Digital technologies have transformed modern life, bringing with them a host of benefits and changing almost every aspect of contemporary life. Travel, work, shopping, entertainment and communication are just some of the areas that have been radically transformed in recent decades. Nowadays, it is difficult to find an electronic device or piece of equipment that does not incorporate digital technology in some way.
Social media
Digital technology makes it easy to stay in touch with friends and family and to work remotely, even if you are on the other side of the world. You can communicate via video or audio calls, or share other media files. A wide variety of websites, apps and software programmes have been created to help users communicate. Thanks to social media posts, text messages, laptops, tablets and mobile phones, no one needs to feel isolated in the digital world. News and local events are regularly updated by the users themselves.
Connection speed
Internet speeds have increased exponentially since the early days of dialling-up. Ever-faster broadband allows large volumes of information to be transmitted over the internet almost instantly, enabling real-time video and audio streaming, the sending of large data files and access to data from virtually anywhere in the world. Traditional media usually take much longer.
Diverse activities
The nature of work has been transformed by digital technologies. Greater connectivity means that many people now have far more opportunities to work from home. Remote working is becoming increasingly common. Many jobs can now be carried out from hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away without incurring unnecessary costs. There is no need for all employees to be present in the same building. Many other flexible ways of working are now possible.
Learning opportunities
Anyone with internet access now has access to a vast amount of the world’s knowledge via the World Wide Web. Lessons and courses can now be conducted virtually online. Advances in communication mean that you can now easily communicate with most people around the world and learn directly first-hand, for example, if you are trying to make sense of events abroad or learning a new language. Digital technologies can also be easier to use for people with disabilities and often provide them with equal access.
Automation
Digital technologies are making machines increasingly intelligent. In some cases, machines no longer require human intervention to operate, freeing workers from often tedious tasks so they can focus on more interesting activities. In other cases, smarter machines mean higher safety standards or a better user experience. Products and services are becoming more affordable as technology advances and becomes more widespread. Many tasks can now be carried out directly by customers, rather than through another person acting as an intermediary, such as booking hotels or buying tickets.
Information storage
Digital technologies make it possible to store vast amounts of information in a relatively small space. A vast amount of content – including photographs, music, videos, contact details and other documents – can be transferred to mobile phones, tablets and computers. Just like physical locations, data can also be stored online, allowing it to be accessed from any device with internet access.
The creative possibilities for editing videos and photographs have increased exponentially with the advent of digital technology. The technology is now more accessible and easier to use; what used to require a studio with expensive equipment can now be done at home.
Content editing
One of the major advantages of digital technology over traditional media is that information can be easily edited. Word processing has revolutionised book editing. Video editing, which used to require expensive studios and equipment, can now be done on a laptop in your bedroom. All kinds of photographic effects are now available, as is the ability to creatively alter images.
Exact Duplication
One of the remarkable features of digital technology is that it allows media content to be duplicated exactly. For example, you can write a work report and send it to several recipients, or you can distribute multiple copies of photographs to family and friends. Technological breakthroughs are currently taking place in the field of 3D printing, which looks set to radically transform our world.
GPS geolocation
Digital devices, combined with satellite technology, have transformed travel. With GPS, it is now possible to pinpoint your location, inform you of traffic jams and road closures in real time, and provide you with a wealth of up-to-date information, such as your estimated time of arrival at your destination or alternative routes. If you want to find an open petrol station or a chemist’s, it’s quick and easy.
Passenger and freight transport
Many trains and aeroplanes already rely on digital technology to some extent. Road vehicles, such as cars and lorries, will become fully automated in the near future. Access to timetables, as well as booking flights and train journeys, is now often done online. Passports contain digital chips that store information, enabling self-service machines to speed up the check-in and customs clearance process.
Reduced costs
Apart from paying for internet services and equipment such as modems, most of what the digital world has to offer is available free of charge. Sending emails, video-chatting with family and surfing the internet generally cost nothing. It can provide opportunities for low-cost self-education, setting up a business, buying and selling items, or earning money online.
Entertainment
The entire entertainment industry and the way people spend their time have been radically transformed. Many people enjoy online social networking or computer games. Traditional media have also evolved, as television and radio broadcasting have gone digital, alongside radio.
Traditional news sources, such as newspapers, have declined sharply in recent years as digital media has gained the upper hand. Many people now get their news via social media, as well as directly from news websites.
News
An increasing number of people are getting their news online, either via websites or social media. Even traditional media such as television and radio have now gone digital. People have more choice of news sources than ever before, and most of them are available 24 hours a day. Independent and citizen journalism is now very widespread, as is the practice of ordinary people taking photos and videos on their mobile phones at the scene of a news event.
Ways of waging war
Advances in technology mean that wars can be waged increasingly remotely, avoiding the risks associated with the physical presence of soldiers on the battlefield or in places where they are vulnerable to injury or death. Unmanned aerial vehicles and missile technology rely particularly heavily on digital technology to operate effectively, but most machines are gradually becoming increasingly automated.
Banking and finance
There is no doubt that digitalisation has revolutionised the world of finance. Online banking via a laptop, tablet or mobile phone is now the norm. Bank customers can now remotely check incoming and outgoing payments, as well as make money transfers and pay bills. Beyond banking, other financial matters, such as buying and selling currency and shares, can be handled online. Transferring money between accounts, both nationally and internationally, has also become a major innovation in recent years.
The miniaturisation of devices
One common effect of digital technology, which is almost taken for granted, is that new devices can be made much smaller. The phones we carry are mini-computers, for example, capable of browsing the internet, acting as calculators, planning journeys, taking and playing back photos, audio and video, providing games for our entertainment, as well as functioning as telephones and performing other tasks. Smaller devices usually mean greater mobility and less space taken up in our homes.
Digital technology means that devices can be more compact, faster, lighter and more versatile. A vast amount of information can be stored locally or remotely and transferred almost instantly. Even the term ‘information’ has broadened to include media such as photographs, audio and video, and no longer refers solely to words and numbers.