What Are the Benefits of Computers to the Society?

When you talk about computers, it may not only refer to a mouse, PC, monitor and your keyboard; any devices that can compute as well as execute instructions or commands through designed programs or software may be referred to as a computer. Therefore, technically, the definition of a computer may extend to include other electronic devices like tablets, PDAs, laptops, smartphones and other high-tech devices. The evolution of computers from the 1936 Konrad Zuse-Z1 computer to the modern day tablet PCs and ultrabooks, has been a huge development for the society.

It is certain that computer devices have revolutionalized the way in which the society interacts. However, no matter how the community sees computers as beneficial, there is another group of neo-luddites who oppose the innovations of the computer age. Luddites were a group of persons who greatly opposed the industrial revolution in Britain and it seems that in the technological world, we also have other “luddites” now termed as neo-luddites.

Neo-luddites are today’s critics of computerization and the modern technology including the internet. They claim that people use computers because they are there and not because they make people’s lives easier. Whether this is true or false, this remains to be an aspect to be debated upon. Putting aside the thinking and mediocrity of the neo-luddites, it may be argued that computers have changed the way in which people communicate, access resources, study or even work.

Virtually, in every sphere of life, technology makes some contributions. In the aspect of research, computers have helped researchers make breakthroughs such as in satellites and telescopes. Another field which has received extensive developments is medical research. There are high-end machines used in laboratories, diagnosing, and curing diseases. Surgical procedures have become more precise and accurate with use computer technology.

Magnetic resonance imaging and other scans like CT scan make use of these high tech computing devices. Surgical procedures like laparoscopic surgery require the use of computers. Today, doctors can treat people remotely through web conferencing. Education is key to succeeding in life and today, thank you to the computer technology and internet as students are able to undertake distance learning through online study programs.

This makes education to be more available to people who are limited to relocating or pursuing the studies abroad. It is costly to undertake a degree program or masters degree by going to the country where the college is physically situated. However, this gap has been bridged by use of correspondence studies. In the business world, things even look better as business persons can initiate transactions through their mobile devices.

The banking sector, through the so-called internet banking has eased the way in which people contact their banking activities from request for payment to ordering and making payment for goods and services delivered.  In security matters, computer-aided cameras are installed in vantage points where they can capture and store images of persons and movement of people and vehicles.

In major cities, crime activities can be monitored through use of CCTV cameras installed in busy streets. Last but not least, computers have connected the remote parts of the world with the big cities and countries. A person in a remote part of Botswana’s Kalahari Desert can communicate with a person in New York in real time. In essence, the development of computers cannot be underestimated because it has really changed the world and how people interrelate.