Jayceelyn J.

Santos
BSA 1-8
Living in the IT era
Module 1 Assessment
Instruction:
A. Can you provide your thoughts or impressions on this picture? (Please see attached)

A prisoner of cell phones, a phrase to describe my impression of the above picture

because of how humans are drastically affected and controlled by gadgets especially cell
phones in the present times. With the exponential growth of technology over the past few
decades, people's reliance on this widely used innovation is expanding. All age groups—
adults, teens, and kids—are heavily impacted by this device and are being held captive by
its influence.

Cellphones being utilized in different ways now beyond their ability to send phone
calls or receive data are the main reasons why we let this thing conquer us. The
smartphone is now ‘the place where we live’, anthropologists say (Hern, 2021), supported
by this study, People have become too dependent on the cellphones to the point that we
consider it as the place where we live because of their wide range of access and usefulness
such as being a medium for communication, job, finding updated news and reports,
sharing or finding timely and relevant information, entertainment, fashion or self-
expression, documentary through pictures and videos, etc. Its advantages cannot conceal
the fact that it has a significant impact on every one of us. However, it also has adverse
consequences that trap us to the extent that it feels imprisoning. Without it, we cannot
barely get along for a day. Our phones become a part of who we are and our lives. As the
image depicts, nobody can take this thing away from us—not even our mother, who
constantly tells us to limit the amount of time we spend on devices. It has become normal
for people to have this object attached to them; you can even rarely see someone not
using a cell phone, whether it is in or out of their house. This circumstance, given how
 addictive gadgets can be, probably best captures our over-reliance on them. It was also
obviously unhealthy and needed to be balanced and under control.

To sum up, humans are locked up by the usefulness of cell phones despite their
disadvantages or negative effects for some reason. Individuals need to be conscious of
this harmful effect and take steps to reduce their exposure to it. Although it must be
difficult for each of us, we must constantly remind ourselves that we should be the ones
who have control of our phones—not them controlling us. Let this thing’s usefulness be
brought on the bright side more than the dark side. Let us use it in moderation and with
precaution.

B. Answer the following questions.

1. What is the relevance of ICT in your chosen course?
There is too much relevance of ICT in my chosen course which is Bachelor of Science in
Accountancy. On top of the list is that the fields or jobs relating to this course are being navigated
by ICT. Technology innovation is used to support the accounting field in the corporate sector. ICT
produces the tools, software, websites, and other resources that accountants use to compile or
create financial statements or just carry out their duties. The second on this list is the process of
becoming a CPA. We all know that students who graduate from this course must take the CPA
licensure examination, and the process of preparing for this board exam involves ICT. The majority
of the review materials used by CPA reviewees are ICT-based. Technology is also helping to
support the board test procedure. The course itself comes last. In this course, ICT is mostly used
to train the students. This undergraduate course is preparing students through the use of ICT as
both the job and the process of entering the job require it. ICT produces our lectures, necessary
tools like calculators and laptops for convenient software access, as well as our basic everyday
necessities as students.
2. Name at least 4 uses of ICT in our daily lives and explain.
1. Communication
- ICT is being used as a tool for communication in our daily lives. All the gadgets produced by
ICT nowadays are being used for communication. One main example is cell phones. This product
of technology is created mainly to send calls and receive data. Over the past decades, with the
vast growing technology or through ICT, its importance or usefulness goes beyond its ability to
send or receive calls or data. Cell phones can also now be used for communication through social
media supported by the Internet. Messaging and video chatting apps such as Messenger, Viber,
Telegram, Discord, Zoom, Skype, and many more found on the Internet through cell phones are
now used as a medium for communication and connecting people across distances.
2. Education
- Education is another aspect of people’s lives that involves the use of ICT. In the present times,
ICT transforms Education making it more accessible worldwide. Information or reading materials
for students are now being navigated and can be accessed online. Moreover, ICT also helps
schools, especially during the pandemic that happened in the year 2019-2022 wherein the
conduct of online classes is implemented worldwide to ensure the safety of every student given
that face-to-face interactions are prohibited. The use of online platforms such as Google Meet,
Google Classroom, messenger, electronic books or E-books, online libraries, and Google
information through ICT became the medium for online learning connecting students and
teachers. This type of learning hasn’t stopped since the day the pandemic ended, because up
until now, this online setup has still helped schools especially those that are still adjusting to the
effect of the pandemic and those that lack facilities in their schools and can’t accommodate all of
their students on a face-to-face learning approach. Not just that, because in any other
circumstances that may happen that can hinder a face-to-face interaction, let’s say for example
the recent high heat index experience in the country, the conduct of online classes is advised and
being implemented to ensure the safety of students against the high heat effect they might
experience when they go out of their homes to attend school. Remote learning through ICT has
indeed been a big help for Education in the present day and can still be a big help in the future.
3. Entertainment
- Nowadays, entertainment is another common use for information and communication
technology. It changed the entertainment industry in such a way that individuals may now engage
in a wide variety of interactive platforms made possible by ICT. These platforms may include
online games such as Mobile Legends, Call of Duty, Genshin Impact, and many more. We also
have widely used social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or X, and TikTok where
we can find different engaging content and lifestyles of different people around the world.
Another is that the entertainment industry which we only saw on national TV or DVDs before,
because of technological innovation, they are now available on different social media platforms
such as Netflix, YouTube, Viu, and other watch platforms. ICT truly gives a wide range of
entertainment opportunities which can also help people gain profit while providing
entertainment.
4. Work
- Another way that people use ICT in their daily lives is at work. Thanks to the rapid expansion
of information and communication technologies, the workplace is currently changing quickly.
Workplace productivity and efficiency are now greatly maintained due to the tools and processes
created by technology, including computers, laptops, system software, webpages, networks,
mobile devices, and the Internet. This leads to the creation of numerous automated jobs that
simplify and optimize labor-intensive manual labor. Thanks to software programs, workers may
now do repetitive jobs rapidly, maintaining a high level of productivity.
Additionally, employees now have flexibility and a better work-life balance because
of advancements in remote work, which began to take shape during the pandemic. Moreover,
using ICT at work facilitates teamwork and communication. Presently, a wide range of digital
applications and platforms are available for use in conducting meetings, collaborating with other
business partners, and exchanging real-time emails and virtual teams with employees. Finally,
ICTs have made it easier for enterprises to share knowledge. Document management systems and
internet portals allow staff members to access and add to a piece of shared knowledge.

