Transforming Society through Digital Innovation

Question: Discuss about theTransforming Society through Digital Innovation. Answer: Introduction The digital innovation is transforming the society globally. The digital era has immense power to change the society on a large scale. Digital innovation is governing our lives in homes, industry, business and society and is changing every aspect of our lives. The internet is the first wave in the digital technology transforming lives of every individual and after the innovation of smart phones and devices the internet use is accessible to everyone. By 2020, the use of digital technology would exceed 50 million. The digitalized machinery, computers and embedded sensors has revolutionized the industry, business and society as a whole. The mobile applications, cloud based devices, big data and artificial intelligence has provided enormous services to people on an unprecedented scale. The people, information and a connected structure are the key elements that drive digital transformation globally. Greengard and Samuel in their book how internet changes everything explained how internet has directed our lives in every possible way. As we get up, we check our smart phone for messages and emails. The wrist sleep bands monitor our sleep patterns during night. The fit bit scale helps to weigh our body weight, body fat, food and water intake and other activity levels. The fitness app helps to provide the nutritional data and calorie intake (Greengard and Samuel 2015). They also explained how the phone apps provide information regarding geographic location, watch movies through wireless internet network, and read electronic books on mobiles. Apart from mobile phones and computers, there are a number of devices that are connected to wireless internet that are used on daily basis like health monitors, thermostats, fitness devices, environmental sensors, supermarket shelves and even livestock. Concisely, the activities we perform on a daily basis are greatly dependent on technology and have great impact on us. The book by Greengard and Samuel also explained how the society has changed in the last few decades. Before the digitization, the data and information existed in the form of hrad drives and gigantic frameworks stored in computers. The local area network and floppy disks were used to transfer data from one device to another. The data transfer via floppy disks was slow and had limited capabilities. The transportation of data through magnetic media was challenging for people as they had to carry disks from one place to another. This led to wastage of time as the transferring of data would take days or months. The first internet connections started with the dialing of the modems and web browsing through Mosaic. In 1990, the first web browser called Nexus came into existence. The connections were slow and the user could access only while connected through America Online and other portals. Robert E Kahn and Vint Cerf invented the internet and showed that world is connected through an interconnected network via internet. The introduction of mobile phones and high speed broadband helped people to conne4cts not only their mobile phones but also other electronic gadgets including door locks, washing machines, vehicles, tablets and even refrigerators. The book explained how the traditional DVD players, conventional camera, landline phones and paper maps are being replaced by mobile applications and tablet devices encompassing every activity on fingertips. The medical equipments, industrial machines and agricultural equipments are being connected to the internet transferring data and storing them in databases. Meyer, Eric T., and Ralph Schroeder 2015 explained how internet has transformed the concept of knowledge. The concept of e-research through digital tools and data has helped the researchers and students in their research by introducing the knowledge machines online that has transformed the concept of research. The research on any topic is possible now by the help of search engine Google providing a wide range of information on various topics available online. This explains the scenario when the writer was a kid. The skill did not lie in finding the information rather it focuses on the processing, analysis, combination and computation of the information and data. The access to Wikipedia, online available journals, peer reviewed journals helps to find answers to any question in minutes. The book explained not only the way how the knowledge is acquired but also the configuration and generation of the data. The knowledge machines are the instruments for manipulation of data and its use i n the research advancement. Meyer, Eric T., and Ralph Schroeder 2015 focused on the defining the e-research, generating the new knowledge by the university researchers. They have explained the overview and broader aspects of the five forms of internet research. The first form is the internet as a social phenomenon. The social aspects include a person in communication and connecting to people, learning, playing and interacting via internet. The second aspect is the internet as information source by students and research scholars. The use of Wikipedia, research articles, student projects, e-library and literature search shows how the internet acts as a source of information. The third aspect is the internet use as a research tool or method. The online survey research, virtual ethnography and web metrics and other handbooks provide online research options. The fourth aspect is the research regarding engineering and computer science and study of underlying technologies that defines the internet functioning. Many ef forts are being made in this regard and research is going on to keep the internet software processing. The e-research is used to define the use of digital tools and data to produce knowledge. It is the creation of new knowledge through scientific, social and humanities knowledge. The book explained how the face of research changes with the networked technologies as compared to academic knowledge. Concisely, the book explained that how e-research is helpful in generating new knowledge from the databases and research journals and it has changed the face of configuration of data. Technology has not only transformed an individual and education arena but also the sales and marketing industry. Nourbakhsh 2013 explained that how the digitization has transformed the marketing and sales industry scaling heights. The companies are successful in alluring customers through online shopping and make them bind to the social networks, values and virtual products. People spend thousands for virtual weapons and robotic products. The book explained how the companies could track whatever the customers does and they could measure and discern loyalty of the customers. The companies are addicted to the digital world and they could receive information and have total control over it. The internet tracks the human behavior, websites gathering information about their visitors, their way of navigation and how