Cultural issues
The introduction of computers has changed society, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. 'Cultural issues' is the term used for computer matters that have an effect on the nature and culture of society. Some of these issues include:
- the digital divide
- the changing nature of employment
The digital divide
The digital divide is the division that exists between those people who can use technology and are comfortable doing so, and those who are not.
For example, younger people may embrace new technology more than older members of society who sometimes fear technology and feel excluded because they cannot use or understand it. The use of social media is a prime example of this - while younger people might use various (and sometimes many) forms of social media each day, older generations may not be so comfortable sharing so many details about their lives. As a result, they might choose to shun social media or limit their use of it.
This division also extends to those people who can afford such technology, and those that cannot. Not everyone can afford the latest smartphone or games console. This is not just a national issue, but an international one too. The UK is prosperous with high standards of living, but many people live in countries where access to computers is expensive and unaffordable.
Not everyone has access to the same levels of technology. For example, people in cities tend to have access to high-speed broadband, while those in rural or remote areas often do not.
A further division exists between those people who have good computer skills and those who do not. Many employers now require good IT skills, and jobseekers who lack those skills may find it difficult to gain employment.
The changing nature of employment
Another cultural issue is the changing nature of employment. Many companies now allow employees to work from home and communicate with them via technology. A term often used to describe a location on the internet from which software applications are run and where data is stored. document storage enables workers to share documents with their employer, and communication can be via email or by video.
Additionally, many technology-based jobs have been moved abroad, where costs are cheaper. Many organisations have call centres/support centres in other countries. The cost of communicating with people in those countries is outweighed by the savings made.
The use of technology within the workplace has changed the nature of employment. Automation of processes using technology has led to a fall in manual, low-skilled work, such as warehouse packing. On the other hand, more high-skilled work is now available, which includes the maintenance of automated systems.
