one of the most common ICT tools utilized in classrooms, smart boards should be seen as the key tools in introducing learners to multimedia materials and encouraging the further acquisition of knowledge (Gurbuzturk, 2018). Therefore, the incorporation of ICT into the contemporary academic environment is likely to produce the platform for the rapid enhancement of learning and the development of critical thinking skills in students.

An overview of the information obtained in the course of the data collection has shown that the combination of traditional methods of information management and the use of ICT in the classroom environment contributes significantly to the successful learning process. All of the cases considered in the research have shown an increase in the students’ ability to classify data with the help of the proposed devices. As shown in Table 1, the teachers that currently teach at school and apply ICT have contributed to a gradual progress of their students, whereas the D Group respondents have spurred smaller progress. Specifically, the smart board used in several cases has proven to be especially efficient in assisting learners to understand the concept of classification.

Table 1. A and D: Comparison.

Specifically, teachers from Group A claim that technology has opened new opportunities for their students’ progress. According to one of the participants, ICT “means creating engaging lessons which incorporate ICT to move students more actively engaged.” Thus, the inclusion of the specified tools is critical to the enhancement of learning.

The observed phenomenon signifies that ICT are not only valuable but also critical additions to the academic setting due to the opportunities for increasing learners’ ability to collect, arrange, and analyze data. The specified skill has become especially important in the modern environment, where the data flow is unceasing and increasingly vast (Khan et al., 2015). Thus, by using ICT tools that will help learners to manage information properly, educators will create the platform for students’ further academic progress. As the line chart in Figure 1 shows, both A and D groups utilizing IT techniques have affected students’ performance positively.

Furthermore, the study has shown that the application of interactive boards as the means of assisting students in systematizing the obtained information also spurs the students’ ability to conduct research and perform both inductive and deductive reasoning (Gurbuzturk, 2018). The fact that ICT allow learners to obtain an intrinsic ability to understand the nature of research shows that the specified technology has to be included into the range of tools used in classrooms.

The identified outcomes align with the assumptions made by Günaydin and Karamete (2016). Moreover, the specified devices will help to create the platform based on which learners will engage in evidence-based research and, thus become able to connect theoretical ideas and the practical application thereof (Gurbuzturk, 2018). Thus, the outcomes of the study indicate that using ICT as the foundation for promoting critical thinking, analytical abilities, and reasoning skills is essential.

Technological innovations have become an inseparable part of the modern education, and ICT tools are likely to have a profoundly positive effect on students’ ability to think critically, collect data, categorize it, and process it to produce meaningful outcomes. The integration of ICT into the learning process is an essential stage in improving the quality of education and promoting lifelong learning. For this purpose, the application of integrated instructions involving peer assessment and the active communication among learners is required. Therefore, using ICT, in general, and interactive boards, in particular, to illustrate specific information and assist students in collecting and analyzing data is necessary.

Günaydin, S., & Karamete, A. (2016). Material development to raise awareness of using smart boards: An example design and development research . European Journal of Contemporary Education, 15 (1), 114-122.

Gurbuzturk, O. (2018). Investigation of elementary education students’ attitudes towards the use of smart boards. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 11 (1), 55-61.

Khan, M. S., Khan, I., U-Din, S., & Jan, R. (2015). The impacts of ICT on the students’ performance: A review of access to information. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 5 (1), 85-94.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, December 23). Information and Communication Technology in Learning. https://ivypanda.com/essays/information-and-communication-technology-in-learning/

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IvyPanda . (2020) 'Information and Communication Technology in Learning'. 23 December.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Information and Communication Technology in Learning." December 23, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/information-and-communication-technology-in-learning/.

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• The Effects of Self-Directed Learning
• Becoming a Self-Directed and Self-Aware Learner
• Self-Directed Learning Approach
• The O*Net and Self-Directed Search
• Self-Directed Learning in Leadership
• Google Company's Self-Directed Teams Empowerment
• Self-Directed Learning: Goals, Theories, Process
• Effectiveness of Integrating ICT in Schools
• Dorothea Orem's Philosophy of Self-Directed Care
• ICT for Disaster Management Systems
• Technology and Equity in Education
• Technology and Human Development
• The Issue of Emerging Technology in Education
• Technology Usage in Schools
• Educational Policy Changes: Technology in Education

A generative AI reset: Rewiring to turn potential into value in 2024

It’s time for a generative AI (gen AI) reset. The initial enthusiasm and flurry of activity in 2023 is giving way to second thoughts and recalibrations as companies realize that capturing gen AI’s enormous potential value is harder than expected .