they react. The companies profit by keeping a track of what their customers frequently visit, which browser they use and what kind of computer models they use. The development of strong tools like data mining helps in storing big data regarding online behavior of the people. The analytics company can generalize the experimentation of their shoppers online. The face interpretation could track which way and what people are looking at. The digitalization has the ability to observe a person via computer vision systems all the time. The New Mediocracy unleashes the robotic future and judgment of human behavior taking the shape of new interactive media. Drori 2010 explained in his book how information and communication technology is a marker for human development. The world is taking the shape of e-economy, e-governement and e-empowerment. Drori addressed the global inequality in the access and use of technology called digital divide and innovation divide that describes the technology gap in creation and ownership in intellectual property. The technology use access issues and rights of person to technology. The global innovation divides and differentiates among the countries that are operating globally. The innovators benefit from the creation of novel technol ogies and the non-inventors are dependent on the rights to purchase and use of any such technology. The e-economy is scaling heights through information and communication technology. Despite of the innovation of technology and digital tools, there is a wide gap in the global innovation. Schnapp and Battles 2014 explained that how books emerged as e-books and it has changed the face of education. Readers go through the lines analyzing and keeping a track of what they have studied. Now a days books are measured in bytes and in pixels. The digital documents being flexible stacked in the form of lists, icons, and blocks and in two or three dimensional arrays. The digital bookshelf comprising of e-books and digital records stores complex data. The scanners, recorders and copiers are accessible and within the reach of common man. The librarian keeps a record of books being a guard and keeper of books. The concept of digital library has made the librarian profession seems less. The library cards are now designed as smart biometric identification forms storing information of the readers entire research history, payments, operability across the institutions and use of special services. The social network and media the references are self driven and user centered. The book The Peoples Platform by Taylor Astra explained how internet has become a revolution in every field. The industry is digitalized engaging people into online shopping and rapidly expanding their infrastructure. The researchers and students are transforming via internet in the way they search and investigate the problems. The classrooms have become smart through digitalization and store information in the form of e-library. The online world has increased greater communication among the people being connected together being distant from each other. The book shows a new perspective of the digital tools being used by people in a creative or destructive manner. The broadband access could help any person to become a journalist by starting a blog, sharing photos and keeping accountable of the politicians. Taylor in her article summarized the use of internet transforming consumers into producers and placing customers at par with the power. The main strength of the book lays in her ref usal critique the new system. The online piracy and live streaming has reduced the revenue of the music world. The technologies like Bit Torrent have made easy access to the downloading of movies hampering the world of filmmaking. Taylor expanded her views into the education, politics and the labor market showing how technology is surpassed into the hands of the large entities and individuals having less power. Concisely, internet is a revolution changing every aspects of life from a n individual to the society as a whole. In the above mentioned books, the authors explained how technology has transformed an individual and in various aspects of society like the industry, education, trade and marketing industry. Going beyond these sectors, the digital technology has transformed the telecommunication, healthcare, banking and media industry. The productivity and gross revenue has increased over the recent years in the telecommunication industry. The online generated phone bills, automated online directories, voice recognition systems has helped the customers to get hassle free services and has significantly reduced the work force in providing the telecommunication services. The online billing can keep a record of calls, internet use, call rates and duration that would enable to retrieve the information at the time of need. The digitized communication through broadband services via optical cable accommodates better more capacity and increased traffic. The automatic identification enables to identify the cal ler and trace ones history. The video calling is also useful for people to stay connected being distant from each other and also helpful to students to attend classes being conducted at some other place. The use of barcodes, microchips are useful to provide security to people and store information regarding a product and its inventory data. The Radio frequency identification is very useful in tightening human security at homes and workplaces. A control reader detects the signal provided by the chip and recognizes the person allowing entering the door. The video conferencing, interviews through Skype and tools enabling instant messaging helped in simplifying the complex business processes enhancing the productivity and economy to a great extent. The digital technology has been incorporated in the school curriculum in the form of computer classes and technological subjects to help them in their further studies that are technology driven. The introduction of smart classes helped the students to know the world in a better way and make things accessible to them in an easy and better way. The notes are available in the form of soft copies helpful for the students to access from anywhere without missing any important point that are a major disadvantage in handwritten notes. Technology has also helped the kids those have not started their school life yet. The use of technology by parents in the form of online video classes and games helps them to get ready for their school life and give them a head start for their upcoming life. The online databases, webpages and discussion rooms help the students to gain knowledge on a wider aspect. Digital technology is posing a positive effect on the healthcare system. It has helped mankind in many ways. The medical and professional skills in collaboration with use of digital technology has enhanced over the years in providing better services to the people and in saving millions of life. The embedded computing and microelectronics used in diagnostic methods like computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, sphygmomanometer and digital thermometers are essential for diagnosis (Bardhan, Indranil and Thouin 2013). The best clinical practice is performed by using digitalized diagnostic tools that are overpowering the manual databases for keeping patients records and are useful in saving time in case of emergency patients. The use of bar coded wristbands for patient identification is also helpful in providing accurate treatment and giving them the individual care. These bar coded wristbands helps to monitor the movements of the patients within the hospital premises. The wid e use of video and remote access in hospitals is helping the physicians to keep a check on the patients status and improvement. The teleconferencing among the doctors and information technology based remotes helps them to consult specialists all over the world and seek better assistance. The banking sector is a major part of our economy and through innovative digitalization; it is enhancing the revenue and economy of a country. Banks perform personal and commercial transactions on a daily basis and net banking is a boon for the banking and insurance sector. The computerized banking and software applications are helpful in keeping records of the customers and better retrieval and in processing of the banks. The solution of core banking is a boon to the banking industry. The reliable and centralized database for connecting the branches is helpful in providing the multi city banking without going to the banks (Setia, Venkatesh and Joglekar 2013). The cheque processing through magnetic ink is a systematic procedure providing faster processing. The recording of data through use of debit and credit cards called plastic cards offer withdrawal or money transactions in few minutes and ensure privacy. The printing of passbooks, automated inquiry, cash and cheque deposit are no w automated providing the users to save time and ease of access. The system of cheque truncation removes the physical obstacles like demand drafts, cheques, warrants and processing of loans online helps to remove the associated hassle in approving loans at any point of time. The mobile banking is the most popular technology used providing people a wide range of options like mobile transactions and keeping a track of the banking process. The digital technology has also great impact on the insurance industry. The financial services through digitization reduce the market losses, provide online insurance schemes and provide wide range of insurance options to the customers changing with time (de Leeuw et al. 2014). The media industry has greatly revolutionized through the use of digital technology. The online versions of newspapers and mobile applications providing news all over the world on fingertips helps people to be aware of their surroundings and the major issues. The online movies, live streaming, music is very popular among the people all over the world. The digitization helps the mass media industry to reach out to people and bring the burning social issues to the mass and the concerning authorities (Biagi 2012). The digital technology in media helps to connect all kinds of people coming from across the globe sharing their common interests and one platform. The media industry through digitization can trace the reactions and behavior of the common people through online social networking sites and adapt to new changes in the people (Straubhaar, LaRose and Davenport 2013). Greengard and Samuel in their book The Internet of Things also explained that through internet we connect to people via social networking sites, transactions and communication are done which poses a threat providing a place for hacking, malware, breaching of data and other related problems. The breach of data includes the personal as well as financial data putting consumers at big risk. The main concerns are in the area of industry, transportation and healthcare putting peoples life, health and their well being at risk. The understanding of the consequences of using internet in a creative manner or in a destructive way lay in the hands of the people. Digital technology acts a positive opportunity as well as a negative threat. It is important to identify and correctly interpret the transformation to identify our actions. The digital technology has negative impact on the people and the society as a whole. The high technology environment with smart phones, cloud based devices, digitized smart classrooms, online shopping, banking and other facilities has save the time and energy of the people but also has dark sides. The internet surfing and use of search engines has reduced the imagination power, the way they think and deep thought analysis about any material in people. The digitization has reduced the physical activity of the people and posing them to lead a sedentary lifestyle. The technology use by people has made people live in isolation and in a fictional world and there is no physical meeting between the people. People waste time in internet surfing, there is loss of concentration and productivity, continuous use of gadgets an d earphones would make them consume unhealthy foods, hamper eyesight and hearing, lack of privacy due to social networking sites. The addiction to gadgets makes poor sleep patterns affecting health and other related problems. Therefore, it can be concluded that digitization has made the life easy for the people and the society as a whole in every sector still it has some negative impacts that varies with the extent of application and actions of the people. References: Bardhan, Indranil R., and Mark F. Thouin. "Health information technology and its impact on the quality and cost of healthcare delivery."Decision Support Systems55, no. 2 (2013): 438-449. Biagi, Shirley.Media impact: An introduction to mass media. Cengage Learning, 2012. de Leeuw, Jan, Anton Vrieling, Apurba Shee, Clement Atzberger, Kiros M. Hadgu, Chandrashekhar M. Biradar, Humphrey Keah, and Calum Turvey. "The potential and uptake of remote sensing in insurance: a review."Remote Sensing6, no. 11 (2014): 10888-10912. Drori, Gili S. "Globalization and technology divides: Bifurcation of policy between the Digital Divide and the Innovation Divide." Sociological Inquiry 80, no. 1 (2010): 63-91. Greengard, Samuel.The Internet of Things. MIT Press, 2015. Meyer, Eric T., and Ralph Schroeder.Knowledge machines: digital transformations of the sciences and humanities. MIT Press, 2015. Nourbakhsh, Illah Reza. Robot futures. MIT Press, 2013. Schnapp, Jeffrey T., and Matthew Battles. The library beyond the book. Harvard University Press, 2014. Setia, Pankaj, Viswanath Venkatesh, and Supreet Joglekar. "Leveraging Digital Technologies: How Information Quality Leads to Localized Capabilities and Customer Service Performance."Mis Quarterly37, no. 2 (2013): 565-590. Straubhaar, Joseph, Robert LaRose, and Lucinda Davenport.Media now: Understanding media, culture, and technology. Cengage Learning, 2013. Taylor, Astra. The people's platform: Taking back power and culture in the digital age. Macmillan, 2014.