The Digital Revolution: Progression or Regression?

Featured article by Calvin Paige, Independent Technology Author

Life has changed almost beyond recognition over the past 30 years, and that can mainly be attributed to the rise of the internet and its associated technologies. Every aspect of our lives has been touched by the digital revolution, and some may argue, not for the better. Here is how the internet has transformed our lives.

Work

Just as the industrial revolution changed the roles of workers in the eighteenth century, the internet has transformed working practices dramatically.

* Efficiency and productivity

Efficiency and productivity have been increased as more tasks are automated, and, in some instances, humans have been replaced with machines or computers that have a higher quality output with minimised risk for error than their human counterparts. Greater efficiency, productivity and with reduced wastage means that profit margins can increase.

* Access to data

We are no longer restrained by the traditional office working hours of Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. Data can be accessed from anywhere in the world that you can get an internet connection; e-mails and documents are accessible by smartphones and mobile devices, and there is even now no need for desktops to run a business.

What does all this mean for the average person on the street though? Technical revolutions have traditionally created more employment opportunities than the ones that they terminate, but can that be said for this digital revolution? The continuous ability to access data means that workforces never have an opportunity to switch off completely, there is an increase of pressure for employees to be accessible 24/7 or reply to e-mails as soon as they hit their inbox.

Health and Wellbeing

The digital revolution has given people the ability to access information that was previously only known by specialists and enthusiasts. It has also improved healthcare as a whole.

* Support

If you are suffering or struggling with any aspect of your life, you will be sure to find a solution online. If you are seeking resolution for sexual dysfunction, you will be helped by sites such as www.penisenlargementreviews.org, or if you are seeking support for an emotional issue, there are online discussion groups that provide anonymous forums in which you can receive topic relevant guidance. You can even chat with therapists and doctors online, improving diagnosis for those in remote places.

* Illnesses

Knowledge is power, and if you have had the misfortune to have been diagnosed with a serious illness, you will no doubt have turned to Dr Google for advice and guidance. Giving the people information about what to expect, symptoms and treatments is a wonderful way empowering the vulnerable by demystifying the language and procedures that doctors explain.

The average person on the street has access to health information that previously only doctors who have had several years of medical school education were privy to. The downside to having access to this information is that people tend to self-diagnose, which can mean that doctors are not able to focus on the symptoms that present as they are busy trying to convince the patient that it is not as bad as Dr Google suggested.

The digital revolution has changed the way that we live and with that improvements have been made, but with any change, new challenges and issues arise that can make you question whether the developments are advances after all.