With 2024 shaping up to be the year for gen AI to prove its value, companies should keep in mind the hard lessons learned with digital and AI transformations: competitive advantage comes from building organizational and technological capabilities to broadly innovate, deploy, and improve solutions at scale—in effect, rewiring the business  for distributed digital and AI innovation.

About QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey

QuantumBlack, McKinsey’s AI arm, helps companies transform using the power of technology, technical expertise, and industry experts. With thousands of practitioners at QuantumBlack (data engineers, data scientists, product managers, designers, and software engineers) and McKinsey (industry and domain experts), we are working to solve the world’s most important AI challenges. QuantumBlack Labs is our center of technology development and client innovation, which has been driving cutting-edge advancements and developments in AI through locations across the globe.

Companies looking to score early wins with gen AI should move quickly. But those hoping that gen AI offers a shortcut past the tough—and necessary—organizational surgery are likely to meet with disappointing results. Launching pilots is (relatively) easy; getting pilots to scale and create meaningful value is hard because they require a broad set of changes to the way work actually gets done.

Let’s briefly look at what this has meant for one Pacific region telecommunications company. The company hired a chief data and AI officer with a mandate to “enable the organization to create value with data and AI.” The chief data and AI officer worked with the business to develop the strategic vision and implement the road map for the use cases. After a scan of domains (that is, customer journeys or functions) and use case opportunities across the enterprise, leadership prioritized the home-servicing/maintenance domain to pilot and then scale as part of a larger sequencing of initiatives. They targeted, in particular, the development of a gen AI tool to help dispatchers and service operators better predict the types of calls and parts needed when servicing homes.

Leadership put in place cross-functional product teams with shared objectives and incentives to build the gen AI tool. As part of an effort to upskill the entire enterprise to better work with data and gen AI tools, they also set up a data and AI academy, which the dispatchers and service operators enrolled in as part of their training. To provide the technology and data underpinnings for gen AI, the chief data and AI officer also selected a large language model (LLM) and cloud provider that could meet the needs of the domain as well as serve other parts of the enterprise. The chief data and AI officer also oversaw the implementation of a data architecture so that the clean and reliable data (including service histories and inventory databases) needed to build the gen AI tool could be delivered quickly and responsibly.

Our book Rewired: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI (Wiley, June 2023) provides a detailed manual on the six capabilities needed to deliver the kind of broad change that harnesses digital and AI technology. In this article, we will explore how to extend each of those capabilities to implement a successful gen AI program at scale. While recognizing that these are still early days and that there is much more to learn, our experience has shown that breaking open the gen AI opportunity requires companies to rewire how they work in the following ways.

Figure out where gen AI copilots can give you a real competitive advantage

The broad excitement around gen AI and its relative ease of use has led to a burst of experimentation across organizations. Most of these initiatives, however, won’t generate a competitive advantage. One bank, for example, bought tens of thousands of GitHub Copilot licenses, but since it didn’t have a clear sense of how to work with the technology, progress was slow. Another unfocused effort we often see is when companies move to incorporate gen AI into their customer service capabilities. Customer service is a commodity capability, not part of the core business, for most companies. While gen AI might help with productivity in such cases, it won’t create a competitive advantage.

To create competitive advantage, companies should first understand the difference between being a “taker” (a user of available tools, often via APIs and subscription services), a “shaper” (an integrator of available models with proprietary data), and a “maker” (a builder of LLMs). For now, the maker approach is too expensive for most companies, so the sweet spot for businesses is implementing a taker model for productivity improvements while building shaper applications for competitive advantage.

Much of gen AI’s near-term value is closely tied to its ability to help people do their current jobs better. In this way, gen AI tools act as copilots that work side by side with an employee, creating an initial block of code that a developer can adapt, for example, or drafting a requisition order for a new part that a maintenance worker in the field can review and submit (see sidebar “Copilot examples across three generative AI archetypes”). This means companies should be focusing on where copilot technology can have the biggest impact on their priority programs.

