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Mark Griffin

May

English 12

11 September 2018

Information Technology Essential Question Paper

The world fifty years ago has evolved into a digital age, pushed forward by progress

made in technological discoveries. Information technology (IT) has had a significant impact on

the advancement of society. Business can now communicate more effectively while saving

money, healthcare is more accessible than ever, and education continues to improve with more

interaction between students and their teachers.

Business has taken advantage of information technology, using it to lower costs and

increase profits. For example, cloud computing has made lowering costs one of the easiest things

for business to do. Jonathan Strickland, in his article about cloud computing, states that workers

would “log into a Web-based service which hosts all programs that user would need for [their]

job” (Strickland). Cloud computing removes the costs of purchasing individual licenses and

software that employees might need. Different jobs require different software, and putting all

software in the cloud for an employee to access drastically decreases the cost of buying each

software license individually (Quora). The ability to increase profits comes from the reliance of

new computer systems. In a dissertation by Mrs. Shuchi Goel and Mrs. Sunena from the college

Vaish Mahila Mahavidyalaya in India, Goel and Sunena come to the conclusion that the

“systems can only be interrupted for repairs and maintenance” making sure they are only in

service when not under maintenance (Goel). In the past when big machines that had lots of
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reliability issues, a large staff team was needed and had to be on site all the time. With the

modern servers, a large staff is not required because the new technology has made the servers

less susceptible to crashes. With information technology use in business rolling, it is likely that

business profits will continue to grow as the technology available becomes better. Along with

business, healthcare has also been impacted by IT.

The healthcare industry has become more reliable and accessible with the use of

information technology. Electronic health records have digitized medical records, making them

easier to access by multiple medical professionals and the patient themself. In an article about the

impact of technology on healthcare, Bianca Banova found that “entering data into a

computerized system is much less time-consuming than paper-based methods. It also reduces the

risk of errors in patient data” (Banova). The reliability of the internet and modern technology

allows data input to be much faster and safer when stored in the cloud. Information technology

has made it possible to take all of this data and store it in a safe and easily accessible space for

anyone who needs it (Lee). IT has also made it possible for big data analytics to be used in

prevention research. In a dissertation by Yichuan Wang, LeeAnn Kung, and Terry Anthony

Byrd, they discuss that “predictive analytics allows healthcare organizations to [...] gain a broad

understanding of future healthcare trends based on an in-depth knowledge of patient’s lifestyles

[and] habits” (Wang). This essentially means that predictive analytics can be used to prevent

possible illnesses and genetic diseases before they occur in the patient. Catching this early will

save many lives and can prevent possible epidemics in the greater population. It is important that

people are healthy in the modern world, and with information technology, more people can be

healthier than ever before.

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The ever important education system becomes more flexible and interactive with the

implementation of information technology. Ali Raza explains in his article about education and

technology, that “technology has made it possible for individuals to learn from anywhere,”

something that seemed foolish in the past (Raza). The capability for teachers to post classwork

and notes online enables students to learn the material covered even if they are sick (Felecia).

The opportunity to stay up to date on curriculum while not being present, puts less students

behind, and as a result, the teacher can use a well-planned schedule and have minimal last minute

planning. Google’s suite of applications, projectors, and SMART boards are now used widely.

These new technologies “allow teachers to access information, tools and resources to be better

educators”, enabling teachers to be more interactive with students visually and kinesthetically

(Imrie). Teachers can be more diverse and cater to the individual student, exposing them to

different learning paths and options. The possibility to have quality leaders for the future starts

with their education, and information technology has made it easier for the future leaders of the

world to learn.

It is apparent that information technology has had an important role in the growth and

development of society. Commerce in business is much more cost effective and profitable, more

people can live healthy lives and healthcare will improve, and the education system will produce

more functioning members of society. As new breakthroughs in information technology are

discovered, society will continue to advance positively.

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Works Cited

Banova, Bianca. “The Impact of Technology on Healthcare.” ​AIMS EDUCATION,​ 26 Apr. 2018,

www.aimseducation.edu/blog/the-impact-of-technology-on-healthcare/.

Felecia. “9 Ways Technology Changed Our Lives.” ​Technobezz​, Technobezz, 14 Aug. 2018,

www.technobezz.com/9-ways-technology-changed-lives/.

Goel, Shuchi, and Sunenea. “Role of Information and Communication Technology in the

Survival of Small Business.” ​International Journal of Research​, ​Vaish Mahila

Mahavidyalaya​, vol. 05, no. 04, Feb. 2018.

Imrie, Marc. “Passion Project.” 5 Sept. 2018.

Lee, Konsbruck Robert. ​Impacts of Information Technology on Society in the New Century​. The

Daily Journalist, 2013, pp. 1–6, ​Impacts of Information Technology on Society in the New

Century.​

Quora, and Nick Lippis. “How Information Technology Completely Changed The Structure Of

The Modern Corporation.” ​Forbes,​ Forbes Magazine, 13 Apr. 2018,

www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/04/13/how-information-technology-completely-chang

ed-the-structure-of-the-modern-corporation/#2853432ca327.

Raza, Ali. “How Technology Has Changed Education.” ​Use of Technology,​ Use of Technology,

24 Mar. 2017, www.useoftechnology.com/how-has-technology-changed-education/.

Strickland, Jonathan. “How Cloud Computing Works.” ​HowStuffWorks,​ HowStuffWorks, 8 Apr.

2008, computer.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing/cloud-computing.htm/printable.
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Wang, Yichuan, et al. “Big Data Analytics: Understanding Its Capabilities and Potential Benefits

for Healthcare Organizations.” ​Technological Forecasting and Social Change,​ ​Auburn

University, Rowan University​, vol. 126, Jan. 2018, pp. 3–13.