Economic Impacts

IT has created a wide variety of jobs and IT skills are now required by almost every job. Due to internet access people are able to work and communicate from within the confines of their own home. This made home working a popular option.

Since computer hardware develops at a rapid pace, there are problems arising such as how to deal with old computers that have been replaced by a newer computer. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive or WEEE Directive are responsible for getting rid of old and unwanted electrical equipment in a less harmful way.

Ethical Impacts

Personal privacy has become an issue since you have to put in your personal information on computers in order to have access to certain areas on the internet. Personal information relating to individuals held on computers is covered by the Data Protection Act.

Almost everything you do, everywhere you go can be recorded on the computer, e.g. your medical records. They are recorded on the computer so that you and possibly other people can see what your personal life consists of.

Unequal Access Implication

There are people who can't get broadband Internet access due to terrible connections. There are other problems such as elderly people having trouble adjusting to the new technology, and they may continue to struggle as banking and utility services become more Internet based.

Internet products and services are cheaper and easier to access. If you were to have an account with an electricity or gas supplier, they will offer you discounts for either being with them for a long time or for just choosing them.

Social Impacts

Television used to be the most popular way of passing the time, and it still is quite popular but now many young people now use the internet, using social network sites, instant messenger sites and playing computer games.

Since you can find information, services and products online, there has been a reduction of customers in some shops. As customers continue to use the internet shops will close down and leaving a negative impact on local communities. E.g. there will be a less diverse range of shops.

Legal Impacts

Since people create their own work and make it available to the public, copyright laws have been made to protect the creator's work. However, music and films are downloadable via the internet so it is easy to steal material in copyright.

Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else's work and passing it off as your own. This is a particular problem in assignment work handed in by students in schools, colleges and universities. Quoting someone else's work and acknowledging the source of information is acceptable.

Global Implications

People in poor countries won't be able to buy a computer as it is too expensive. By not having a computer they won't have access to online education, economic development etc. There are people who have easy access to computers and there those who do not. This is known as a digital divide.

There are low-cost computing problems that can be resolved by using solutions such as one laptop per child and 50x15. This will help ensure that more laptops and computers will be sold and make sure schools have computers. So this will prevent them from missing out on work in terms of computer technology.