Copilot examples across three generative AI archetypes

• “Taker” copilots help real estate customers sift through property options and find the most promising one, write code for a developer, and summarize investor transcripts.
• “Shaper” copilots provide recommendations to sales reps for upselling customers by connecting generative AI tools to customer relationship management systems, financial systems, and customer behavior histories; create virtual assistants to personalize treatments for patients; and recommend solutions for maintenance workers based on historical data.
• “Maker” copilots are foundation models that lab scientists at pharmaceutical companies can use to find and test new and better drugs more quickly.

Some industrial companies, for example, have identified maintenance as a critical domain for their business. Reviewing maintenance reports and spending time with workers on the front lines can help determine where a gen AI copilot could make a big difference, such as in identifying issues with equipment failures quickly and early on. A gen AI copilot can also help identify root causes of truck breakdowns and recommend resolutions much more quickly than usual, as well as act as an ongoing source for best practices or standard operating procedures.

The challenge with copilots is figuring out how to generate revenue from increased productivity. In the case of customer service centers, for example, companies can stop recruiting new agents and use attrition to potentially achieve real financial gains. Defining the plans for how to generate revenue from the increased productivity up front, therefore, is crucial to capturing the value.

Upskill the talent you have but be clear about the gen-AI-specific skills you need

By now, most companies have a decent understanding of the technical gen AI skills they need, such as model fine-tuning, vector database administration, prompt engineering, and context engineering. In many cases, these are skills that you can train your existing workforce to develop. Those with existing AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities have a strong head start. Data engineers, for example, can learn multimodal processing and vector database management, MLOps (ML operations) engineers can extend their skills to LLMOps (LLM operations), and data scientists can develop prompt engineering, bias detection, and fine-tuning skills.

A sample of new generative AI skills needed

The following are examples of new skills needed for the successful deployment of generative AI tools:

• data scientist:
• prompt engineering
• in-context learning
• bias detection
• pattern identification
• reinforcement learning from human feedback
• hyperparameter/large language model fine-tuning; transfer learning
• data engineer:
• data wrangling and data warehousing
• data pipeline construction
• multimodal processing
• vector database management

The learning process can take two to three months to get to a decent level of competence because of the complexities in learning what various LLMs can and can’t do and how best to use them. The coders need to gain experience building software, testing, and validating answers, for example. It took one financial-services company three months to train its best data scientists to a high level of competence. While courses and documentation are available—many LLM providers have boot camps for developers—we have found that the most effective way to build capabilities at scale is through apprenticeship, training people to then train others, and building communities of practitioners. Rotating experts through teams to train others, scheduling regular sessions for people to share learnings, and hosting biweekly documentation review sessions are practices that have proven successful in building communities of practitioners (see sidebar “A sample of new generative AI skills needed”).

It’s important to bear in mind that successful gen AI skills are about more than coding proficiency. Our experience in developing our own gen AI platform, Lilli , showed us that the best gen AI technical talent has design skills to uncover where to focus solutions, contextual understanding to ensure the most relevant and high-quality answers are generated, collaboration skills to work well with knowledge experts (to test and validate answers and develop an appropriate curation approach), strong forensic skills to figure out causes of breakdowns (is the issue the data, the interpretation of the user’s intent, the quality of metadata on embeddings, or something else?), and anticipation skills to conceive of and plan for possible outcomes and to put the right kind of tracking into their code. A pure coder who doesn’t intrinsically have these skills may not be as useful a team member.

While current upskilling is largely based on a “learn on the job” approach, we see a rapid market emerging for people who have learned these skills over the past year. That skill growth is moving quickly. GitHub reported that developers were working on gen AI projects “in big numbers,” and that 65,000 public gen AI projects were created on its platform in 2023—a jump of almost 250 percent over the previous year. If your company is just starting its gen AI journey, you could consider hiring two or three senior engineers who have built a gen AI shaper product for their companies. This could greatly accelerate your efforts.