3. Give 5 positive impacts and 5 negative impacts of ICT in society.

Positive impact
The increasing progress of Information and Communication Technology has made
significant contributions to society due to its favorable effects, which include:
1. Access to information
- One of the major positive impacts of ICT in society is the increased access to
information provided by different websites and online platforms through the use of the
internet. A lot of information is now readily available worldwide through online websites
where People can access it immediately. We are now turning into a world of paperless
because information is being published online and it is considered more convenient than
hard copy ones.

2. Improved communication
- The development of technology, particularly in gadgets, also paves the door for easier
and better international communication. People may now readily contact one another
anywhere in the world as a result of the development of online messaging apps and calls
like Telegram, Skype, Messenger, Viber, and many more. In contrast to earlier times when
communication was difficult due to a lack of technological innovation, we can now
communicate with people who are far away from us just by using social media apps.

3. Self-employment
- ICT devices and internet innovation also assist people in finding jobs and self-
employment, which benefits society. A large number of modern Internet businesses
demonstrate how ICT provides employment prospects for individuals seeking to launch
their businesses. This business owner uses digital marketing via various social media
platforms, which is actually a successful marketing strategy these days due to the
widespread usage of social media. In order to conduct trade with their buyers, they also
use internet platforms and accept payments online.
 4. Online Learning Platform for Students
- The highly used online learning platform nowadays for students is considered one of
the positive impacts that ICT brought to us. In any circumstances that lack the ability of
students to attend a face-to-face learning setup can be aided through the use of online
learning. One significant application of this kind of learning occurred during the COVID-19
pandemic, which tremendously facilitated educational institutions worldwide in carrying
on with their curricula despite forbidding interaction with students in person. Additionally,
people who are unable to attend school for personal reasons are increasingly benefited
by online learning. Similar to PUP, some universities, both public and private, provide a
school year of online learning for parents who wish to continue their education
via an online learning approach.

5. Digitalization of Work
- The digital transformation of work brought about by the continuous advancement in
information and communication technology is advantageous to many employees of the
company. Nowadays, tasks are automated, reducing the amount of manual labor and
increasing workplace efficiency. Many workers are able to maintain a work-life balance as
a result of the digitalization of the workplace, and separate workspace is becoming less
necessary. Furthermore, since it helps the staff, it ought to have a significant effect on the
business as a whole. Businesses may unlock new value, improve client experiences, and
drive growth throughout the entire business with the help of digitalization.

Negative Impact
In addition to ICT's beneficial effects on society, improper usage of the technology can have
adverse consequences as well, such as the following:
1. Technology Addiction
- As technology has been evading our society today, People in society are prone to
technology or gadget addiction. Humans have become too dependent on technology and
gadgets to the point that we can’t even live a day without them. The entertainment and
benefits the gadgets bring to us also have drawbacks or consequences. Too much
exposure can lead to addiction. And that is if we let the gadgets navigate us instead of us
navigating them.

2. Reduced physical activity

- Overuse of devices or technology can also result in an unhealthy lack of physical activity.
People these days are so preoccupied with using technology that they already fail to
remember that life exists outside of our smartphones. Whether they realize it or not, their
inactivity lowers their metabolism and overall health. Physical activity and exercises are
always necessary for our bodies to function properly. Therefore, be prepared for the
 consequences if we allow ourselves to become so caught up in using gadgets that we
forget to engage in physical activity.

3. Isolation
- People sometimes overuse the range of digital technologies which can lead to isolation.
We are becoming addicted to spending so much time on our devices that we nearly forget
about the world outside of social media, online gaming, etc. It seems reasonable that this
could cause us to become more isolated. An excessive reliance on gadgets will prevent
you from interacting with people in person. Furthermore, your body might get used to it,
which is unquestionably unhealthy and dangerous.

4. Prone to Cybercrime
- As ICT produces social media or online platforms, related crimes are circulated to these
platforms as we are living in a world where there are still a lot of people who use crimes
to take advantage of other people and it can be done online. Cybercrime such as AI-
powered attacks that use Artificial intelligence to attack a person, cyber harassment,
cyberstalking, child pornography, insider threats, online slander, phishing, etc. are some
of the common cybercrimes that could exist in today’s world. This could be a threat to
people in society which is seriously harmful.

5. Job Displacement
- Due to the digitization of work, ICT may be very beneficial to businesses; nevertheless,
in other situations, workplace automation may result in job displacement. Some
businesses decide to let go of some of their employees due to automated jobs, which
causes unemployment to rise and creates economic instability. While searching for new
employment, workers who are laid off may also have to deal with a mismatch in their skill
set.