The Importance of IT

IT is primarily used in everything, and is constantly changing and updating. In the last decade even, IT or information technology to use its full name has completely changed the world as we know it. It forms a fundamental, and let’s be honest vital part in all business sectors and educational ones. What makes IT so important though? Are we being forced to adapt to the change, or are we changing it to suit our needs? Regardless of the reason, it cannot be denied that IT has been growing at an incredibly fast pace over the years, and because of this has created millions of jobs. There is no denying that this is an important point, and because of this, it would suggest that IT is actually very important, and it is vital that everyone has an understanding of it, and how it plays a role in our everyday life.

Information Technology, and in particular, the internet, has massively changed how we do things in everyday life, even over this past decade. It is constantly evolving, and you can do all of your day to day tasks without even leaving the house, which previously, may have taken you a whole morning to complete. You can shop, communicate ‘face to face’ with people, enter your bank account easily all at the touch of a couple of button. This has massively improved things in some respect, as everything has become a lot easier and quicker, but you could also suggest that it might have left people out of touch with reality. By that, we mean that because it is easily possible for people to be productive without leaving the house, is it reducing communication skills. In this specific case, it could be argued that the positives far outweigh the negatives, and the development and importance is only a good thing.

So, what about businesses, and everyday working life? Unlike previous decades, it is assumed that everyone will have an element of understanding when it comes to computers and IT; even if it is very basic. This is especially relevant to the younger generations who have been brought up in a world of IT, and cannot imagine living in a world without it! Although this does not apply for all jobs, some will highlight more specific computer and IT skills that are required, assuming that you will already know the basics, because after all, there are very few jobs and business that do not use any level of IT. In fact, it is essential for larger businesses particularly, in ensuring the smooth functioning of all the departments in the company. Departments such as the Human Resources and Finance departments heavily rely on the use of IT, as a secure and efficient way of handling the day to day running of the business.

Information Technology has allowed businesses to develop as well, with the creation of specialised software packages that have been designed for that company, and their purposes. Although these can be a generic package that has been designed for large businesses, it is possible (although somewhat costly) to completely design a bespoke package that is suitable for individual needs. At the end of the day, IT can, to some degree, eliminate the risk and chances of human error – or at least decrease the chances dramatically. There are Software’s that can spot errors, work out maths sums, and easily organise your companies data at a much faster rate than is possible for humans. Because this type of software is constantly developing, it allows businesses to keep up to date with the market, allowing their business to grow with the times.

Information Technology opens up a lot of job opportunities as well. As businesses grow, the chances are you will expand, thus creating more jobs. It also opens up opportunities for people to become more qualified and trained in specific software, which can allow personal progress indifferent work sectors, particularly IT. The benefit with the IT sector is that there will always be jobs within it, due to the fact that it is constantly improving and progressing. Working within this sector means that you can progress and improve with the technology.

IT is hugely important in education as well, and is a core subject to be studied now, even starting at a much younger age. The development of IT and the internet has forced the education curriculum to change to a certain degree as everything is computerised now, and children are being exposed to it at a much younger age than they were even ten years ago. This is no bad thing either, as it has only benefited students study. Research has become a lot easier, even down to the fact that they are never far from being able to look something up even if they are not near a computer because of the development of smart phones. This means that children and students might be more likely to explore subjects that they are not sure about as they can look up parts that they are not sure about incredibly easily.

It is not just the students that benefit either. It is an excellent way for parents to keep in touch with what their children are up to and what they have got coming up. It is easier and better for the environment than sending children home with letters for their parents which may not ever reach them. It is not just children and parents that benefit though – even at university the advances of IT are unbelievably beneficial. It opens up a whole range of resources that may have otherwise been unavailable, not to mention an excellent way of submitting work and communicating with tutors. It has also made professors and assessors plagiarism checks a lot easier, as the students can simply submit it to a piece of software that will automatically check it for copied work.

It is unavoidable to ignore the progression and growing of IT; however, a lot of time we just take it for granted. We know that we will never be without it, and just become lazy and reliant on how easy it makes our everyday and working life. This only highlights and adds to the argument that IT is so important.