The internet in general has brought about both both positive change and negative change, but it’s undeniable: the Internet has revolutionised our lives. While the majority of us under utilise it and potentially take it for granted, the amount of information available to us is astonishing, not to mention how technical and confusing it can be when something goes wrong. This is where IT Support, Cyber Security Experts and IT Technicians become incredibly handy. Able to offer support when needed, investigate and analyse IT issues and help protect our computers for malicious attacks: these truly are the life-savers of the digital age.
The way we learn and who has access to education has been transformed. Gone are the days of encyclopedias and CD-ROM learning. Now anyone with a smartphone has access to a vast, labyrinthine libraries of any and every subject, and even free courses, from Quantum Mechanics to The Science of Happiness.
These days teachers use the internet to guide classes using free lessons online. Open source code and web design are freely available to those who have the time and patience to study, and technical forums answer all the questions we never knew we had. The internet has opened up doors for progression, especially for those who know how to make the most of it.
Some things are a mixed bag: more than ever we need to defend our privacy and practise good cybersecurity. However, communication has become much easier and cheaper. It’s now just as easy for us to connect with someone in another continent as it is in another city, or even another room. This is great news for those with long distance relationships with their families, although it remains to be seen whether being continuously connected has detrimental effects on our more immediate relationships.