Form a centralized team to establish standards that enable responsible scaling

To ensure that all parts of the business can scale gen AI capabilities, centralizing competencies is a natural first move. The critical focus for this central team will be to develop and put in place protocols and standards to support scale, ensuring that teams can access models while also minimizing risk and containing costs. The team’s work could include, for example, procuring models and prescribing ways to access them, developing standards for data readiness, setting up approved prompt libraries, and allocating resources.

While developing Lilli, our team had its mind on scale when it created an open plug-in architecture and setting standards for how APIs should function and be built.  They developed standardized tooling and infrastructure where teams could securely experiment and access a GPT LLM , a gateway with preapproved APIs that teams could access, and a self-serve developer portal. Our goal is that this approach, over time, can help shift “Lilli as a product” (that a handful of teams use to build specific solutions) to “Lilli as a platform” (that teams across the enterprise can access to build other products).

For teams developing gen AI solutions, squad composition will be similar to AI teams but with data engineers and data scientists with gen AI experience and more contributors from risk management, compliance, and legal functions. The general idea of staffing squads with resources that are federated from the different expertise areas will not change, but the skill composition of a gen-AI-intensive squad will.

Set up the technology architecture to scale

Building a gen AI model is often relatively straightforward, but making it fully operational at scale is a different matter entirely. We’ve seen engineers build a basic chatbot in a week, but releasing a stable, accurate, and compliant version that scales can take four months. That’s why, our experience shows, the actual model costs may be less than 10 to 15 percent of the total costs of the solution.

Building for scale doesn’t mean building a new technology architecture. But it does mean focusing on a few core decisions that simplify and speed up processes without breaking the bank. Three such decisions stand out:

• Focus on reusing your technology. Reusing code can increase the development speed of gen AI use cases by 30 to 50 percent. One good approach is simply creating a source for approved tools, code, and components. A financial-services company, for example, created a library of production-grade tools, which had been approved by both the security and legal teams, and made them available in a library for teams to use. More important is taking the time to identify and build those capabilities that are common across the most priority use cases. The same financial-services company, for example, identified three components that could be reused for more than 100 identified use cases. By building those first, they were able to generate a significant portion of the code base for all the identified use cases—essentially giving every application a big head start.
• Focus the architecture on enabling efficient connections between gen AI models and internal systems. For gen AI models to work effectively in the shaper archetype, they need access to a business’s data and applications. Advances in integration and orchestration frameworks have significantly reduced the effort required to make those connections. But laying out what those integrations are and how to enable them is critical to ensure these models work efficiently and to avoid the complexity that creates technical debt  (the “tax” a company pays in terms of time and resources needed to redress existing technology issues). Chief information officers and chief technology officers can define reference architectures and integration standards for their organizations. Key elements should include a model hub, which contains trained and approved models that can be provisioned on demand; standard APIs that act as bridges connecting gen AI models to applications or data; and context management and caching, which speed up processing by providing models with relevant information from enterprise data sources.
• Build up your testing and quality assurance capabilities. Our own experience building Lilli taught us to prioritize testing over development. Our team invested in not only developing testing protocols for each stage of development but also aligning the entire team so that, for example, it was clear who specifically needed to sign off on each stage of the process. This slowed down initial development but sped up the overall delivery pace and quality by cutting back on errors and the time needed to fix mistakes.

Ensure data quality and focus on unstructured data to fuel your models

The ability of a business to generate and scale value from gen AI models will depend on how well it takes advantage of its own data. As with technology, targeted upgrades to existing data architecture  are needed to maximize the future strategic benefits of gen AI:

