Computer networks are becoming a very important tool in successfully linking people together for a variety of reasons. The internet has revolutionized communications and methods of commerce by allowing various computer networks around the world to interconnect. There are a multitude of advantages associated with computer networks. Some areas which are successfully using this system are industry associations, corporations, professional societies, government, and education.
Computer networks have opened the flood gates of information and enables instant access to information – “anywhere, anytime and any format”. The immense wealth of information floating in the cyber world is accessible though these well connected global networks. Networks have ushered in a digital society which now affects everyday life, groups, personal identity, culture, safety, and virtually all aspects of existence. The digital society has become so pervasive that recognizing the impacts of such technologies on us as individuals as well as the societal repercussions is gaining importance. Networks now contribute to the globalization of production and capital markets by reducing the cost of information and communication. These technologies have made it easier for multinationals and other companies to spread production facilities all over the world, to co-ordinate international marketing campaigns, and to ease collaboration in projects taking place on different continents.
Computer networks support human communication via electronic mail (e-mail), “chat rooms,” newsgroups, and audio and video transmission and allow people to work collaboratively at many different locations. It supports access to digital information by many applications, including the World Wide Web. The Internet has proved to be a spawning ground for a large and growing number of “e-businesses” that carry out most of their sales and services over the Internet. Wireless services enable applications not previously possible in any economical fashion. For example, global positioning systems (GPS) combined with wireless Internet access would help mobile users to locate alternate routes, generate precise accident reports and initiate recovery services, and improve traffic management and congestion control. In addition to wireless laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs), wearable devices with voice input and special display glasses are under development. Higher backbone and network access speeds enabled through fiber optic networks will simultaneously carry multiple signals—data, voice, and video.
The Internet is offering the possibility of creating an environment or virtual reality in which individuals might work, socially interact with others, and perhaps even live out their lives. People can now go online and search for information on subjects as diverse as politics, gardening, health, technology and online shopping. The information superhighway can be tapped to send across breaking news as it happens during catastrophic disasters. Internet can be a medium to mobilize people and engage in social interactions. Online gaming is a part of the rapidly growing virtual economies some of which exceed the GNP of countries in Africa and Asia. The use of Wikipedia and social networking tools such as Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn has created online communities where constant exchange of information takes place. Internet dating sites and pornography appeal to particular niche groups. Advertising is a huge revenue source for many companies. E-commerce now includes retail shopping, banking, stocks, auctions, real estate transactions, airline booking, and movie rentals – nearly anything you can imagine in the real world. Enterprise applications deployed over networks bring in efficiencies and cost savings.
Computer networks have created vast resources for people to enhance their learning skills. People can now browse through catalogs, periodicals, websites, blogs and databases and increase their knowledge. The Internet has become an invaluable and discipline-transforming environment for scientists and scholars. Scientific databases and electronic publishing help the scientific community to exchange ideas and resources. Free speech has been made possible by networks where an individual can freely express his ideas and thoughts without fear of prosecution. Online political campaigns are now an integral part of any elections. Candidates can now galvanize volunteer campaign workers and raise significant sums from many small donations.
While the benefits outweigh any negative implications, people are still worried about privacy, trust, security, and now, reliability. There are also concerns about access, reputation, participation, sustainability, responsibility, authenticity, authorship, ownership, surveillance and control, cultural health (digital literacy) and distinctiveness. Issues about data ownership, systems vulnerability, information manipulation, false propaganda/rumors, plagiarism and malware need to be tackled. Computer networks are revolutionizing information and entertainment delivery, transforming social life and behavior, even political institutions and the role of citizens within them. Some of the social/political changes will be liberating, some will have little social effect, but others may be harmful or even socially and politically explosive. We should all be vigilant about the benefits and consequences of rapidly proliferating computer networks.
