Computers and Information Systems Impact Quality of Life

Computers and Information Systems Impact Quality of Life

Computers and information systems revolution has permeated every aspect of life in contemporary society. Nowadays, operations are performed electronically from healthcare, banking, communication, transactions, and learning, to name a few. Mainly, this implies that computers have changed how people perform their daily tasks and duties while information systems have converted the world into a global village. In response, organizations are embracing lean organizational structures, and people are using electronic gadgets more to communicate and carry out other tasks in their personal lives such as meetings, communicating with spouses and children as well as planning events such as creating a family budget. In light of these arguments, discussion on the impact of computer and information systems on the quality of life will suffice towards fathoming how such technology has influenced human life.

One of the impacts of computer information systems on the quality of life is replacement in the workplace. Nowadays, organizations are automating most of the routine and repetitive jobs due to the emergence of robotics and artificial intelligence capabilities. As a result, most people who earned their livelihood through automated jobs are rendered redundant and thus plunging them into misery and low quality of life. In support of this argument, Olumonye (154) notes that the information system has become a factor of production that can freely be substituted for capital and labor. Historically, capital and labor have been a rising cost in the productive economy; therefore, as the cost of computer information system continues to reduce gradually, the number of jobs lost in favor of automation is increasing at an exponential rate.

Consequently, the social, economic status of the previously employed individuals has been negatively affected. Second, owning a computer in contemporary society has increased the disparities between racial groups. Mainly, this is attributable to the economic empowerment that allows individuals in the higher-income segment to access the benefits of the computer information system compared to their counterparts in low-income households. Third, dramatic improvement in life expectancy can be attributed to a computer information system. Illustratively, practical application of knowledge, especially in medical technology and research, has harnessed healthcare promotion, improved diagnosis, and prognosis as well as caregiving (Haq & Abdullah n.pg). Ultimately, people can live longer due to precision medical intervention, which translates to a large population of productive people in the labor force. Finally, communication has dramatically improved, mainly due to the emergence of social networking. Organizations have exploited such platforms in furtherance of e-commerce and online shopping, thus lowering the cost of value proposition and acquisition by the consumers.

Ethics plays an essential role in the identified four impacts of quality of life due to the emergence of computer and information systems. Ethical consideration can help in ensuring issues such as privacy and security of the information is guaranteed. Upholding moral and ethical considerations and principles lay a firm foundation to support the four impacts on quality. More importantly, engendering ethics in organization communication and information sharing will facilitate legal transactions primarily in the e-commerce paradigm. As such, ethics play an essential role in ensuring that the impact on the quality of life is not detrimental to the firm-consumer relationship. For example, in the event, people lose jobs due to technology, ethics would dictate that they get their dues accordingly so that they can better their lives.

Works Cited

Haq, Nakhat A., & Gamal Abdullah A. “Impact of Information Technology on Quality of Life and Well – Being of Secondary School Children.” International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, vol. 2 no. 4, 2012, pp. 94-102.

Olumonye, Mosid Y. “Ethics and Social Impact of Information Systems in Our Society: Analysis and Recommendations.” International Journal of Science and Research, vol. 2, no. 11, 2013, pp. 154-158.