• Be targeted in ramping up your data quality and data augmentation efforts. While data quality has always been an important issue, the scale and scope of data that gen AI models can use—especially unstructured data—has made this issue much more consequential. For this reason, it’s critical to get the data foundations right, from clarifying decision rights to defining clear data processes to establishing taxonomies so models can access the data they need. The companies that do this well tie their data quality and augmentation efforts to the specific AI/gen AI application and use case—you don’t need this data foundation to extend to every corner of the enterprise. This could mean, for example, developing a new data repository for all equipment specifications and reported issues to better support maintenance copilot applications.
• Understand what value is locked into your unstructured data. Most organizations have traditionally focused their data efforts on structured data (values that can be organized in tables, such as prices and features). But the real value from LLMs comes from their ability to work with unstructured data (for example, PowerPoint slides, videos, and text). Companies can map out which unstructured data sources are most valuable and establish metadata tagging standards so models can process the data and teams can find what they need (tagging is particularly important to help companies remove data from models as well, if necessary). Be creative in thinking about data opportunities. Some companies, for example, are interviewing senior employees as they retire and feeding that captured institutional knowledge into an LLM to help improve their copilot performance.
• Optimize to lower costs at scale. There is often as much as a tenfold difference between what companies pay for data and what they could be paying if they optimized their data infrastructure and underlying costs. This issue often stems from companies scaling their proofs of concept without optimizing their data approach. Two costs generally stand out. One is storage costs arising from companies uploading terabytes of data into the cloud and wanting that data available 24/7. In practice, companies rarely need more than 10 percent of their data to have that level of availability, and accessing the rest over a 24- or 48-hour period is a much cheaper option. The other costs relate to computation with models that require on-call access to thousands of processors to run. This is especially the case when companies are building their own models (the maker archetype) but also when they are using pretrained models and running them with their own data and use cases (the shaper archetype). Companies could take a close look at how they can optimize computation costs on cloud platforms—for instance, putting some models in a queue to run when processors aren’t being used (such as when Americans go to bed and consumption of computing services like Netflix decreases) is a much cheaper option.

Build trust and reusability to drive adoption and scale

Because many people have concerns about gen AI, the bar on explaining how these tools work is much higher than for most solutions. People who use the tools want to know how they work, not just what they do. So it’s important to invest extra time and money to build trust by ensuring model accuracy and making it easy to check answers.

One insurance company, for example, created a gen AI tool to help manage claims. As part of the tool, it listed all the guardrails that had been put in place, and for each answer provided a link to the sentence or page of the relevant policy documents. The company also used an LLM to generate many variations of the same question to ensure answer consistency. These steps, among others, were critical to helping end users build trust in the tool.

Part of the training for maintenance teams using a gen AI tool should be to help them understand the limitations of models and how best to get the right answers. That includes teaching workers strategies to get to the best answer as fast as possible by starting with broad questions then narrowing them down. This provides the model with more context, and it also helps remove any bias of the people who might think they know the answer already. Having model interfaces that look and feel the same as existing tools also helps users feel less pressured to learn something new each time a new application is introduced.

Getting to scale means that businesses will need to stop building one-off solutions that are hard to use for other similar use cases. One global energy and materials company, for example, has established ease of reuse as a key requirement for all gen AI models, and has found in early iterations that 50 to 60 percent of its components can be reused. This means setting standards for developing gen AI assets (for example, prompts and context) that can be easily reused for other cases.

While many of the risk issues relating to gen AI are evolutions of discussions that were already brewing—for instance, data privacy, security, bias risk, job displacement, and intellectual property protection—gen AI has greatly expanded that risk landscape. Just 21 percent of companies reporting AI adoption say they have established policies governing employees’ use of gen AI technologies.

Similarly, a set of tests for AI/gen AI solutions should be established to demonstrate that data privacy, debiasing, and intellectual property protection are respected. Some organizations, in fact, are proposing to release models accompanied with documentation that details their performance characteristics. Documenting your decisions and rationales can be particularly helpful in conversations with regulators.

In some ways, this article is premature—so much is changing that we’ll likely have a profoundly different understanding of gen AI and its capabilities in a year’s time. But the core truths of finding value and driving change will still apply. How well companies have learned those lessons may largely determine how successful they’ll be in capturing that value.

The authors wish to thank Michael Chui, Juan Couto, Ben Ellencweig, Josh Gartner, Bryce Hall, Holger Harreis, Phil Hudelson, Suzana Iacob, Sid Kamath, Neerav Kingsland, Kitti Lakner, Robert Levin, Matej Macak, Lapo Mori, Alex Peluffo, Aldo Rosales, Erik Roth, Abdul Wahab Shaikh, and Stephen Xu for their contributions to this article.

This article was edited by Barr Seitz, an editorial director in the New York office.

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