IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

PERSONAL
Communication has become a childs play by the advent of information technology. Sitting in our lobby we can easily communicate with anyone across the globe. Besides traditional mode of communication through emails, social networking through websites like Facebook has become hotspots for interaction on the internet.

BUSINESS
For a business to work efficiently the foundation of communication needs to be very strong. If a business has a strong communication network it can easily carve out a niche in the global market. Connecting with its stakeholders like suppliers, marketers, consumers, etc becomes much faster. Moreover feedbacks can be obtained easily which will have the company to know the market reactions and thereby improve its products efficiently Another advantage of information technology that the business world has is its data storage capability. Earlier data was recorded and stored manually. But now softwares like Tally are enabling accounting using computer. Since the data is being computerised, procurement of data as and when required is also becoming easier by a click of the mouse. E-commerce and its facilities are being used by many enterprises to increase their efficiency. Online transactions are made, orders are made and placed and subsequently paid. Banking sectors are also entering this forum to provide better costumer services. Tracking and disaster management are other facets of this aspect. Another aspect of information technology is globalisation in the field of business. Those firms which have websites can easily reach customers across the globe and pool in a large amount of investors. This gives an edge to the enterprises and helps them rise above the cut-throat competition in the market.

Convenience is another gift of information technology in our personal lives. Timeliness and ease of access are the key highlights of this aspect of information technology. Using information technology we can really save a lot of time. Many softwares are very user-friendly which can be used by a new computer beginner as well to avail its benefits. Online transactions are the new forums provided by information technology. We no longer have to bother about going to shop at a particular place and time. We can order anything online even at any time and consequently possess it within 2-3 days.

E-learning is a new concept that has come up. Many institutes are using information technology to teach students online through their websites. E-books and E-libraries are available which has a huge pool of data imparting knowledge. Test portals are also available as a measure of our abilities.

GREEN COMPUTING
INTRODUCTION Green computing is a relatively new concept in the field of information technology. Green computing is the use of computers and its software in a manner which is environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly. It includes the use of energy-efficient central processing units (CPUs), servers, software, etc. It aims to reduces consumption and implementation of proper electronic waste disposal mechanisms, better known as e-wastes. ORIGIN United States was the first one to take an initiative towards this concept through its programme known as Energy Star. It was proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992 to promote energy efficiency in hardwares of all kinds, especially computer hardwares. The labelling of Energy Star became quite famous and was seen on notebook computers and displays. Even Europe and Asia came up with similar plans later on. ASPECTS OF GREEN COMPUTING Eco friendly: The main highlight of this concept is to use technology in such a manner that is least harmful to the ecology. Environmentally responsible: The technology that we use should not harm the environment and its aspects. Environmentally sustainable: The resources that we use should not be exhausted fully. It should be used in a sustainable manner with provision for the future. Energy efficient: It emphasises on using energy in an efficient manner. Waste disposal: The e-wastes that are generated should be disposed off in such a manner that its harmful effects are reduced to the minimum.

EXAMPLES OF GREEN COMPUTING Government regulation, however well-intentioned, is only part of an overall green computing philosophy. The work habits of computer users and businesses can be modified to minimize adverse impact on the global environment. Here are some steps that can be taken:

When the computer is not in use we should shut down the power. Try to do computer-related tasks during contiguous, intensive blocks of time, leaving hardware off at other times. Power-up and power-down energy-intensive peripherals like printers according to nee Prefer the use of liquid-crystal-display (LCD) monitors rather than cathode-ray-tube (CRT) monitors. Whenever possible use notebook computers or laptops rather than desktops. When the computer is inactive, use the power management systems to avoid wastage of battery. Do not waste paper, use paper to the minimum and properly recycle it. Follow the waste disposal mechanism according to federal, state and local regulations.

GREEN COMPUTING
REFERENCES

Wikipedia green-compute.com searchdatacentre.techtarget.com

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