Our age is known as the age of Information Technology. Information Technology with its superhighway has not only revolutionised man’s way of working but also his very existence. IT (Information Technology) revolution is sweeping our civilization bringing about unfathomable changes in our present-day civilization. Twenty first century belongs to the IT world.
The term ‘Information Technology’ or simply known as IT is a generic name given to all improvements that are taking place in our world due to the inter-linked advancement in technology, learning, and information. The term refers to recent technological developments that are taking place in our world as a result of better technology, due to better information.
It consists of a number of allied modern advancements such as, computer, Internet, websites, surfing, E-mail, E-commerce. E-governance, Video- conference, cellular phones, paging, fax machines, smart cards, credit cards, ATM cards etc. All these have been possible due to the advancement in information gathering technique or system which is known as ‘Information Superhighway’ which, like a highway, opens us to a world of technology and information full of immense possibilities.
Image Source: opentechnologyfoundation.org
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Two essential components of IT revolution have been the development of computer and internet. These two developments have revolutionised modern civilization. Today at the press of a button we can get any information that we want from anywhere in the world in a fraction of a second, sitting in our room.
This easy and quick access to information has been instrumental in improving our communication, travel, business, entertainment, space exploration, defence capabilities, medical surgeries etc. “We can visit sites situated thousands of miles away, chat with people sitting in other parts of the world, see the latest movies, watch live international matches, read daily newspapers, attend business conferences, conduct business transactions, visit world famous libraries, go through the latest books etc. all at the click of a key on the computer.
The facility of internet and surfing opens us to the world of information superhighway enabling us to seek the information that we want. With the possibility of downloading programmes and information through a computer to a paper, our task of gathering information is a few minutes affair. In this manner, today the process of gathering knowledge and information has become, easy, cheap, fast, and enjoyable. This has been the greatest advantage of IT boom.
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IT revolution has also altered the very face of business operations and E- commerce is becoming a fashion of the day. We can advertise our products and seek jobs and make ourselves available through the internet. IT boom has also revolutionised our style of living. It has made our life easy, pleasurable, and luxurious.
Today, we need not go hunting for household items in congested markets. Sitting in our room we can order things, buy tickets, talk to clients, listen to lectures, take part in on-line lotteries, sign business agreements, do bank transactions etc. In other words the recent development in the IT world has reduced man’s labour, workload, and has created a better world to live in.
Today IT revolution is sweeping over the world. Although, IT boom has revolutionised the western world beyond recognition it is still to make much headway in changing lives in India. The boom has, however, affected only the affluent and the urban India. The benefits of IT boom needs to penetrate down to the ordinary men and women living in our country.
